SamAltmem

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Some Alternative Translation Memory Creation

Extract alternative translations (alt-trans) from XLIFF files and convert them to TMX format. Build comprehensive translation memories from fuzzy matches, machine translation suggestions, and other alternative translations stored in your CAT tool exports.

Perfect for: Translators • Translation Agencies • LSPs • Localization Managers

Works with: memoQ • SDL Trados • Wordfast • All TMX 1.4 tools

✨ Features

Core Capabilities

Extract all alt-trans elements from XLIFF files
Preserve all attributes (origin, match-quality, tool, tool-id, etc.)
Inline formatting support (bpt, ept, ph elements preserved)
Automatic language detection from XLIFF headers
Optional match-quality export (can be toggled on/off)

Advanced Features

Two operation modes:
- Individual mode (default): Each XLIFF → separate TMX file
- Merge mode (--merge): All XLIFFs → one combined TMX
Recursive directory processing with -r flag
Multiple file extensions supported automatically:
- .xlf, .xliff, .mxliff, .mqxliff, .sdlxliff
Custom extension filtering with --ext option
Smart filename generation in merge mode:
- Includes file count and TU count (e.g., combined_5files_234tus.tmx)
Detailed statistics:
- Per-file contribution breakdown
- Percentage calculations
- Success/failure reporting

Encoding Support

✅ UTF-8 (with or without BOM)
✅ UTF-16 (LE/BE, with or without BOM)
✅ UTF-32 (LE/BE)
✅ Robust BOM detection
✅ Automatic encoding conversion

CAT Tool Compatibility

✅ memoQ (fixed namespace issues)
✅ SDL Trados
✅ Wordfast
✅ memoSource
✅ All TMX 1.4 compliant tools

🚀 Quick Start

Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jiangweiatgithub/samaltmem.git
cd samaltmem

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

Basic Usage

# Individual mode (default) - each XLIFF → separate TMX
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /path/to/xliff/files/ -r -v

# Merge mode - all XLIFFs → one combined TMX
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /path/to/xliff/files/ -r --merge -v

# With match-quality
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /path/to/xliff/files/ -r -m --merge

📖 Documentation

Command-Line Options

positional arguments:
  INPUT                 Input XLIFF file(s), directory(ies), or patterns

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            Show help message
  -o FILE, --output FILE Output TMX file (merge mode only)
  --merge               Merge all into one TMX (default: individual)
  -r, --recursive       Search directories recursively
  --ext EXT             Filter by file extension(s)
  -m, --export-match-quality
                        Include match-quality property
  -v, --verbose         Show detailed statistics
  --no-countdown        Skip countdown (for automation)
  --version             Show version number

Usage Examples

Single File Conversion

python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py document.xlf -o output.tmx -m

Directory Processing (Individual)

# Each XLIFF → separate TMX
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /project/translations/ -r -v

Directory Processing (Merged)

# All XLIFFs → one combined TMX
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /project/translations/ -r --merge -v

Custom Extensions

# Process only memoQ files
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /project/ -r --ext .mxliff --ext .mqxliff --merge

Multiple Projects

# Combine multiple client projects
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /clients/*/translations/ -r -m --merge -o master_tm.tmx

🎯 Use Cases

For Freelance Translators

Extract fuzzy matches from XLIFF files
Build personal translation memories
Organize TMs by project

For Translation Agencies

Build master TMs from multiple projects
Track contribution per project/translator
Automate TM maintenance workflows

For LSPs

Daily batch processing of incoming files
Create reference TMs for specific domains
Maintain separate TMs per client

📊 Output Examples

Individual Mode

======================================================================
INDIVIDUAL MODE: Converting 3 file(s)
======================================================================

[1/3] project/file1.xlf
  ✅ Output: file1.tmx (12 TUs)

[2/3] project/file2.xliff
  ✅ Output: file2.tmx (23 TUs)

[3/3] project/subfolder/file3.xlf
  ✅ Output: file3.tmx (18 TUs)

======================================================================
SUMMARY - INDIVIDUAL MODE
======================================================================
Files processed:  3/3
Total TUs:        53

Detailed Statistics:
  Input File                               Output File                                 TUs
  ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------
  ✅ file1.xlf                              file1.tmx                                  12
  ✅ file2.xliff                            file2.tmx                                  23
  ✅ file3.xlf                              file3.tmx                                  18

