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PythonCreator

Creates features using the Python script supplied, and sends them into the workspace for processing. The Python script must be in the form of a Python class, with the code responsible for creating the features located in the close() method.

Features are created via the FME Objects Python API. To view the API documentation, navigate to your FME installation folder and go to this location: fmeobjects\python\apidoc\index.html.

Example Class

The example below creates a random number of features, between 0 and 9.

import fmeobjects
import random
 
class FeatureCreator(object):
def __init__(self):
self.number = random.random()
 
def close(self):
for i in range(1, int(self.number*10)):
feature = fmeobjects.FMEFeature()
feature.setAttribute("feature_count", i)
self.pyoutput(feature)

Script Editing

A PythonCreator transformer can call scripts stored in the transformer itself or stored globally for the entire workspace:

  • To store a Python script with a specific PythonCreator transformer, use the “Python Script” property of the transformer.
  • To store a Python script globally, click the Advanced Workspace Parameter in the Navigator, and double-click Startup Python Script. Storing scripts globally has the advantage of keeping your Python logic centralized, which makes editing and maintenance easier. This is useful if you want to have multiple PythonCreator transformers throughout your workspace that use the same script.

If you are using extensive Python libraries that you do not want to store inside a workspace: to avoid duplication, you can access .py files on the file system using Python’s import command. In addition to the standard Python module locations, FME will also search the location of the workspace for an imported Python module.

Parameters

ClosedPython Script

This is the Python script to be executed. If the Python script is stored as the Startup Python Script for the workspace (as described above in Script Editing) you can leave this parameter blank.

ClosedClass to Process Features

The name of the Python Class within the script that PythonCreator will use to begin execution. For the above example, set this parameter to FeatureCreator.

ClosedAttributes to Expose

Exposes any attributes that are created by the Python script being executed so they can be used by other transformers.

Editing Transformer Parameters

Using a set of menu options, transformer parameters can be assigned by referencing other elements in the workspace. More advanced functions, such as an advanced editor and an arithmetic editor, are also available in some transformers. To access a menu of these options, click beside the applicable parameter. For more information, see Transformer Parameter Menu Options.

Transformer Categories

Infrastructure

Dependencies

An FME installation includes a Python interpreter, which is used by default for all Python processing.

FME 2012 ships with Python version 2.7. The FME Objects Python API supports Python 2.5 to 2.7.

To choose a different Python interpreter for FME, change the FME Options:

  • Select Tools > FME Options, and click the Runtime icon:

  • Under Python Interpreter, check the box Use Custom Python Interpreter.
  • Browse to the location of the Python DLL that you wish to use (for example, python26.dll).
  • Click OK to save the changes.

FME Licensing Level

FME Professional edition and above

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