Extract text from XML localization files (XLF)
To convert XLF localization files to another format, you need Okapi Framework or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Localization Data File" file type, you need software like Okapi Framework or a similar tool.
The .XLF file extension primarily represents an XML Localization Interchange File (XLIFF). This format is an open standard developed by OASIS to standardize how text is passed between translation tools. These files rely on XML formatting and UTF-8 encoding to store the original source text alongside the translated target text. Professional translators manage these files using Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) software like the Okapi Framework, MultiTrans, or XLIFF Editor. A rare secondary use for the .XLF extension is the Xcelsius Dashboard file, a ZIP-compressed business intelligence format used by SAP Crystal Reports.
Working with .XLF files without specialized translation software is a practical challenge. The files are dense with proprietary XML tags. Attempting to edit an .XLF in a standard text editor often breaks the code hierarchy, rendering the file invalid. Furthermore, sending an .XLF file to clients or reviewers who lack expensive CAT tool licenses creates immediate workflow bottlenecks, as they cannot read the raw code easily.
The most pragmatic solution is conversion. For editing and client review, convert .XLF to CSV or XLSX. This extracts the translation data into clean, side-by-side columns while safely stripping away the fragile XML code. For archiving, convert to .PDF/A.
Convert.Guru analyzes your XLF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted XLIFF, SDLXLIFF, XLIF, TXT, XLZ, XLSX, XFL, ZIP, XTF, PDF, TMX, DOCX and XIF files.
If you want to convert XLF file to XLIFF, JSON, XML, CSV, PDF, XLSX, YAML, YML, TOML, INI, CFG or CONF, you can use Okapi Framework or similar software from the "Translation Data Interchange" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DBF, XML, SQLITE, XLSX, SQL, TSV, ACCDB, YAML, MDB, CSV, ODS or JSON files to XLF, try Okapi Framework or another comparable tool in the "Translation Data Interchange" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our XLF converter.