AttributeValueMapper

Compares attribute values to a lookup table and assigns new values where matches are found. Mapped values may be stored in a new attribute, or overwrite an existing attribute, including the original source.

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Typical Uses

Adding or altering attribute values based on a user-defined lookup table
Cleaning up attribute values
Creating alternative, coded values for attributes

How does it work?

The AttributeValueMapper is driven by a user-defined lookup table - the Value Map. One Input Attribute is selected, which will have its values compared to the lookup table to map new values. The new values may be stored in a new attribute (default behavior), or can overwrite an existing attribute (including the Input Attribute).

The Value Map can either be created manually or by importing any FME-supported dataset. Importing is particularly useful for using a predefined map that already contains the Input and Output Values (such as a spreadsheet), and for scanning a dataset to find all existing values for a given attribute.

If an attribute value is not found in the Value Map, the new attribute will be assigned the Default Output Value, which may be left blank.

Additional Value Settings

Default Output Value, Input Value, and Output Value can be set to a fixed value, or can use an FME predefined value. In the case of Input and Output values, these may be set per line in the Value Map table, and so different attribute values may prompt different actions.

Values available are:

Null

Input Value: Input null values will be mapped to a output value.

Output Value: The source value will be mapped to a null output value.

The reverse is true if Mapping Direction is set to Reverse (Output to Input).

Do Nothing

No action will be taken. When mapping in-place (that is, if the new value is overwriting the input value), the input attribute value will be preserved.

Otherwise, no output attribute will be created for the input value specified.

Stop Translation

If the specified input value is encountered, halt translation with the specified message. Useful when you wish to halt translation on unexpected attribute values, such as null values.

Support for Null, Missing, and Empty String Values

When mapping from input to output, there are three attribute values that are not supported by the Default Output Value parameter or the Value Map table. They are: missing, null, and empty string values. The exceptions are noted below.

It is possible to map or specify a default value of null by using the null constant, available on the parameter drop-down menu.

Further, it is possible to map a source value to a destination value of empty string, or to specify the empty string as the default value.

Note that if a missing or null value is specified as a destination value or default value via an attribute, it will be converted into an empty string.

Examples

Example: Cleaning up attribute values

In this example, we have a dataset of food vendors, in which the DESCRIPTION attribute values have a number of errors and style differences such as capitalization. There are also some values that we want to combine into broader categories.

The features are routed into an AttributeValueMapper. In order to find all possible values in the dataset, we will use the Import wizard in the parameters dialog.

The first step is to select the dataset to import - choose the same dataset we want to clean up.

Note that on the second dialog - Specify Import Mode - we need to change the Import Mode to Attribute Values.

Next, on the Select Attributes dialog, we specify the Input Value as DESCRIPTION. We are not importing Output Values (as we might if loading a predefined value map), and so it is left blank. Click Import to finish.

The dataset is scanned for all existing values, and they are loaded into the Value Map. Then we complete the Output Value side of the table. Note the following choices:

All variations of Hot Dogs (hot dogs, HotDogs, HOT DOGS, and so forth) are mapped to Hot Dogs.
Several values that are already in the desired form (Indian Cuisine, Italian Cuisine) have <No Action> assigned to them, and so will not be changed.
Some related types are assigned a common name and so will be combined (Korean Cuisine, Mexican Cuisine).

Note that the Output Attribute is the same as the Input Attribute. This will result in the new values overwriting the original values (except for those denoted as <No Action>).

The cleaned up output features reflect the desired changes.

Usage Notes

if you need to map to or from null, missing, or empty string values, consider using NullAttributeMapper.

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

Value Map

Default Output Value

The value to give the Output Attribute if the value of the Input Attribute is not found in the Value Map table. The reverse is true when Mapping Direction is set to Reverse (Output to Source).

The Default Value can be a constant or computed value (such as an attribute value), the value of a user parameter, the value of an FME parameter, or an expression containing the above.

You can also enter a default value containing the word KEY (uppercase), where KEY will be substituted by the value of the Input Attribute. If, for example, you have entered a default value of KEY-0 and the Input Attribute has a value d that is not in the mapping table, the destination attribute value will be set to d-0 because KEY is replaced by the original value d. If left blank and matching values are not found, an empty string is assigned.

Mapping Direction

Determines whether values will be mapped from the Input Attribute to the Output Attribute, or the reverse. This may be useful when switching directions, without having to recreate the entire lookup table reversed.

Input Value & Output Value

This table of values specifies the mapping information.

When the Mapping Direction is set to Forward (Input To Output), if the value of the Input Attribute is specified in the Input Value column, the Output Attribute will be created with the value specified in the Output Value column corresponding to that input value.

This process is reversed if the Mapping Direction is set to Reverse (Output to Input).

The Input Value and Output Value can be a constant value or a computed value such as an attribute value, the value of a user parameter, the value of an FME parameter, or an expression containing the above.

Import

You can import attribute values (input value, output value, or both) from any FME-supported source dataset.

This is commonly used to import all existing values from the dataset that is being mapped, or to import a predefined lookup table (often stored in a spreadsheet or text file). Click the Import button to launch the Import Wizard, and follow the prompts.

Select Source Dataset

Choose an external dataset to be read.

Specify Import Mode and Select Feature Types

Select the feature type to be read. In most cases, select Import from: Attribute values to scan for values.

Select Attributes

You may choose available attributes for the Input and/or Output Value. If either of these is left blank, that column will not be populated.

If loading a predefined mapping table, both of these should be assigned an attribute. If scanning for existing values, likely only the Input Value will be selected.

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.

Reference

Processing Behavior	Feature-Based
Feature Holding	No
Dependencies	None
Aliases	ValueMapper
History	Previously named ValueMapper

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

Input Attribute	The attribute whose values will be mapped.
Output Attribute	The attribute that will store the looked-up value. You can use the default name, or specify a new attribute name. Alternatively, you can type the name of an existing attribute, including the Input Attribute. If an existing attribute or the Input Attribute is specified, the existing value of the attribute is overwritten.