FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME

Desktop

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Document and Copyright Information

Safe Software Inc. makes no warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose regarding these materials, and makes such materials available solely on an
as-is basis.
In no event shall Safe Software Inc. be liable to anyone for special, collateral, incidental, or consequential damages in
connection with or arising out of purchase or use of these materials. The sole and exclusive liability of Safe Software Inc.,
regardless of the form or action, shall not exceed the purchase price of the materials described herein.
This manual describes the functionality and use of the software at the time of publication. The software described herein, and
the descriptions themselves, are subject to change without notice.

Data Sources
City of Vancouver
Unless otherwise stated, the data used here originates from open data made available by the City of Vancouver, British
Columbia (data.vancouver.ca). It contains information licensed under the Open Government License - Vancouver.

Others
Forward Sortation Areas: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census Digital Boundary Files, 2013. Reproduced and distributed on an "as
is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. This data includes information copied with permission from Canada Post
Corporation.
Digital Elevation Model: GeoBase
Fire Hall Data: Some attribute data adapted from content 2013 by Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Fire_and_Rescue_Services), used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
license
Stanley Park GPS Trail: Used with kind permission of VancouverTrails.com. See
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/stanley-park/.

Copyright
20052015 Safe Software Inc. All rights are reserved.

Revisions
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document. Safe Software Inc. regrets any errors and omissions that
may occur and would appreciate being informed of any errors found. Safe Software Inc. will correct any such errors and
omissions in a subsequent version, as feasible. Please contact us at:
Safe Software Inc.
Phone: 604-501-9985
Fax: 604-501-9965
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.safe.com
Safe Software Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors in this document or their consequences, and reserves the right to
make improvements and changes to this document without notice.

Trademarks
FME is a registered trademarks of Safe Software Inc. All brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or organizations.

Document Information

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Document Name:
Updated:

Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

January 2015

Software Version Information

FME Desktop 2015 is Version 7.14 of the FME software.
As of 2013, the version number for FME software will be indicated in the
Properties dialog box of the fme.dll:
File Version:

<ReleaseYear>.<MajorVersion>.<MinorVersion>.<BuildNumber>

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Contents
Introduction

Training Pathway

FME Version

Contents

What is FME?

What's the First Step?

Chapter 1 - Data Inspection

10

In this chapter

10

Congratulations! You have now:

11

Exercise 1.a: Starting an FME Application

12

Exercise 1.b: Overlaying Data in the FMEData Inspector

16

Getting Help

20

Conclusion

21

Chapter 2 - Format Translation

22

In this chapter

22

What is Data Translation?

22

Exercise 2.a: Using the FME Quick Translator

23

FMEWorkbench

27

Exercise 2.b: Quick Translations in FME Workbench

31

Conclusion

38

Chapter 3 - Data Restructuring

39

Exercise 3.a: Structural Transformation with FME Workbench

40

Transformers

49

Exercise 3.b: Structural Transformation with Workbench Transformers

51

Conclusion

59

Chapter 4 - Content Transformation

60

Content Transformation

60

Exercise 4.a: Content Transformation with FME Workbench

61

Conclusion

72

Chapter 5 - Data Reprojection

73

In this chapter

73

Coordinate Systems

73

Data Reprojection

73

Exercise 5.a: Coordinate Reprojection with FME Workbench

75

Dynamic Workspaces

81

Exercise 5.b: Dynamic Coordinate Reprojection

82

Conclusion

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Introduction
This tutorial is a recommended part of all the FME Training
Pathways

Training Pathway
This tutorial is a basic introduction to using FME and is part of the FME Training Pathway
system.
No prior knowledge of FME Desktop is required to follow its instructions.

FME Version
This tutorial specifically covers the use of FME Desktop 2015 edition. Older versions of FME
may not have some of the functionality described in this tutorial.

Contents
This tutorial consists of five individual chapters. Each chapter has its own topic and exercises.
The FME Desktop installation DVD includes a set of movies which cover each chapter of this
tutorial. They can be accessed on the disk by browsing to the folder Tutorial.

Data Inspection
This chapter explains what sample data is required for this tutorial, and where to download it
from. It also covers viewing the sample data in the FMEData Inspector.

Format Translation
The first task for most new FME users is translation of spatial data from one format to another.
This chapter shows how to quickly translate data between different formats, using both the FME
Quick Translator and FME Workbench.

Data Restructuring
Format translations are much more effective when they can be customized to produce output
data in a particular structure. This chapter explains how to use FME Workbench to go beyond
quick translation, and produce data in a structure that can be used seamlessly by the end user.

Introduction

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Content Transformation
Data Transformation in FME can go further than simple restructuring, and include manipulating
the actual content of data during a format translation. This chapter covers using FME
Workbench to transform spatial and attribute components, demonstrating FMEs ability to add
significant value to translated data. It also covers how to translate more than one format of
data simultaneously.

Data Reprojection
In order to be able to share spatial data, it is often necessary to reproject that data into a more
suitable coordinate system. This chapter shows how to reproject data within FME Workbench,
and also demonstrates how to handle multiple source files using a Dynamic schema.

Introduction

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Introduction to FME
FME is a spatial data transformation platform that helps
organizations more easily overcome a range of spatial data
interoperability challenges. It is available in both desktop and
server solutions.

