The logic behind a folder-based dataset can be slightly confusing. In this form, the dataset is the folder or folder holding the data.
For example, in C:\FMEData\Data\Schools\ShapeSchoolRegions, the dataset name is ShapeSchoolRegions.
Esri Shapefile, MapInfo TAB, and CSV formats are examples of folder-based datasets.
Feature Types within Folder-Based Datasets
In a folder-based dataset, data is contained in a series of files. Typically, each unique file within the folder is a feature type within the dataset.
For example, in the following ESRI Shapefile data structure, the dataset is engineering, while the feature types are roads, pipelines, and roadsigns.
C:\citydata\engineering\roads.shp
\pipelines.shp
\roadsigns.shp
Note: It is common for FME users to mistake individual files for datasets. However, when there is no method of subdividing the data within the file itself, FME usually treats the file as a feature type within a folder-based dataset.