XMLTrans: a Java-based XML transformation language for structured data

The recently completed MLIS DicoPro project addressed the need for a uniform, platform-independent interface for accessing multiple dictionaries and other lexical resources via the Internet/intranets. Lexical data supplied by dictionary publishers for the project was in a variety of SGML formats. In order to transform this data to a convenient standard format (HTML), a high level transformation language was developed. This language is simple to use, yet powerful enough to perform complex transformations not possible with similar transformation tools. XMLTrans provides rooted/recursive transductions, similar to transducers used for natural language translation. The tool is written in standard Java and is available to the general public.