Certain sites may require a datum that is not predefined in FME. In such a case, a custom datum may be created. Datum definitions may occur in an FME mapping file, as well as in the LocalCoordSysDefs.fme file (<FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/LocalCoordSysDefs.fme). The syntax of a datum definition is:
DATUM_DEF <datumName> \
DESC_NM <descriptive name> \
SOURCE <source> \
ELLIPSOID <ellipsoid name> \
USE <use type> \
DELTA_X <x value> \
DELTA_Y <y value> \
DELTA_Z <z value> \
BWSCALE <bwscale> \
ROT_X <rotX> \
ROT_Y <rotY> \
ROT_z <rotz>
Example datum definition
This mapping file fragment defines a datum with the BURSA use-type:
DATUM_DEF DHDN \
   DESC_NM 
 “Deutsches Hauptdreicknetz (DHDN)” \
   SOURCE 
 “German Government” \
   ELLIPSOID 
 BESSEL \ 
   USE 
 BURSA \
   DELTA_X 
 582.00000000000 \
   DELTA_Y 
 105.00000000000 \
   DELTA_Z 
 414.00000000000 \
   BWSCALE 
 8.3000000000000
   ROT_X 
 -1.0400000000000
   ROT_Y 
 -0.35000000000000
   ROT_Z 
 3.0800000000000
For additional examples, see <FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/LocalCoordSysDefs.fme. Note that at least one transformation should be added for most datums. For more information, see Adding a Custom Transformation.
Datum Definition Parameters
| Name | Range | Description | Optional | 
|---|---|---|---|
| DATUM_DEF | CS-Map identifier name, as described in <FME_Install_Dir>/Reproject/LocalCoordSysDefs.fme | The name of the datum being defined. | No | 
| DESC_NM | any string | A descriptive name for the datum. | Yes | 
| SOURCE | any string | The individual or agency providing the datum parameters. | Yes | 
| ELLIPSOID | valid ellipsoid | The ellipsoid upon which the datum is based. | No | 
| USE | See Datum USE Methods | The type of approximation used when the datum is involved in a datum conversion. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. | Yes | 
| DELTA_X | floating point value | The X component of the vector from the geocenter 
 of the datum being defined to the geocenter of the WGS-84 datum.  Units: meters. | Yes | 
| DELTA_Y | floating point value | The Y component of the vector from the geocenter of the datum being defined to the geocentre of the WGS-84 datum. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. Units: meters. | Yes | 
| DELTA_Z | floating point value | The Z component of the vector from the geocenter of the datum being defined to the geocenter of the WGS-84 datum. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. Units: meters. | Yes | 
| BWSCALE | floating point value | The scale factor employed by the BURSA use-type, in parts per million. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. | Yes | 
| ROT_X | floating point value | The X rotation factor employed by the BURSA use-type. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. Units: Seconds of arc. | Yes | 
| ROT_Y | floating point value | The Y rotation factor employed by the BURSA use-type. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. Units: Seconds of arc. | Yes | 
| ROT_Z | floating point value | The Z rotation factor employed by the BURSA use-type. Not used in FME 2013 or later workspaces. Units: Seconds of arc. | Yes |