A computer-based tool is worked out currently for translation in both directions between World Reference Base for Soil Resources / WRB (IUSS Working Group Reference Base: 1st version 1998, 2nd version 2006) and the German soil classification system (Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung: 4th edition 1994, 5th edition 2005). During the IUSS .Congress in Philadelphia it will be in the final testing phase. A simple translation between taxonomic units, i.e. between reference soil group (WRB) and soil type (German system) is difficult. The translation has better to rely on the diagnostically relevant characteristics of the soil. If all relevant field and laboratory data are available, an automatic key guides the user to the taxonomic unit. If these data are not (or not completely) available, it cannot be avoided that several options for the translation must be offered. The user will be indicated from which features it depends to which unit his soil will be assigned. According to additional data which the user is asked for (parent material, landscape, climate, vegetation, land use etc.) the most problable taxonomic unit can be detected. The automatic key is not only useful for translation but also for direct classification according to one of these systems. In the German system, the tool offers classification down to the soil type, in WRB to the reference soil group and the qualifiers for the lower level units. WRB reference soil groups which have no equivalent in the German system (which does not define soils not occurring in Germany) are not translated. In the presentation, four examples of translation will be given, two in each direction, one each based on all diagnostic data, the other just on the name of the taxonomic unit without any additional data. It is expected that the tool tremendously helps soil scientists to classify their soils correctly.