AttributeManager

Alters one or more attributes by adding, renaming, copying, deleting or re-ordering. Sets values for new, existing, and modified attributes to any combination of constants, attribute values, conditionals, expressions, and parameters. Values can reference adjacent features.

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Typical Uses

  • Create a new attribute, and set default or new values for it in a variety of ways
  • Modify existing attributes by renaming, and deleting them, and set or clear values for them
  • Re-order attributes
  • Set an attribute value based on features that come before or after the current feature
  • Simplify a workspace by consolidating multiple attribute-manipulating transformers into one place

How does it work?

Attributes of the input features are presented in a matrix of rows and columns, where you can perform multiple tasks, including:

  • Creating, renaming, or deleting attributes

  • Setting values and default values

  • Specifying schema data types

All features that pass through the AttributeManager are modified according to the selections made in the parameters.

Importing Attributes and Data Types

Using the Import button, attribute names and/or data types may be imported from existing datasets or upstream feature caches (if enabled and current).

The results of the import will either be added to or update the Attribute Actions table, and may be further revised. These changes are not permanent until the OK button is clicked.

To discard changes made by an import, use the Cancel button to exit the parameters dialog.

Filtering Attributes

When working with features that have many attributes, it may be convenient to reduce the number displayed. This can be done with the Filter and Regex Filter options in the table controls.

Note that using either filter option will not result in attributes being removed from the features - they are only hidden from display.

Exposing Attributes

Unexposed attributes may be made visible by adding their names in the Input Attribute column of the Attribute Actions table, in a new row. Attribute names added here are not tested for validity.

Exposing attributes makes them visible in FME Workbench so they can be used elsewhere in the workspace, which is useful if you know features have an attribute, but it is not currently showing as available in your workspace. For example:

  • FME Attributes (fme_) and format-specific attributes that are not automatically shown in FME Workbench.
  • Features output from transformers like the SchemaMapper that dynamically add attributes onto features which FME Workbench is not aware of.

Examples

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

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.

Dialog Options - Tables

Transformers with table-style parameters have additional tools for populating and manipulating values.

Reference

Processing Behavior

Feature-Based
Exception: Enable Adjacent Feature Attributes

Feature Holding

No

Dependencies None
Aliases  
History Released: FME 2016.0

FME Community

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Examples may contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver and/or the Open Government Licence – Canada.