What is FME?
FME enables both Translation and Transformation of spatial data to overcome the twin barriers
to interoperability:
l

Data Type (CAD, GIS, BIM, etc)

Data Format

FME is classified as a Spatial ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) tool, designed to help users master
more spatial data transformation challenges than any other technology.
l

Extract is the ability to read any format of spatial data.

Transform is the ability to manipulate data during the translation process.

Load is the ability to write the data in any other format.

Introduction

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

With Data Transformation, the output from an FME process can be tailored to match a required
structure, and can even be greater than the sum of the inputs.
The key FME Desktop application is FME Workbench, an intuitive point and click interface for
graphically defining translations and transformations as a flow of data.
FME Quick Translator is an application for carrying out basic, non-customized translations.
FME Data Inspector is an application for visually inspecting spatial data.

Introduction

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

What's the First Step?

Now that you have an idea about what FMEcan do, your first step in the FME learning program
is to review the next chapter: Data Inspection.

Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the
FMEpedia knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

Introduction

FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Chapter 1 - Data Inspection

In this chapter
l

Installing the sample data

Starting an FME application

Getting Help

Carrying out the exercises in this tutorial requires a set of sample data available from either the Safe
Software web site or the installation DVD.
Follow these steps to download and install the FME sample dataset from the Safe Software web site.
1) Open a web browser and visit: http://www.safe.com/fmedata.

2) There are two datasets available. One is a full dataset with nearly 500mb of example data. The
other is a 100mb subset specifically for the FME Desktop and Server tutorials.
The Tutorials dataset is all you need to complete the exercises in this document; however the Full
dataset has a wider range of formats and data types that you may find useful to experiment with.
Click the correct link to download your chosen set of FME sample data.
3) Download the file and extract its contents. Where possible, choose the root folder of the C:\ drive
to extract the data.

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The data will be automatically extracted into a folder called FMEData2015.

Choosing a different location than C:\ will not prevent you from using this tutorial, but
predefined translations within the FMEData folder will require editing to locate the data.

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Downloaded and installed FME Desktop

Licensed FME Desktop

Installed the FMEData demo dataset

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Exercise 1.a: Starting an FME Application

Now that the FME sample data is downloaded, you are ready to launch an application.
Exercise 1a Starting an FME Application
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Parks (MapInfo TAB format)

Parcel Boundaries (AutoCADDWG format)
Interopolis Orthophoto Images (GeoTIFF format)

Overall Goal

View city parks and parcel data overlaid onto a raster image and inspect the data

Demonstrates

Startup and use of the FME Data Inspector

The FME Data Inspector

The FME Data Inspector is a tool for visually inspecting spatial data, regardless of type or format.
This application is a good introduction to the functionality of FME.
Follow these steps to start the FME Data Inspector and view some spatial data.
1) From the Windows start menu, select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015 >
FMEData Inspector. The exact start path may vary according to the operating system being used.
2) On the FME Data Inspector menubar, click File > Open Dataset to open the Select Dataset to
View dialog box. Fields with a red background are mandatory fields.

3) To specify the source data format, click in the Format field and start typing "mapi."
A filtered list of formats appears.
When MapInfo TAB (MITAB) appears in the list, press Enter or click to select it.
Alternatively, the source format can be defined by clicking on the Browse button at the right of the
Format field, and using the Reader Gallery dialog box.
4) To select the TAB data to view, click the Browse tool (the [] icon for the Dataset field).

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In the file browser, navigate to, navigate to C:\FMEData2015\Data\Parks and select the Parks.tab
file.

5) Click OK to open the TAB file in the FME Data Inspectors display window.
The MapInfo TAB dataset is now open in the FME Data Inspector.

Inspecting Attributes
Follow these steps to inspect a spatial feature, and to view attribute and other information.
1) You can verify that this tool is activated in one of the following ways:
l

Click the Select Features tool button if it is not already activated.

The

icon has an engaged appearance on the toolbar.

Place your cursor on the View window. When the letter i appears to the right of the cursor,
the tool is active.

2) Click one of the spatial features in the display window.

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Details about the feature are displayed in the Information window, on the right hand side of the Data
Inspector.
Notice that the Feature Information window displays: user attributes and FME format attributes, as
well as details about the features coordinate system, plus other information:

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Also notice that the TableView window is a layout of the user attributes for all features in the Parks
layer, with the selected Park feature highlighted:

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Exercise 1.b: Overlaying Data in the FMEData Inspector

A useful feature of FME Data Inspector is its ability to overlay multiple datasets in different formats
within a single window.
Follow these steps to add a second dataset to the view, and to set the display window order.

1) To add a dataset, on the Inspector toolbar click the Add (not Open) Dataset icon (

).

The equivalent menubar tool is found under File > Add Dataset.
The Select Dataset to Add dialog box appears.
2) Select the Autodesk AutoCAD DWG/DXF format.
3) In the Dataset field, click the dataset Browse button and navigate to
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Parcels.
4) Select the DWG file Parcels.dwg and click OK to accept the selection.
By selecting the format before the dataset, you can browse only those datasets that
correspond to the requested format. This narrows your search and makes it quicker to find
what you need.

5) Click OK to add the dataset to the display window.

The newly-added data appears above the original MapInfo Parks dataset.