Merge Mode

======================================================================
MERGE MODE: Combining 3 file(s) into one TMX
======================================================================

[1/3] project/file1.xlf
  ✅ Added 12 TUs

[2/3] project/file2.xliff
  ✅ Added 23 TUs

[3/3] project/subfolder/file3.xlf
  ✅ Added 18 TUs

======================================================================
SUMMARY - MERGE MODE
======================================================================
Files combined:   3
Total TUs:        53
Output file:      combined_3files_53tus.tmx

Contribution per file:
  Status File Name                                               TUs      %
  ------ -------------------------------------------------- -------- ------
  ✅      file1.xlf                                                12  22.6%
  ✅      file2.xliff                                              23  43.4%
  ✅      file3.xlf                                                18  34.0%

✅ Combined TMX saved to: combined_3files_53tus.tmx

🔧 Technical Details

Architecture

Core engine: XSLT transformation with lxml
Encoding detection: BOM-based with fallback
Output format: TMX 1.4 compliant
Namespace handling: Clean output (memoQ compatible)

Requirements

Python 3.6 or higher
lxml library
XSLT stylesheet (included)

Files Structure

samaltmem/
├── samaltmem.py                            # Main script (branded name) ⭐
├── xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py                  # Same script (technical name)
├── xliff_alttrans_to_tmx_parameterized.xsl # XSLT transformer
├── requirements.txt                         # Python dependencies
├── README.md                               # This file
├── LICENSE                                 # MIT License
├── CHANGELOG.md                            # Version history
├── CONTRIBUTING.md                         # Contribution guidelines
└── BRANDING.md                             # Brand identity guide

🐛 Troubleshooting

UTF-16 Encoding Errors

The script automatically detects and handles UTF-16 files. If you encounter encoding errors:

# Use verbose mode to see encoding detection
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py file.xlf -v

No Files Found

# Check extensions being searched
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /folder/ -v

# Use recursive search
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /folder/ -r

# Specify custom extension
python xliff_to_tmx_hybrid.py /folder/ --ext .yourext

memoQ Import Issues

✅ Namespace issues are fixed in current version
✅ Output is TMX 1.4 compliant
✅ Inline elements properly formatted

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

Development Setup

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/jiangweiatgithub/samaltmem.git
cd samaltmem

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run tests
python -m pytest tests/

📝 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

👤 Author

Your Name

GitHub: @jiangweiatgithub
Email: polytrans@gmail.com

🙏 Acknowledgments

Thanks to all contributors and users
Inspired by the needs of the translation industry
Built with Python and lxml

📈 Version History

v4.0 (Current - Hybrid Version)

Individual and merge modes
Smart filename with statistics
Detailed contribution reporting
Enhanced UTF-16 support
PyInstaller compatibility

v3.0 (Enhanced)

Directory processing
Recursive search
Multiple extension support
Custom extension filtering

v2.2 (Basic)

Initial public release
Basic XLIFF to TMX conversion
Match-quality control

🔗 Links

⭐ Star History

If you find this tool useful, please consider giving it a star!

Made with ❤️ for the translation community

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 7 Commits
.gitignore		.gitignore
BRANDING.md		BRANDING.md
CHANGELOG.md		CHANGELOG.md
CONTRIBUTING.md		CONTRIBUTING.md
FINAL_QUICK_REFERENCE.md		FINAL_QUICK_REFERENCE.md
GITHUB_PUBLISHING_GUIDE.md		GITHUB_PUBLISHING_GUIDE.md
LICENSE		LICENSE
PARAMETERS_GUIDE.md		PARAMETERS_GUIDE.md
QUICK_START_CHECKLIST.md		QUICK_START_CHECKLIST.md
README.md		README.md
REPOSITORY_SUMMARY.md		REPOSITORY_SUMMARY.md
SAMALTMEM_SUMMARY.md		SAMALTMEM_SUMMARY.md
requirements.txt		requirements.txt
samaltmem.py		samaltmem.py
xliff_alttrans_to_tmx_parameterized.xsl		xliff_alttrans_to_tmx_parameterized.xsl

License

jiangweiatgithub/samaltmem

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