AttributeCopier

Copies existing attributes to new attributes with user-specified names. The existing attribute remains intact and a new attribute is created that has a different name, but the same values.

Jump to Configuration

Typical Uses

• Create a copy of an attribute to preserve the original while transforming the copy
• Create persistent mappings between differing input and output attribute names so that the mapping won’t be lost if a connector is manually removed or replaced.

How does it work?

Blank rows are provided where you can create pairs of input and output attributes. The current values of the input attributes are copied to the output. One or more pairs can be added, and all features that pass through the transformer are modified according to these selections. You can optionally provide default values to be applied to the output where input values are missing.

Example: Using an AttributeCopier instead of manually connecting attributes

You can replace manual attribute connections with an AttributeCopier transformer. In this example, FME doesn’t connect the attributes because either the case is different or the name is different.

If you right-click on the existing connection and choose Auto Connect Attributes, FME will guess at the connections, connecting the attributes where only the case is different.

PathLength is not automatically connected to LENGTHOFPA, as the two names are too different for an automatic match. You would need to connect such an attribute manually.

However, with the above method, if the feature connection is deleted or replaced, the attribute mapping is lost and will have to be redone.

Instead, using an AttributeCopier to map the connections will keep the pairs persistently through changes to the workspace.

And the changes are reflected in the transformer:

Usage Notes

• Consider using the AttributeManager instead.

Configuration

Input Ports

Input

Features with attributes.

Output Ports

Output

List of attributes, including any that have been copied.

Parameters

Attributes To Copy

When an AttributeCreator is opened for the first time, this area will contain a blank row where a new attribute can be created. Additional rows are added as entries are made.

Input Attribute	Enter or select the name of an existing attribute from one of the drop-downs.
Output Attribute	Enter or select the name of the new attribute to be created if necessary and copied into. The value of this attribute will be the value of the corresponding Input Attribute. If the Input Attribute does not exist on a feature and an Attribute Value is specified, the Output Attribute will be created and set to the value specified in the Attribute Value.
Default Value	Optional: The value to set the Output Attribute to if the Input Attribute does not exist on the feature (a default value). If the Default Value is blank, and the Input Attribute does not exist on the feature, the Output Attribute will not be created. See Defining Values for various methods of setting these.

Dialog Options

Additional Tools

Row Reordering	Enabled once you have clicked on a new attribute in the list. Choices include: Add a row Remove a row (Action set to Remove) Move current row up one Move current row down one Move current row to top Move current row to bottom
Filter	Start typing a string, and the matrix will only display rows matching those characters. Searches all columns. This only affects the display of attributes within the transformer - it does not alter which attributes are output.
Import	The import button will populate the transformer with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. In the AttributeCopier, you can import Output Attribute names from an external dataset and then define the corresponding Input Attributes. If the transformer already contains new attribute entries, these are appended to the existing list.

 

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.

Defining Values

There are several ways to define a value for use in a Transformer. The simplest is to simply type in a value or string, which can include functions of various types such as attribute references, math and string functions, and workspace parameters. There are a number of tools and shortcuts that can assist in constructing values, generally available from the drop-down context menu adjacent to the value field.

How to Set Parameter Values

Using the Text Editor

The Text Editor provides a convenient way to construct text strings (including regular expressions) from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and constants, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.

Text Editor

Using the Arithmetic Editor

The Arithmetic Editor provides a convenient way to construct math expressions from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and feature functions, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.

Arithmetic Editor

Conditional Values

Set values depending on one or more test conditions that either pass or fail.

Parameter Condition Definition Dialog

Content

Expressions and strings can include a number of functions, characters, parameters, and more - whether entered directly in a parameter or constructed using one of the editors.

Content Types

String Functions	These functions manipulate and format strings.
Special Characters	A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor.
Math Functions	Math functions are available in both editors.
Math Operators	These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor.
FME Feature Functions	These return primarily feature-specific values.
FME Parameters	FME and workspace-specific parameters may be used.
Working with User Parameters	Create your own editable parameters.

Reference

Related Transformers

AttributeCreator

AttributeKeeper

AttributeManager

AttributeRemover

AttributeRenamer

AttributeValueMapper

BulkAttributeRenamer

BulkAttributeRemover

FME Community

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Search for all results about the AttributeCopier on the FME Community.

Examples may contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver