Counter

Adds a numeric attribute to a feature and assigns a value. Each subsequent feature passing through the transformer receives an incremented value – in other words, the Counter is counting the features.

This transformer can be useful for assigning a unique, numeric ID number to a set of features, for counting the number of features, or for creating a basic histogram for values of a given attribute.

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

Advanced

Count Scope

Specify whether the scope of this counter is Global (throughout the entire workspace) or Local (for this transformer only).

Global counters with the same Count Domain will share the same counting and Group ID sequences, while Local counters will each have independent counting and Group ID sequences. Local counters can optionally group features by attributes as well.

Defaulted to Global.

Count Domain

Create separate sequences of numbers to be assigned, either by placing several Counter transformers with each having a different Count Domain, or by choosing an attribute whose value will be used as the Count Domain as each feature passes through. (In effect, using an attribute to supply the Count Domain is like having a Group By option for the Counter.)

Group Processing

Group processing is enabled when Count Scope is Local.

Group By	The default behavior is to use the entire set of features as the group. This option allows you to select attributes that define which groups to form, creating separate sequences of numbers.
Complete Groups	When to complete processing groups. By default groups will not be considered complete until all features have been received. Otherwise, groups will complete processing when the group changes.

Usage Notes

Using Multiple Counters

Using multiple Counter transformers in a workspace can produce different results. The default behavior of FME is to name all Counters the same.

When multiple Counters have the same name and Count Scope is Global, they produce a single count. When multiple Counters have different names, each Counter produces a unique count starting at 0 (or the number determined by the Count Start parameter). You can rename any Counter by editing the Transformer Name parameter.

For example, there are two workspaces each with two Counters. Ten features passed through each Counter would result in the following:

Workspace 1

Counter Name: Counter1 - features numbered 1 - 10

Counter Name: Counter2 - features numbered 1 - 10

Workspace 2

Counter Name: Counter - features numbered 1 - 10

Counter Name: Counter - features numbered 11 - 20

You can use this feature as needed to produce different results.

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.

Text Editor

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.

Arithmetic Editor

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

String Functions	These functions manipulate and format strings.
Special Characters	A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor.
Math Functions	Math functions are available in both editors.
Date/Time Functions	Date and time functions are available in the Text Editor.
Math Operators	These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor.
FME Feature Functions	These return primarily feature-specific values.
FME Parameters	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

Row Reordering

Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:

Add a row
Remove a row
Move current row up one
Move current row down one
Move current row to top
Move current row to bottom

Cut, Copy, and Paste

Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:

Cut a row - delete and copy to clipboard
Copy a row to the clipboard
Paste a row from the clipboard

Cut, copy, and paste may be used within a transformer, or between transformers.

Filter

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.

Import

Import populates the table with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. Specific application varies between transformers.

Reset/Refresh

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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Search for samples and information about this transformer on the FME Community.

Transformer Name	This parameter is common to most transformers, and you do not always have to edit it to control workspace output. See the Usage Notes below for information on why you might want to edit this parameter for the Counter.
Count Start	Use this parameter to specify a starting value for the Counter. This is useful for applications where ranges of values have meanings in the problem domain. See Usage Notes below.

Count	The name of the attribute that will contain the count result, and will appear in the list of Output port attributes.
Group ID	The name of the attribute that will contain the Group ID of a feature, and will appear in the list of Output port attributes. The Group ID value will be a unique number associated with the group by value(s) within a scope. The first group ID will start at 1, counting up for each unique group processed after.