You are here: Geographic Transformations > Adding a Custom Transformation

Adding a Custom Transformation

Some datasets require a transformation that is not predefined in FME. In such a case, a custom transformation may be created. Transformation definitions may occur in an FME mapping file, as well as in the <FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/MyCoordSysDefs.fme file.

Note: See Geographic Transformations for more information about method names.

Single-step Transformation Syntax

XFORM_DEF <xformName> \

SRC_DTM <datum name> \

TRG_DTM <datum name> \

[DESC_NM <descriptive name>] \

[SOURCE <source>] \

[GROUP <group>] \

[EPSG_NBR <epsg #>] \

[INVERSE <yes|no>] \

[MAX_ITR <max iterations for inverse convergence>] \

[CNVRG_VAL <inverse convergence threshold for completion>] \

[ERROR_VAL <inverse convergence threshold for error reporting>] \

[ACCURACY <0-1000>] \

[EPSG_VAR <0-32767>] \

[MIN_LNG <longitude>] \

[MAX_LNG <longitude>] \

[MIN_LAT <latitude>] \

[MAX_LAT <latitude>] \

METHOD <transformation method> \

[DELTA_X <x translation>] \

[DELTA_Y <y translation>] \

[DELTA_Z <z translation>] \

[ROT_X <x rotation>] \

[ROT_Y <y rotation>] \

[ROT_Z <z rotation>] \

[XLATE_X <x rotation origin>] \

[XLATE_Y <y rotation origin>] \

[XLATE_Z <z rotation origin>] \

[BWSCALE <scale>] \

[GRID_FILE <format>,<direction>,<file path>]* \

[FALLBACK <xformName>]

Multi-step Transformation Syntax

PATH_DEF <pathName> \

[SRC_DTM <datum name>] \

[TRG_DTM <datum name>] \

[DESC_NM <descriptive name>] \

[SOURCE <source>] \

[GROUP <group>] \

[ACCURACY <0-1000>] \

[XFORM <xformName>,<direction>]+

Examples

Refer to file MyCoordSysDefs.fme in folder <FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject.

Transformation Definition Parameters

Name

Range

Description

Optional

Default

XFORM_DEF

CS-Map identifier name, as described in

<FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/MyCoordSysDefs.fme

The name of the single-step transformation being defined. No  
PATH_DEF

CS-Map identifier name, as described in

<FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/MyCoordSysDefs.fme

The name of the multi-step transformation being defined. No  
SRC_DTM Name of a datum The name of the source datum. If omitted for a Path, this transformation is never automatically selected.

XFORM: No

PATH: Yes

 
TRG_DTM Name of a datum The name of the target datum. If omitted for a Path, this transformation is never automatically selected.

XFORM: No

PATH: Yes

 
DESC_NM String A descriptive name for the transformation. Yes  
SOURCE String The individual or agency providing the transformation parameters. Yes  
GROUP String The group that will appear in the Geographic Transformation Gallery in Workbench. Yes  
EPSG_NBR Integer greater than or equal to zero Used for logging if greater than zero. Yes 0
INVERSE Yes/No If yes, transformation can be run in reverse (TRG_DTM -> SRC_DTM) Yes Yes
MAX_ITR Integer greater than or equal to zero Maximum number of iterations that are attempted when transformation is run reversed, in 2D. Yes 8
CNVRG_VAL Floating point number Convergence threshold: When a reversed 2D transformation is within this distance of the real answer, iteration halts. Yes 1.0E- 09
ERROR_VAL Floating point number larger than
CNVRG_VAL
Error threshold: When a reversed 2D transformation does not meet the CNVRG_VAL threshold after MAX_ITR iterations, the result is considered acceptable as long as it is closer than ERROR_VAL. Yes 1.0E- 06
METHOD See Geographic Transformations Transformation method to be applied. No  
DELTA_X Floating point number The amount the intermediary geocentric X coordinate is translated. This value must be given in meters and the direction of the translation is given by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
DELTA_Y Floating point number The amount the intermediary geocentric Y coordinate is translated. This value must be given in meters and the direction of the translation is given by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
DELTA_Z Floating point number The amount the intermediary geocentric Z coordinate is translated. This value must be given in meters and the direction of the translation is given by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
ROT_X Floating point number The amount of rotation about the X axis which is applied to the intermediary geocentric coordinates. This value is given in seconds of arc, and the direction of the rotation is indicated by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
ROT_Y Floating point number The amount of rotation about the Y axis which is applied to the intermediary geocentric coordinates. This value is given in seconds of arc, and the direction of the rotation is indicated by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
ROT_Z Floating point number The amount of rotation about the Z axis which is applied to the intermediary geocentric coordinates. This value is given in seconds of arc, and the direction of the rotation is indicated by the sign of the value. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
XLATE_X Floating point number The X component of the point (in the source Cartesian coordinate reference system) about which the rotation is performed. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
XLATE_Y Floating point number The Y component of the point (in the source Cartesian coordinate reference system) about which the rotation is performed. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
XLATE_Z Floating point number The Z component of the point (in the source Cartesian coordinate reference system) about which the rotation will be performed. Only applies to some METHODs. Yes 0
BWSCALE Floating point number A scale factor that is applied to the intermediary geocentric coordinates. The value is given as a value in parts per million, and is the difference of the actual scale factor and unity. For example, a value for the scale parameter of -2.5 produces an actual scale factor of 0.9999985. That is, the actual scale factor used is arrived at by multiplying the parameter value by 1.0x10-06 and adding the result (algebraically) to 1.0. Only applies to some METHODs Yes 0
GRID_FILE <format>,<direction>,
<file path>
METHOD=GRID_INTERP requires at least one grid file; otherwise it is invalid. The first grid file that covers the coordinate being transformed is used. Depends on the METHOD chosen  
GRID_FILE <format> NTv1|NTv2|NADCON|FRGEO|JPPAR|
ATS77|GEOCON
Grid file format. No  
GRID_FILE <direction> fwd|inv Direction grid file should be applied. No  
GRID_FILE <file_path> Path to a grid file Either absolute or relative to <FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject No  
FALLBACK Non-grid, single-step transformation name Transformation to be used if no grid files cover the coordinate being transformed. Yes  
XFORM <Single-step transformation name>,<fwd|inv> Path definitions require at least one single-step transformation to be listed. Transformations are applied in the order and direction listed. No  
ACCURACY 0-1000 Not used. Yes 8
EPSG_VAR Integer greater than or equal to zero Not used. Yes 0
MIN_LNG Floating point number Not used. Yes 0
MAX_LNG Floating point number Not used. Yes 0
MIN_LAT Floating point number Not used. Yes 0
MAX_LAT Floating point number Not used. Yes 0