- COTI Level 1: Defines a COTI package, or file, that can simply be manually exchanged between the content management system and CAT tool. The content management system creates the package, the CAT system imports it, and vice versa.
- COTI Level 2: Adds an automated step to the standard using exchange folders. The content management system places its COTI package in a specific exchange folder. This is monitored by the CAT tool, and as soon as a package is filed there, the CAT tool automatically creates a project. Once the project is complete, the CAT tool places the finished COTI package in the second exchange folder, which is monitored by the content management system. As soon as the finalized translation is present as a COTI package, the content management system automatically imports the translation.
- COTI Level 3: This level is still relatively vague in the specification. It is based on the “hot” integration on a standardized API. This means all CAT tools can communicate directly with all content management systems. To date this level has not yet been realized by any manufacturers and demonstrates there are still gaps in the specification.
SDL has completely outsourced the development of COTI interfaces to Kaleidoscope.