Xcode export localizations that are not to translate

Developer Tools & Services Xcode
babinfrancois OP
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Context is Swift UI iOS app with Xcode 26.6

In my project's Localizable.xcstrings, I have terms flagged as "don't translate". However, when I export the terms with the "Export localizations" menu command, these entry are still listed in the exported XLIFF files (with shouldTranslate:false)

Any way to bypass these entries to get accurate clean XLIFF exports ?

Thx&rgds, François

Answered by Developer Tools Engineer in 897138022

Hello,

Strings marked "Don’t Translate" in String Catalogs will be marked as translate="no" in exported XLIFF files.

This is consistent with the XLIFF 1.2 specification, which states:

The translate attribute indicates whether or not the text referred to should be translated.

The spec can be found here: https://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html

If you use Xcode to view and edit xcloc files, it will prominently show which strings are marked as such. If a translator uses third-party software to view and edit XLIFF, that software can choose to handle these strings in various ways (for example by hiding them or by showing them read-only or even by allowing a translator to "unhide" them in that language).

Replies  1
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Participants  2
Developer Tools Engineer OP
Apple
Accepted Answer

Hello,

Strings marked "Don’t Translate" in String Catalogs will be marked as translate="no" in exported XLIFF files.

This is consistent with the XLIFF 1.2 specification, which states:

The translate attribute indicates whether or not the text referred to should be translated.

The spec can be found here: https://docs.oasis-open.org/xliff/v1.2/os/xliff-core.html

If you use Xcode to view and edit xcloc files, it will prominently show which strings are marked as such. If a translator uses third-party software to view and edit XLIFF, that software can choose to handle these strings in various ways (for example by hiding them or by showing them read-only or even by allowing a translator to "unhide" them in that language).