The cornerstone of translation when using XML files such as DocBook is the Portable Object or PO file. PO files provide a way for independent individuals or teams to translate documents. The Fedora Documentation Project toolchain includes rules for creating, updating, and maintaining these PO files.

PO files are usually found in two forms:

A POT is, as the name suggests, a blank template for new translations. It contains some header information and a list of strings based on the content of the original XML file from which it was created. Translators do not alter the POT. The POT should only be changed after changes are made to the original XML file from which it is derived.

A translator who wishes to start working on a new language copies the POT to a locale-specific PO file. Then the translator uses any of a number of command-line or graphical tools to translate each of the strings in the list. A single POT is used to create many POs, one for each locale. These files are normally named for their locale code, such as de.po, it.po, and so on.