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6) In the Display Control Window (left side of Inspector), dragging the dataset icon
beside the
MITAB (city_parks) dataset can be used to move it above or below the properties datasets in the
display window.

Notice that the park features now appear above - and therefore obscure - the AutoCAD parcel data.

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The FMEData Inspector can also add background maps to the display. Follow these steps to add a
background map.
7) Click Tools >FMEOptions on the menubar.
8) In the field for Background Format notice all of the different online mapping services that can be
used to provide background information. To use local data - as we will in this example - select Other
FMEFormats.
9) Set Format to GeoTIFF (Geo-referenced Tagged Image File Format). Browse to the folder
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Orthophotos and select all of the TIF files in there.
Background data - in this case raster - will be displayed. (It may take some time to render.)

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Congratulations! You have now:

l

Started the FME Data Inspector

Opened a dataset for inspection

Queried a feature

Added a second dataset to the view

Changed the display order of datasets

Added Background Data

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Getting Help
FME Workbench includes extensive, context-sensitive help. For assistance with a tool or format, click
the item and then press F1 to open the help system.

Further Resources
Below is a list of other technical resources to help you make the most of FME and FME Server.
Sales
To obtain an evaluation copy or for sales enquiries, please contact your Safe Software Account
Manager or [email protected].
Training
Safe Software offers a number of training courses in FME Workbench and FME Server. For more
information, see our website at http://www.safe.com/training.
Documentation
The FME Server Administrators Guide is available with every FME Server installation and online at
our website: FME Server Administrator's Guide (HTML).
Technical Resources
Many other resources for FME Desktop and Server can be located at http://fmepedia.safe.com.
Support
If you need assistance with the tutorial or have any other technical questions about FME Server,
please feel free to contact the FME support team through the contact form on their web site at:
www.safe.com/support.

Chapter 1 - Data Inspection

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Conclusion

Next Step
Now that you have completed this chapter, your next step in the FME learning program is to continue
to the next chapter: Format Translation.

Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the FMEpedia
knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

Chapter 1 - Data Inspection

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Chapter 2 - Format Translation

This chapter covers basic methods for translating spatial data from
one format to another

In this chapter
l

What is Data Translation?

Using the FME Quick Translator

FME Workbench

Quick translations in FME Workbench

What is Data Translation?

Data Translation entails the changing of data format to facilitate the interoperability of spatial
data.
Quick Translation involves the translation of data format, without any customization; i.e.
translation without transformation.

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Exercise 2.a: Using the FME Quick Translator

The simplest method of data translation is to use the FME Quick Translator application.
Exercise 2a Using the FME Quick Translator
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Mapping Grid (GMLformat)

Overall Goal

Translate the Interopolis mapping grid dataset from GML to EsriShape

format.

Demonstrates Quick translation with the FME Quick Translator

The FME Quick Translator

The FME Quick Translator is used mainly for carrying out one-off translations of data formats.
It is not intended to be used for transforming data or creating repeatable processes.
Follow these steps to carry out a simple Quick Translation using the FME Quick Translator.
1) Select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015> Utilities > FME Quick
Translator from the Windows start menu.
The FME Quick Translator will launch.
2) Select Translate from the GettingStarted dialog.

The Set Translation Parameters dialog box appears.

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3) In the Reader Format field set the reader format as GML (Geography Markup Language).
4) Click the Browse button next to to the Reader Dataset field, and navigate to
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Boundaries.
5) Select the file CityGrid.gml. Click on Open to accept the file.

6) In the Writer Format field, select Esri Shape from the Writer Gallery.
7) Click the Browse button adjacent to the Writer Dataset field, and navigate to
C:\FMEData2015\Output\Tutorial.

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Click on Select Folder to accept this output location.

8) Click OK. The translation will start and be complete in approximately two seconds.

9) Why not open the newly created Shape dataset in the FMEDataInspector to prove that the
translation has worked as expected and contains a grid of rectangular polygons?

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FME Tutorial: Getting Started with FME Desktop

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Started the FME Quick Translator

Translated data from one format to another using the Quick Translator

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FMEWorkbench
FME Workbench has two immediate advantages over the Quick Translator:
l

It allows a translation to be saved and re-used

It allows user-customization of a translation

Before attempting to use Workbench, it will be useful to read this introductory information
about the application.

Workbench Interface
The FME Workbench user interface looks like this:

1. Menu bar and Toolbar

2. Navigator Window
3. Canvas
4. Transformer Gallery
5. Help Window
6. Log Window

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Be aware that windows can be moved and docked in different locations; therefore not
every installation of FME will have exactly the same layout.

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Menu Bar and Toolbar

The menu bar at the top of the Workbench window contains menus with commands that affect
the entire canvas.
The toolbar is located under the menu bar and provides tooltips for each icon shown.
Commonly-Used Tools
l

File tools let you create, open and save workspaces.

File tools also let you run a translation (in one of three different modes), pause it, and
stop it.

Edit tools let you cut, copy, and paste objects, as well as undo and redo changes.

View tools let you explore the Workbench canvas. They include select, pan, zoom in,
zoom out, zoom to extents, and full screen.

Insert tools let you add new objects to a workspace.

The Launch Inspection Application tool launches the FME Data Inspector.

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Align tools let you arrange a set of selected objects into horizontal or vertical groups.

