Localizable XC Strings

Localizable.xcstrings files are used in macOS and iOS applications for localization purposes. It's a simple text file format that contains translations for all messages used in the application. It's a JSON-like format, it's a successor of the Localizable.strings and Localizable.stringsdict file formats. Unlike the Localizable.strings format, the Localizable.xcstrings format is more structured and easier to read and contains translations for all languages and variations in one file.

Translations format is straightforward. The first value is a translation key used by a programmer during software development, and the second is a translated message which will be visible for the end user.

File format example

{
  "sourceLanguage" : "en",
  "strings" : {
    "1b7-l0-nxx.title" : {
      "comment" : "some comment",
      "extractionState" : "manual",
      "localizations" : {
        "de" : {
          "variations" : {
            "device" : {
              "mac" : {
                "stringUnit" : {
                  "state" : "translated",
                  "value" : "Suche"
                }
              },
              "other" : {
                "stringUnit" : {
                  "state" : "translated",
                  "value" : "Finde"
                }
              }
            }
          }
        },
        "en" : {
          "stringUnit" : {
            "state" : "translated",
            "value" : "Find"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    // more translations
  }
}

Upload with CLI

simplelocalize upload --apiKey <PROJECT_KEY> \
  --uploadFormat localizable-xcstrings \
  --uploadPath ./Localizable.xcstrings

Learn more about SimpleLocalize CLI and translations upload feature.

Download with CLI

simplelocalize download --apiKey <PROJECT_KEY> \
  --downloadFormat localizable-xcstrings \
  --downloadPath ./Localizable.strings

Learn more about SimpleLocalize CLI and translations download feature.

Import with API

curl
    --request POST \
    --url 'https://api.simplelocalize.io/api/v2/import?uploadFormat=localizable-xcstrings' \
    --header 'x-simplelocalize-token: <API_KEY>' \
    --form file=@/path/to/your/Localizable.xcstrings

Learn more about importing translations with API

Export with API

curl
    --request GET \
    --url https://api.simplelocalize.io/api/v3/export?downloadFormat=localizable-xcstrings \
    --header 'x-simplelocalize-token: <API_KEY>'

Learn more about exporting translations with API