Using Web Connections

Many processes in FME Form require you to connect and authenticate to a web service in order to use them. For example, when you use an HTTPCaller transformer, you may need to authenticate to a web service, such as Google BigQuery. Similarly, if you want to connect to an FME Flow, you must specify a set of connection parameters. Web connections provide a convenient and secure way to store and reuse these connection parameters. Each time you need to specify the same connection parameters, you can use the connection, rather than re-entering the parameters. If the connection parameters change, you can edit them in one place, rather than in each workspace that uses the connection.

When you use a web connection in a workspace, the Navigator displays only the connection name. The service name, username, password, and other connection parameters do not display. For example, here is how connection information displays in the parameters of a transformer that uses a web connection.

Additionally, all web connections in the workspace are listed under Web Connections.

Defining and Managing Web Connections

Managing Web Services

FME Form must be registered to use the web services to which you want to connect. Although many of the most common web services are already registered in FME for testing purposes, we recommend defining your own for production purposes. Use Tools > FME Options > Web Connections to manage web services. For more information, see Managing Web Services.

Tip  To create a connection to an FME Flow that authorizes as a user imported from Microsoft Azure Active Directory, you must define a Microsoft Azure Active Directory web service. For more information, see see Managing Web Services.

Adding Web Connections

It is usually more convenient to add a web connection at the time you are using one in a workspace or connecting to FME Flow (see below). However, you can also add a web connection in Tools > FME Options > Web Connections, and use it later in a workspace.

Working with Web Connections in a Workspace

Using Web Connections to Connect to FME Flow

Reusing a Web Connection

After you create a connection, it is available for you to reuse along with any others you have created:

Note  If you did not create a connection, it may not be available for you to use unless its visibility is updated. For more information, see FME Options: Web Connections.

To Change a Web Connection in a Workspace

You can change an existing web connection in the following ways:

  • Change the connection parameters.
  • Change a web connection to one that exposes the connection parameters in the workspace.
  • Change a connection whose parameters are exposed in the workspace to a web connection.

In the Navigator, right click on the Authentication Method parameter of the applicable object, such as a transformer, that is using the connection, and select a desired method for editing the authentication parameter.

See Also