Publish tools let you publish to and download workspaces from FME Server.

Many objects in Workbench have a context-sensitive menu with shortcuts to toolbar tools, and
can be opened by right-clicking the object.

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Exercise 2.b: Quick Translations in FME Workbench

Although FME Workbench enables customization of a translation, it can also be used for a quick
translation from one format to another without data transformation.
Exercise 2b Quick Translations in FME Workbench
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Parks (MapInfo TAB format)

Overall Goal

Translate the City Parks dataset from MapInfo TAB to GML.

This is the first step in a larger project to create data suitable for analysis by
a Grounds Maintenance team.

Demonstrates Quick translation with FME Workbench

Follow these steps to carry out a Quick Translation exercise using FME Workbench.
1) From the Windows start menu, select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015>
FME Workbench.
FME Workbench will launch, and the FME Workbench start tab appears.
2) In the Getting Started box, click the link Generate workspace

3) In the Generate Workspace dialog, fill in the Reader fields as follows:

Format
Dataset

MapInfo TAB (MITAB)

C:\FMEData2015\Data\Parks\Parks.tab

This defines what data is to be read, and its format.

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4) Now, fill in the Writer fields as follows:

Format
Dataset

GML (Geography Markup Language)

C:\FMEData2015\Output\Tutorial\Parks.gml

To name the output, click the Browse button and navigate to C:\FMEData2015\Output\Tutorial.
In the File Name field of the Select File dialog, type the file name as Parks.gml and then click
Save.

Ensure that the Static Schema default option is selected, and then click OK.

The new workspace is now created. Workspace is the FME term for a translation created and
edited in FME Workbench.

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The objects in the workspace represent what is known as Schema in FME.

If you cannot see the attributes listed under

each feature type, then click on the expand
icon (top-left of each feature type) to expand
the list.

The object on the left-hand side represents a layer to be read by the Reader (in this case a
MapInfo data table).
The object on the right-hand side represents a layer to be written by the Writer (in this case to
a GML layer).
As part of FME terminology, these objects are called Feature Types.
Multiple layers in the input or output would be represented by multiple feature type objects in
the workspace.

By default FME sets up the translation to replicate the source. As a result, the writer
feature type and its attributes have identical names to that of the Reader.

The lines between the reader and writer feature types are called Connections. They represent
the flow of data within the workspace.
l

The thin-line connections represent the matching of attributes.

The green arrows at the end of each connection are called Ports.

Ports on the right of an object are called Output Ports; on the left side, Input Ports.

5) To save the translation, click the Save button on the Workbench menu bar.

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When prompted, save the workspace to <Documents>\My FME Workspaces\CityParks.fmw.

6) To initiate the translation, press the green Run button.

The translation runs successfully.

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7) To inspect the translation output, right-click the writer feature type (GML:city_parks) and
choose the option Inspect.

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The FME Data Inspector starts up and the Select Dataset to View dialog opens. Click OK.

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This will open up the data for viewing within the FME Data Inspector.

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Started FME Workbench

Created a quick translation

Saved and run the translation

Inspected the output

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Conclusion

Next Step
Now that you have completed this chapter, your next step in the FME learning program is to
continue to the next chapter: Data Restructuring.

Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the
FMEpedia knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

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Chapter 3 - Data Restructuring

This chapter covers the basics of how to restructure data as it is
translated from one format to another. This is a form of data
transformation.

In this chapter
l

What is Data Transformation?

Structural Transformation

Exercise: Structural Transformation with FME Workbench

Transformers

Exercise: Structural Transformation with Workbench Transformers

What is Data Transformation?

Data Transformation is the ability to manipulate data during format translation.
Such manipulation can take the form of creation, deletion, or modification of information.
Transformation can take place on either spatial or non-spatial (attribute) information.
Transformation can be carried out on the structure of the data (i.e. the data is being
restructured) or the content of the data. This chapter covers the transformation of data
structures.

Structural Transformation
Transformation of data structure in FME is vital to produce data in a form that can be used
seamlessly by the end user, a key requirement for transparent data interoperability.
Examples of structural transformation are:
l

Adding and/or removing attributes

Editing attribute names and/or data types

Merging and/or dividing different data layers

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Exercise 3.a: Structural Transformation with FME Workbench

Translations in FME Workbench can be easily modified to restructure data, by simply editing
the writer feature type and/or adjusting its related connections.
Exercise 3a Structural Transformation in FME Workbench
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Parks (MapInfo TAB format)

Overall Goal

Restructure data during a translation from MapInfo TAB to GML.

Demonstrates

Restructuring (Schema Editing and Schema Mapping) with FME Workbench

Follow these steps to carry out a simple Data Transformation exercise using FME Workbench.
This exercise continues on from the exercise "Quick Translations in FME Workbench" from the
previous chapter. You may skip the first two steps if you have that workspace already open.
1) Select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015 > FME Workbench from the
Windows start menu.

FME Workbench will launch, and the FME Workbench start tab appears.
CityParks.fmw will appear in the Recent Workspaces part of the Start tab.
2) Click on the link to open the workspace.

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3) Click on the expand icons on both the reader and writer feature types to expand the list of
user attributes on these types.
The first task is to rename the destination attributes. Right-click on the writer attribute called
ParkName and choose the Rename option.

4) Enter Name as the new attribute name, and then press Enter.

