Convert QM to TS

Understanding QM and TS file formats

The QM file format is a compiled translation file used by the Qt framework. It contains translations for user interface text, allowing applications to support multiple languages. These files are generated from TS (Translation Source) files, which are XML-based and contain the actual translatable text and its translations.

The TS file format is an XML file used by the Qt framework to store translations. It is a human-readable format that contains the source text and its corresponding translations. Developers and translators use TS files to manage and update translations before they are compiled into QM files for use in applications.

Converting QM to TS

Converting a QM file back to a TS file is not a straightforward process, as QM files are compiled and do not retain the original XML structure. However, there are tools available that can help with this conversion by extracting the translations from the QM file and generating a new TS file.

Best software for QM to TS conversion

One of the best tools for converting QM files to TS files is Qt Linguist. This tool is part of the Qt framework and is specifically designed for managing translations. While Qt Linguist primarily works with TS files, it can also be used to extract translations from QM files.

To convert a QM file to a TS file using Qt Linguist, follow these steps:

1. Open Qt Linguist.
2. Go to File → Open and select the QM file you want to convert.
3. Once the file is loaded, go to File → Export and choose the TS format.
4. Save the new TS file to your desired location.

Another option is to use the lconvert command-line tool, which is part of the Qt framework. This tool can convert between different translation file formats, including QM and TS.

To use lconvert, run the following command in your terminal:

lconvert -i input.qm -o output.ts

This command will take the input QM file and generate an output TS file.