Adding a Reader as a Resource

When you add a reader as a resource, you are inserting a reference to a dataset to be used in the workspace. This reader will not perform any actual data reading, except when up-to-date schema is required at runtime. When required, schema may be requested from that reader.

Currently, this option is only used by the writers that are configured to use Dynamic Parameters.

In the dynamic mode, a writer will extract schema information from one or more of the specified readers or reader resources to use during a translation. This feature is particularly useful when a writer needs to get the schema and features from several different datasets.

The difference between a Reader and a Reader Resource is that adding a Reader will also add all the associated feature types – a reader resource can be used as a source for schema without actually providing any feature types.

Setting up the Reader Resource

Select Readers > Add Reader as Resource or right-click Workspace Resources in the Navigator:

The process in Workbench is similar to adding a workspace Reader. You will need to select the dataset file (or group of files) that you want to add as a resource (FME can usually determine the format from the file extension, and will automatically populate the Format field). If required, specify any additional format parameters.

After you click OK, the log file will display the processing statistics associated with the selected dataset, and you will see a Translation SUCCESSFUL message, indicating that Workbench has successfully processed the dataset.

You will see an additional Workspace Resources parameter in the Navigator window:

This Reader will remain in the list as a resource of the workspace.

Setting up the Writer to use the Reader Resource

When you want to use the Reader in a translation, open the Writer Feature Type Properties. Clicking Dynamic Properties enables the Schema Sources and Schema Definition fields.

Click the Browse button beside the Schema Sources field to select from a list of existing schema readers. Only the readers that you have selected will be used at runtime.

Changing Dynamic Schema Properties

In most cases, you can use the default schema properties of the dynamic writer. However, there are some parameters you can adjust.

To display dynamic schema parameters, open the dynamic writer Feature Type Properties dialog, and click the Browse button beside Schema Definition:

Feature Type Name

Controls the name of the destination feature type that is written.

• Default: Uses either the source schema or the schema reader feature type name.
• Fixed: Uses the name of the feature type in the workspace, or another name that you specify.
• From Attribute: Has the same effect as dataset fanout, with a new feature type for each value of the specified attribute.

Schema definition

Defines how elements in the schema definition of the feature type are named.

• Default: Schema elements are named based on the feature type name, as specified above.
• Named by Attribute: Schema elements are named based on the specified attribute.

Geometry

Defines how the geometry type of the feature class is derived.

• From Schema Definition: Geometry type is derived from the source schema.
• Fixed: Geometry type is forced to the specified value. (Some formats, such as Esri Shape, have a fixed geometry).
• First Feature Defines Geometry Type: The first feature to reach the writer is used to set the geometry type.

Attributes to remove

This option allows you to remove attributes from the feature. Enter the names of any attributes you do not want in the destination feature (for example, OBJECTID, SHAPE_Area, and any others).

See also

About Dynamic Workspaces

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