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Because FME is case sensitive, be sure to enter attribute and feature type names
exactly as they appear throughout this tutorial.

5) Repeat the process to rename a second attribute from ParkId to simply ID.
This overall process is called Schema Editing.
6) Another schema editing task is to add new attributes to a writer schema.
Click on the Settings button on the right-hand side of the writer feature type (GML:Parks).

The Feature Type Properties dialog box opens.

Click on the User Attributes tab to get a list of user attributes:
Click in the empty space under SpecialFeatures (or click on the + button at the foot of the
dialog) and type in "ParkSize" to create a new attribute name.

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Set the data type of ParkSize to xml_real32, by clicking on the Type field down arrow and
selecting that data type.

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7) Repeat this process to create an attribute called "BikePaths", also of type xml_real32.
Then click OK.

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When arrows are red it means the port

has no input.
However, a red input arrow is not
considered an error because sometimes
you may not actually want any input to a
particular port.
In this case, it is not a concern because
the setup process is not yet complete.

The next task is to create a separate output layer

for parks with off-leash dog areas, since in this example such parks require extra maintenance
and must be treated as a special case.
8) Right-click on the GML:Parks Writer feature type and choose the Duplicate option.

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9) Drag the created duplicate of the first feature type underneath the original feature type.
When the workspace is run there will now be two layers in the output GML dataset; although, no
action has yet been taken to actually separate the data.
10) To differentiate the output layers, rename the feature types as follows:

Click on the duplicate writer feature type (GML:Parks00). Then press the F2 key and change the
name to DogParks.

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11) Click on the green arrow emerging from the MITAB:Parks Reader feature type, and then
drag a connection to the red arrow on the GML:DogParks Writer feature type.
12) Repeat the previous step, this time connecting the attributes ParkName to Name and
ParkId to ID.

This overall process is called Schema Mapping.

13) Save your workspace.
To view the resulting changes, you may now run the workspace and inspect the output. Again
note that we've done nothing yet to actually separate the dog park data, nor fill in values for
the ParkSize and BikePath attributes.

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Congratulations! You have now:

l

Renamed attributes in the destination schema

Added new attributes to the destination schema

Created a new layer (feature type) in the destination schema

Renamed feature types

Mapped Reader features and attributes to a Writer

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Transformers
Besides schema editing and schema mapping, transformation can also be carried out using
blue-colored objects in FME Workbench called Transformers.
Transformation occurs as the data is passed from reader to writer through a series of these
transformers.
There are approximately 500 different transformers available within Workbench and the
FMEStore.

You may already have seen a transformer in a prior workspace, since FME
sometimes inserts a GeometryFilter transformer automatically in a new workspace.
This allows FME to perform the restructuring necessary for translation to a specific
format.

Transformer Info
A parameters button is located on the top right of a transformer. This button appears as a cog
wheel whose color defines its status.

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Many transformers have mandatory parameters that must be set. Luckily the majority contain
default values that will be acceptable. A yellow parameters button indicates the transformer is
using default values for any mandatory fields.
The workspace will run, but it is recommended that you confirm the default values are correct
for your needs before starting the translation.
When the parameters button is red it means that one or more mandatory fields do not have
defaults. In this case, a value must be set before the translation can be run.
A parameters button whose color matches the transformer (usually light blue) indicates that all
parameter values have already been checked and accepted.
Some transformers (like this Joiner) have extra decoration. This is to indicate transformers
that are fetching data into the workspace or sending data out of it.

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Exercise 3.b: Structural Transformation with Workbench Transformers

Translations in FME Workbench can easily be modified to restructure data by simply editing the
writer feature type, and/or adjusting the related connections.
Exercise 3b Structural Transformation with Workbench Transformers
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Parks (MapInfo TAB format)

Overall Goal

Restructure data during a translation from MapInfo TAB to GML.

This is another step in the larger project to create data suitable for analysis
by a Grounds Maintenance team.

Demonstrates Restructuring with FME Workbench transformers

Follow these steps to carry out an example of Data Transformation using transformers in FME
Workbench.
This exercise continues on from the previous exercise and assumes you will have the prior
workspace already open.

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At the moment, the workspace is duplicating data due to the connections from the Reader to
two different Writer feature types.

Therefore, the first task involves filtering out data into one feature type or another. This can be
done using a Tester transformer.

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1) Click in a blank space on the Workbench canvas. Start typing the characters "test." A list of
matching transformers will appear.

2) Select the transformer named Tester. The transformer is dropped onto the Workbench
canvas window.

3) Now the transformer must be set into the correct position. Click on the transformer and
start to drag it. A pink marker will appear in the top-left corner of the transformer.

4) Drag the transformer so the pink marker is on top of the connection between the
MAPINFO:Parks Reader feature type and GML:DogParks Writer feature type as shown (here
with the attribute list collapsed).

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The connection will become highlighted to confirm that the transformer is in the correct
position.
5) Drag a new connection between the Tester:Failed port and the GML:Parks Writer feature
type.

6) Click on the existing connection between MITAB:Parks and GML:Parks.Then press the Delete
key to remove it.

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Because overlapping connections are frowned upon in a workspace, re-arrange the workspace
objects to avoid this (as shown). In effect, the two Writer feature types swap positions.

