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Default Paths

Workbench: Select Tools > FME Options and click the Default Paths icon.

Data Inspector: Select FME Data Inspector > Preferences > Default Paths.

Default Workspace Folder

Sets the default location to save your workspaces. You can choose to always save to the source data location, a custom location, or a My FME Workspaces subfolder in My Documents.

When you create a workspace, FME suggests a default workspace name based on the formats used in the workspace. For example, if your workspace is set up to read from an Esri Shapefile and write to both an Access MDB file and AutoCAD drawing, then shape2mdb_dwg.fmw would be the suggested default name.

Connection Storage

Specifies how FME stores database connections and web service connections.

  • File: Connections are stored in a configuration file in the specified Folder Location.
  • JDBC Connection: Connections are stored in a database that is accessed using the specified JDBC Connection String.

Note: If this setting is not changed, the default connection storage is in a file located at:

Windows: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Safe Software\FME\namedConnections.data

Mac: ~/Library/Caches/Safe Software/FME/namedConnections.data

Documentation Help Locations

By default, when you access Help from any FME Desktop tool (FME Workbench, FME Data Inspector, and others), it is opened from the safe.com website. This means that you will always see the latest help topics for updates and for new features.

You can change this default behavior and access product documentation from the help files that are installed locally (for example, if Internet access is unreliable or is not available).

ClosedTo toggle between online and offline help

Click a component Help menu. If FME is accessing installed offline help, a checkmark is displayed beside Use Offline Help.

You can toggle online and offline help access from this menu, or follow the steps below to change the default behavior.

ClosedTo change the default help location
  1. On the menu bar, click Tools > FME Options.
  2. On the sidebar of the FME Options page, click Default Paths.
  3. Under Documentation Help Locations click the checkbox beside Use Offline Help.
  4. Click OK.

If FME cannot open the documentation from the top-most location, the next location in the list is attempted. Use the up and down arrows to change the list order.

Shared FME Folders

A shared FME folder contains FME files that have been made available for other users to use. These files are:

  • workspaces (*.fmw)
  • mapping files (*.fme)
  • custom  transformers (*.fmx)
  • custom formats (*.fds)
  • custom coordinate systems (*.fme is ideal; however, most file formats will work)
  • transformer categories (*.fmxlist)

This option is especially useful for workgroups. For instance, if an entire workgroup uses just a few custom coordinate system definitions, keeping these definitions in one place means that everyone doesn't have to have a copy.  Then, whenever any of the definitions are updated, the entire group automatically has access to the new version.

Every time you start FME, it will scan the folders for new or updated transformers, formats, coordinate systems, coordinate system exceptions, coordinate system grid overrides, CS-MAP transformation exceptions, and transformer lists.

Steps

  1. Click the Add button.
  2. Browse to the folder that you want to open for sharing.
  3. Click the Select Folder button.
  4. If the required subfolders do not exist, FME will ask if you want to create them. (Note that your system administrator may have to set up permissions and subfolders for this folder.) Click Yes. FME adds the following subfolders to your selected folder:

Subfolder Names

CoordinateSystemExceptions

CoordinateSystemGridOverrides

CoordinateSystems

CsmapTransformationExceptions

Formats
Output
Templates
Themes

TransformerCategories

Transformers

The folder name is added to the Shared FME Engine Resource Directories list:

  1. Restart FME Workbench.

Click the arrow buttons to change the order in which FME scans the resource folders.

Tip: Use caution when naming custom formats, transformers, and coordinate systems. If there is a naming conflict (for example, if you have a custom transformer with the same name as one in a shared folder), the file FME uses at runtime is selected at random.

Shared FME Server Resources: See Sharing Custom Formats, Transformers, and Coordinate Systems in FME Server.

Removing Shared Directories

To remove a folder, click the Remove button. FME removes the folder from the shared resource list.

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