Based on a broad, representative linguistic analysis, the revised format offers detailed handling of morphological, syntactic, and semantic data categories, as well as a powerful mechanism for stating transfer restrictions. In addition, OLIF v.2 incorporates features such as a data category registry and defaulting mechanisms to afford users maximum flexibility in representing their data.

OLIF v.2 is an open format that is available to all interested users from the OLIF2 Consortium web site, www.olif.net. The formal description of OLIF v.2, the OLIF Document Type Definition (DTD), and all supporting documentation, including an extensive specification, a graphical representation of OLIF v.2, a hyperlinked DTD and language-specific data category values tables in XML, are accessible from the Specification area of the site. Tools designed to work with OLIF v.2 (e.g., for sorting OLIF data) are also freely available from the OLIF web site.

Sponsored by founding member SAP, the OLIF2 Consortium continues to support the testing and implementation of OLIF v.2, both by its members and within the broader community. Open to language technology professionals interested in defining and using standards for data exchange, the OLIF2 Consortium currently counts among its membership Microsoft, Trados, Xerox, IBM, Systran, DFKI, IAI, Logos, the European Commission and Basis Technology.

Anyone requiring assistance with OLIF v.2 or interested in joining the OLIF2 Consortium is encouraged to contact Susan McCormick at smccormick@comcast.net or Christian Lieske at christian.lieske@sap.com.