Notice that the attribute ports belonging to the FAILED features are yellow. This is
because FME cannot identify an automatic connection. When arrows are yellow like
this, the values will be dropped when the workspace is run.

Drag connections as follows to reconnect the attribute Schema Mapping:

Tester:FAILED:ParkName > GML:Parks:Name
Tester:FAILED:ParkId > GML:Parks:ID

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The next task consists in setting up the test to be carried out by the Tester. The test will check
if the DogPark field is set to "Y" (meaning "Yes").
7) Click on the parameters button for the Tester (it should be red). A Tester Parameters dialog
box will open.
8) In the Test Clauses section, double-click the Left Value field, click the drop-down arrow,
choose "Attribute Value" and select the attribute DogPark.

9) Double-click on the Operator field and select "Contains" as the operator.

Then double-click in the Right Value field and type the letter "Y." By using "Contains,"the test
will work whether the data is set to "Y" or "Yes", plus it will be case-insensitive, where an
equals (=) operator would not be.
Click OK to accept the test.

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10) Save the workspace, so it can be reused later on, but don't run it yet.
Output from a workspace can be inspected, without actually writing a new dataset, by using a
redirect option.
11) Click the menu bar option Writers > Redirect to FMEData Inspector.

12) Run the workspace. The data will be divided into two output layers and sent to the FME
Data Inspector as a preview.
If the Tester is set up correctly, then the feature counts in the completed workspace will show
that 80 features were read from the Parks dataset, of which only seven (7) had off-leash dog
areas and the remaining 73 did not.

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The feature count display shows how many features passed through each link. The
display continuously updates as features pass through the workspace. This function
helps analyze the results of a workspace, and provides a reference for debugging if
the destination results or performance are not what you expected. Feature counts
are also written to the Log file but you can find the references more quickly on the
links in a workspace.
To enable feature count display, click the Display Feature Counts tool
on the
toolbar or click Tools > FME Options > Workbench and check Display feature
counts. Click the tool again to turn off feature counts (although you will have to run
the workspace again to refresh the display).

13) Select the same menu bar tool again to turn off the redirect option. Run the workspace
again to create the correct output.

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Located a Workbench transformer using Quick Add

Placed a transformer using Drag-and-Insert

Restructured data with a transformer and correctly schema mapped it

Set up a transformers parameters

Used Redirect to Inspection Application to preview the results of a

translation

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Conclusion

Next Step
Now that you have completed this chapter, your next step in the FME learning program is to
continue to the next chapter: Content Transformation.

Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the
FMEpedia knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

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Chapter 4 - Content Transformation

This chapter covers the basics of how to transform data content as
it is translated from one format to another.

In this chapter
l

Content Transformation

Exercise: Content Transformation with FME Workbench

Content Transformation
Transformation of data content occurs when the spatial or attribute components of a dataset
are manipulated.
Examples of content transformation are:
l

Concatenating or splitting attribute values

Calculating new attribute values

Clipping spatial data to a predefined boundary

Snapping vertices to close gaps in features

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Exercise 4.a: Content Transformation with FME Workbench

Besides restructuring data, Workbench transformers can be used to transform the content of
data.
Exercise 4a Content Transformation with FME Workbench
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

City Parks (MapInfo TAB format)

Overall Goal

Measure the area of each city park, and the total length of bike path that runs
through each one.
This is the final step in a project to create data suitable for analysis by a
Grounds Maintenance team.

Demonstrates Using transformers to transform data content

Follow these steps to carry out a Content Transformation exercise using FME Workbench.
This exercise continues on from the exercise "Structural Transformations with Workbench
Transformers'" from the previous chapter. You may skip the first two steps if you have that
workspace already open.
1) Select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015> FME Workbench from the
Windows start menu.
2) CityParks.fmw will appear in the Recent Files part of the Start tab. Click on the link to open
the workspace.

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To measure the area of each park feature, an AreaCalculator transformer must be used.
Calculator is the term used for transformers that compute new attribute values.
3) In the Workbench canvas, click on the connection between MITAB:Parks and the Tester.

4) Start matching the name of the AreaCalculator transformer by typing "Area."

The Quick Add list of matching transformers will appear beneath.

A string of characters from the

middle of the name, such as
"reac" in this case, can
sometimes find the required
transformer with fewer
superfluous matches.

5) Select the AreaCalculator transformer. The transformer is dropped automatically into place.
Re-arrange the workplace objects to avoid overlapping connections:

Notice that even though the area of each park is being calculated, the ParkSize attribute is not
receiving that information.

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Thats because the AreaCalculator records its information in a default attribute called _area.
The new attribute (_area) can be manually mapped to ParkSize, but there is a better way.
6) Click the yellow-colored parameters button on the AreaCalculator transformer to open up
the parameters dialog box.
The Area Attribute parameter defines the attribute to receive the calculated area.
Click in the Area Attribute field, and rename the attribute as ParkSize to match the name of the
writer feature type definition. Then click OK.

Now FME can automatically map the measured area to the correct schema attribute.

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The next transformation requires bike path information to calculate the length of bike path per
park. Because this information is held in a separate dataset, it is necessary to add a new
Reader to the workspace.
7) Select Readers > Add Reader from the menu bar.

