Creates a grid of two-dimensional point or polygon features, at the origin and using the offsets specified. Each created feature will have a row and column attribute that indicates its position in the grid.
Input Ports
This transformer does not accept any input.
Output Ports
Created
The grid of point or polygon features.
Note that the same number of features will be output whether points or polygons are requested. Therefore, the bounds of the output will be smaller for a point grid than for a polygon grid. For instance, the width of the bounding box of a polygon grid will be (Number of Columns) * (Column Width), whereas the width of the bounding box of a point grid will be (Number of Columns – 1) * (Column Width).
Parameters
Starting Corner
The starting corner of the grid. The possible values are:
- Lower Left
- Upper Left
- Lower Right
- Upper Right
Starting X Coordinate
The Starting X Coordinate and Starting Y Coordinate parameters specify the origin for the starting corner of the grid as a whole.
Starting Y Coordinate
The Starting X Coordinate and Starting Y Coordinate parameters specify the origin for the starting corner of the grid as a whole.
Number of Columns
The Number of Columns parameter specifies the number of features (points or polygons) each row of the grid will have. This must be at least one.
Number of Rows
The Number of Rows parameter specifies the number of features (points or polygons) each column of the grid will have. This must be at least one.
Column Width
The Column Width and Row Height parameters specify in ground units the distance between output points in the grid or the width and height of the output polygons.
Row Height
The Column Width and Row Height parameters specify in ground units the distance between output points in the grid or the width and height of the output polygons.
Type of Grid to Create
Choose point or polygon features.
Polygon features will be rectangular boxes with the specified column width and row height.
Choosing Points (Corners) will output a point for each of the corners of the cells in the grid. Points (Centers) will give a point for the middle of each cell.
Note that there will be an additional row and column output for Points (Corners) over the number that either Polygons or Points (Centers) will generate.
Row Attribute
If Row Attribute is specified, an attribute will be added to each output tile that identifies the vertical position of that tile in the input raster. This index is zero-based, beginning at the specified Starting Corner.
Column Attribute
If Column Attribute is specified, an attribute will be added to each output tile that identifies the horizontal position of that tile in the input raster. This index is zero-based, beginning at the specified Starting Corner.
Coordinate System
This parameter allows you to set the coordinate system on the created features. Select a coordinate system from the pull-down list, or click the Browse button to select from the Coordinate System Gallery. If you leave this parameter blank, no coordinate system will be set on the features created by this transformer.
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.
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.
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.
When setting values - whether entered directly in a parameter or constructed using one of the editors - strings and expressions containing String, Math, Date/Time or FME Feature Functions will have those functions evaluated. Therefore, the names of these functions (in the form @<function_name>) should not be used as literal string values.
Content Types
| These functions manipulate and format strings. | |
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Special Characters |
A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor. |
| Math functions are available in both editors. | |
| Date/Time Functions | Date and time functions are available in the Text Editor. |
| These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor. | |
| These return primarily feature-specific values. | |
| FME and workspace-specific parameters may be used. | |
| Creating and Modifying User Parameters | Create your own editable parameters. |
Dialog Options - Tables
Transformers with table-style parameters have additional tools for populating and manipulating values.
Table Tools
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Row Reordering
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
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Cut, Copy, and Paste
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
Cut, copy, and paste may be used within a transformer, or between transformers. |
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Filter
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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. |
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Import
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Import populates the table with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. Specific application varies between transformers. |
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Reset/Refresh
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Generally resets the table to its initial state, and may provide additional options to remove invalid entries. Behavior varies between transformers. |
Note: Not all tools are available in all transformers.
FME Community
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