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Translation Memory eXchange (TMX)
About TMX
TMX (Translation Memory eXchange) is the vendor-neutral open XML standard for the exchange of Translation Memory (TM) data created by Computer Aided Translation (CAT) and localization tools. The purpose of TMX is to allow easier exchange of translation memory data between tools and/or translation vendors with little or no loss of critical data during the process. In existence since 1998, TMX is a certifiable standard format. TMX is developed and maintained by OSCAR (Open Standards for Container/Content Allowing Re-use), a LISA Special Interest Group.
Why Use TMX?
Translation Memory (TM) is the backbone of modern localization processes, and the translations stored in TM databases represent a significant investment, in some cases representing millions of dollars. These assets may then support hundreds of millions of dollars of international business. TMX allows organizations to maintain these assets in a vendor-neutral and tool-independent format to allow maximum reuse and freedom to work with the best globalization partners.
TMX offers organizations the following advantages:
- Maximum flexibility to use the best tool or best partner for the job.
- Future proofing against technology changes. With TMX you are not tied to the technology choices of your tools provider. If a tool disappears from the market or changes in ways that you don’t like, you are free to choose another tool and take your TM with you.
- Access to a broader pool of service providers. By using TMX, you can send your TM data to any service provider that uses TMX-compatible tools rather than having to choose only from among those who use a particular tool.
- Control over TM assets. TMX allows you to maintain your own TM assets and control them rather than turning control of valuable assets over to a third party. This means that you have the freedom to resuse those assets when, where, and how you see fit.
TMX allows companies to take better control over their globalization processes and keep track of their assets.
TMX Specification
TMX is currently at version 1.4b (October 2004). TMX 2.0 is currently in development.
Use the following links to obtain the TMX DTD and basic TMX utilities:
- TMX Compliance Kit (WinZip/GZip) [Updated October 7, 2004] This archive contains all of the following components and is everything a software developer needs to design software that conforms and certifies to the TMX standard.
Individual components of the Compliance Kit can be downloaded below:
- Specification Document: This document contains a detailed specification of the latest version of TMX.
- Compliance Verification Document: This document describes the TMX verification test.
- Document Type Definition File: This document contains the DTD definition file for the TMX standard.
- TMXCheck (WinZip/GZip). A Windows utility that can be used to verify the TMX compliance of your software.
Older versions of TMX
The following DTDs for older versions of TMX are available for download, but are obsolete and should not be used except for purposes of providing backward compatibility with tools that implemented these versions of TMX.