8) When the Add Reader dialog box opens, fill in the format field as follows and then select the
three specified Shape files:
Format

Datasets

Esri Shape
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Transportation\Cycling\BikePaths_L.shp
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Transportation\Cycling\BikePaths_M.shp
C:\FMEData2015\Data\Transportation\Cycling\BikePaths_S.shp

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Click OK to add the new Reader to the workspace.

Calculating the length of bike path that runs through each park requires that the bike path
features are clipped to the park extents. This can be done with a Clipper transformer.
9) Click on a blank area of the Workbench canvas and start typing letters to match the Clipper
transformer name (e.g. "clip")
The Quick Add list of matching transformers appears beneath.
Select the Clipper transformer.

10) Drag connections between the SHAPE:BikePaths Reader feature types and the
Clipper:Clippee port.
11) Drag a second connection from the MITAB:Parks Reader feature type, onto the
Clipper:Clipper port.
The first section of workspace will now resemble this layout:

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12) Click on the Clipper transformer parameters button to open the Clipper Parameters dialog
box.
Set the Clipper Type parameter to Multiple Clippers (or ensure it is already set) and click OK.

The next task involves measuring the length of the remaining streams.
13) Click on the yellow arrow of the Cllippee:Inside output port. It will be highlighted in orange
to confirm its selection.

14) Start typing a match for the LengthCalculator transformer. "Length" or "thcal" would both
work. The Quick Add list of matching transformers appears beneath.
15) Select the LengthCalculator transformer. The transformer will be added to the workspace
and connected to the correct Clipper port. The parameters for this transformer can be checked,
but the defaults shouldnt need changing.

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Now that the length of each path is being calculated, it needs to be added to the park features
using an "overlayer" transformer. An overlayer transformer carries out a form of spatial join
upon the data.
Since bike path features are lines, and park features, areas, the LineOnAreaOverlayer is the
transformer to use.
16) Click on a blank area of the Workbench canvas and start typing the letters "overlay." The
Quick Add list of matching transformers appears beneath.
Select the LineOnAreaOverlayer transformer.

17) Drag a connection from the LengthCalculator:Output port to the LineOnAreaOverlayer:Line

input port.

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18) Drag a connection from the AreaCalculator:Output port to the LineOnAreaOverlayer:Area

input port. Don't worry if the connection lines overlap a little.

19) Open the LineOnAreaOverlayer Parameters dialog box.

Since often there is more than one bike path passing through a park, a list must be set.
A list is a special FME data structure that allows multiple values per attribute.
20) One of the parameters is called List Name. Click the expansion arrow beside Attribute
Accumulation, and again beside Generate List. Click in the List Name parameter and type
"MyList." Then click OK.

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The path lengths in the list need to be summed up, to use as a single result. This can be done
with a ListSummer transformer.
21) Click on the LineOnAreaOverlayer:Area output port. It will be highlighted in orange to
confirm its selection.
Start typing the letters "sum." The Quick Add list of matching transformers will appear
beneath.
Select the ListSummer transformer. The transformer will be added to the workspace and
connected to the LineOnAreaOverlayer:Area port.

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22) Open the ListSummer Parameters dialog box. Select the MyList{}._length as source list
attribute. To match the destination feature type schema, rename the Sum Attribute name to
BikePaths.
Click OK.
23) Drag a connection from the ListSummer:Output port to the Tester:Input port.
Notice that the BikePaths attributes on the Writer feature types now have a green input arrow,
indicating they are properly connected and receiving data.
24) Delete the existing connection between the AreaCalculator and the Tester transformer and
rearrange the transfomers to straighten out connections and ensure as few connections overlap
as possible.

25) Check and reconnect any attributes whose schema mapping has been lost (there shouldn't
be any, but you should check). Then save the workspace, run it, and inspect the output dataset.

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All features will now have a value for ParkSize and BikePaths, and will be divided into Parks
and Dog Parks.
This information will let the planning department calculate grounds maintenance costs for the
coming year.

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Used transformers to calculate new attribute values from spatial

measurements
Added a new reader to a workspace
Clipped one set of features using features from another set as a clip
boundary
Used a spatial overlay (spatial join) to transfer attributes from one set of
features to another
Used FME lists to store multiple values for a single attribute

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Conclusion

Next Step
Now that you have completed this chapter, your next step in the FME learning program is to
continue to the next chapter: Data Reprojection.

Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the
FMEpedia knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

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Chapter 5 - Data Reprojection

This chapter covers the basics of how to reproject data from one
coordinate system to another.

In this chapter
l

Coordinate Systems

Data Reprojection

Dynamic Workspaces

Coordinate Systems
Usually coordinate systems are associated with the term map projection; however, they also
involve:
l

Datum

Units

Spheroid

Ellipsoid

Origins and Offsets

Scale Factor

Data Reprojection
Reprojection can be considered a form of Data Transformation, but one which is unique enough
to deserve its own section.
Reprojection occurs naturally in FME whenever a destination coordinate system is specified
that is different to the source coordinate system.
Coordinate systems are specified in the Workbench Navigator window. The destination
coordinate system is specified by the user, whereas the source coordinate system can be
specified either by the user or within the dataset itself.

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Another method of reprojection is to use a transformer. The CsmapReprojector transformer is

preferred because it includes more parameters for greater control over how the reprojection is
carried out.

