What is the BPM file format?
.bpm files are used by Trados Studio (developed by RWS, formerly SDL), a professional computer-assisted translation (CAT) application. A .bpm file stores dictionary data - single words and phrases, together with their translations into one or more target languages - in a compact binary format optimized for fast lookup.
The underlying structure of a .bpm file is an embedded SQLite database, making it a binary file that cannot be opened in a plain text editor. The data is typically built from existing translation assets such as .sdltm translation memories and .tmx exchange files.
The .bpm file serves as the source of content for Trados Studio's AutoSuggest feature, which aids the translator by presenting phrase predictions as they type, speeding up the translation process considerably.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA Trados AutoSuggest dictionary is passive translation data with no executable content, so it is low risk. The only real caution is provenance and licensing: AutoSuggest dictionaries are built from translation memories that may contain confidential client material, so treat a received .bpm as potentially sensitive linguistic data. There is no need for third-party "BPM opener/converter" utilities - be wary of such download sites, which are often bundled with adware.
Format details
in a nutshell- Battle Planner module file - A discontinued hobby tool for managing tabletop/card-game collections and army lists wrote .bpm modules - this is the (now defunct) meaning the database originally named.
- Business Process Model / Modeler file - Some BPM (business process management) modeling tools save process diagrams with a .bpm extension.
- Bitmap / beat-per-minute data - A few legacy graphics and music utilities used .bpm for raw bitmaps or tempo data.
Programs that open BPM files
Windows1 app
Trados Studio (formerly SDL Trados Studio)
Paid Project (or Language Pair) Settings > AutoSuggest Dictionaries > Add, then point Trados at the .bpm so suggestions appear while you translate. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | RWS (formerly SDL) |
| Primary application | Trados Studio (Windows) |
| File type | Binary AutoSuggest dictionary |
| Internal structure | Embedded SQLite 3 database |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Underlying file header | SQLite magic bytes 53 51 4C 69 74 65 20 66 6F 72 6D 61 74 20 33 00 (undocumented; Trados-specific schema overlaid) |
| Purpose | Bilingual phrase index used by the AutoSuggest engine to predict completions as a translator types |
| Language pairing | One source language paired with one target language per .bpm file |
| Source assets | Generated from .sdltm translation memories or .tmx exchange files |
| Platform | Windows only |
| Creation method | "Create AutoSuggest Dictionary" dialog in Trados Studio, pointing to a translation memory |
| Content granularity | Single tokens, multi-word phrases, and their bilingual equivalents |
| Editability | Binary; requires Trados Studio to create or regenerate; not manually editable |
| Text encoding (internal) | UTF-8 (SQLite default); supports full Unicode for all script systems |
| Released | SDL Trados Studio 2009 (AutoSuggest feature); SDL acquired by RWS in 2020 |
| Specification | www.trados.com |
BPM conversions
Community Q&A
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