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Exercise 5.a: Coordinate Reprojection with FME Workbench

Coordinate reprojection is a very common task with FME Workbench.
Exercise 5a Coordinate Reprojection with FME Workbench
Scenario

FME user; City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

Bicycle Paths (EsriShape format)

Overall Goal

Create a workspace to reproject a series of EsriShape files.

Demonstrates

Data Reprojection, Dynamic Workspaces

Follow these steps to carry out a simple reprojection exercise using FME Workbench.
1) Select Start > All Programs > FME Desktop 2015 > FME Workbench from the
Windows start menu.
FME Workbench will launch, and the start screen appears.
2) Open the Generate Workspace dialog box, either through the Generate Workspace link on
the Start tab, or by using the shortcut ctrl-G.

3) In the Generate Workspace dialog box, fill in the Reader format field as EsriShape
Click the dataset browse button and browse to C:\FMEData2015\Data\Transportation\Cycling.
In the file browser select all three of the files with a .shp extension.

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Then click the Open button to accept these files as the workspace input.
4) Back in the Generate Workspace dialog box, fill in the Writer fields as:
Format
Dataset

Esri Shape
C:\FMEData2015\Output\Tutorial
Notice that the workspace is reading and writing using the same format, which
implies that this is solely a data transformation process, with no format translation.
This is a very common use for FME.

5) In the Workflow Options section, ensure the Dynamic Schema option is checked.

6) Now click OK to accept the chosen setup.

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The new workspace is created and can be set up to reproject the data.
7) Click on the connection between the source (Reader)Feature Type and the destination
(Writer) Feature Type. Start typing the word "Csmap." When the CsmapReprojector (not
CsmapAttributeReprojector) appears, click on it to insert an instance of this transformer into
the canvas.

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8) Click on the parameters button for the CsmapReprojector (it should be red). A parameters
dialog box will open. In the Destination Coordinate System parameter, enter "LL83." Leave the
Source Coordinate System as "<Read from Feature>."

This will cause the data to be reprojected from its original coordinate system to a LatitudeLongitude system with a datum of NAD83.
9) Save the workspace as BikePathReproject.fmw, and then run the translation.
Check the output folder to show that all of the files have been translated.

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10) Inspect one of the output files. One way to do this is to drag and drop a Shapefile from a
file explorer directly into the FME DataInspector.
NB: You only have to select the SHP file (the parent) rather than all files in the dataset. This is
the same for any multi-file dataset.

11) In the FME Data Inspector, query a feature to verify that the data has been reprojected to
the new coordinate system. The coordinate system for a queried feature is displayed near the
top of the Information window.

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12) Click on the coordinate system (it is a hyperlink) to open a dialog showing the coordinate
system properties:

Congratulations! You have now:

l

Reprojected data by using a CsmapReprojector transformer

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Dynamic Workspaces
The prior example used the dynamic schema option.
It would have worked just as well with a static schema, but dynamic has two major
advantages.
l

The workspace is much tidier.

The reader and writer both have only a single feature type, regardless of how many
source layers exist.

The workspace can be re-used for any source dataset.

The writer feature type has no attributes defined because it will dynamically create them
from any input data. Therefore it can use any source data (of the right format).

Dynamic schemas are powerful and make possible a huge number of different data
interoperability scenarios; far more than will be covered in this tutorial.
Novice FME users are advised to use static workspaces when carrying out structural
transformations, as data restructuring techniques are different in dynamic mode.
Dynamic schemas are easier to implement when the workspace is intended for
format translation only, or transformation of spatial content such as reprojection or
clipping.

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Exercise 5.b: Dynamic Coordinate Reprojection

The planning department wish to map the bicycle paths against an outline map of the city. To
do so the outline map must also be reprojected into Latitude/Longitude but, because the
previous example used a dynamic schema, the same workspace can be used to carry out the
reprojection.
Exercise 5b Dynamic Coordinate Reprojection
Scenario

FME user, City of Interopolis, Planning Department

Data

Vancouver Land Boundary (EsriShape format)

Overall Goal

Reproject anEsriShape dataset representing the city boundary

Demonstrates

Reusable workspaces

Follow these steps to re-use the previous example on a new dataset.

1) Open the workspace from the previous example (if not already open).
2) Right-click on the Reader feature type on the canvas, and choose the option to edit the
reader parameters. A dialog will open in which to change the data being read.

3) Browse to C:\FMEData2015\Data\Boundaries\LandBoundary and select the file

VancouverLandBoundary.shp. Click Open and then OK to accept these changes, then re-run the
workspace.
Inspect the output. The data will have been properly translated and transformed, even though
the original workspace was not designed with this particular data in mind.
Now the planning department will be able to visualize the bike paths alongside the city
boundary.

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Congratulations! You have now:

l

Used a dynamic schema to allow use of one workspace on multiple

datasets

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Conclusion

Next Steps
Now that you have completed this tutorial, your next step in the FME learning program offers a
number of different choices. You may either follow a specific path by studying a tutorial such as
FME for Raster Data, or go directly on to the FME Desktop Basic Training course.

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You might also check out the FME Server tutorial, to find out the basic uses of that product.
Further information on all training options is available on the Safe Software web site at
www.safe.com/training.
Many other resources for FME Desktop technical information can be located through the
FMEpedia knowledgebase at http://fmepedia.safe.com.

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