BaseConverter

Categories

Calculated Values

Strings

Converts an attribute's value from one numeric system (base) to another, putting the resulting value in a new attribute. The base is the number of unique digits, including zero, that a positional numeral system uses to represent numbers.

The most common base values are 2 (binary), 10 (decimal) and 16 (hexadecimal), and 8 (octal). The BaseConverter supports bases from 2 (binary) to 36 (hexatridecimal / sexatrigesimal).

Configuration

Input Ports

The feature type that contains the source attribute to be converted.

Output Ports

Features with the converted source attribute stored in a new attribute.

Parameters

Input Attribute

Choose the source attribute that contains the base to be converted.

Original Base

Enter the base of the value to be converted.

Convert to Base

Enter the base to which the value is to be converted.

Desired String Length

Specify the total width of the output attribute.

The value after conversion will be padded on the left with zeroes to make up the necessary width. If the width is set to 0, no padding is done. If the value is wider than the width before padding, it is not touched.
Output Attribute Name the attribute to contain the results.

Example

What if you want to convert a Microstation color to a KML color?

  • Expose the igds_color.red, igds_color.green and igds_color.blue attributes.
  • Add three BaseConverter transformers.
  • Edit the parameters so that each transformer converts one of the color values from base 10 to base 16.
  • Use a StringConcatenator to combine the three color strings.

Usage Notes

  • This transformer supports only unsigned whole numbers. It does not handle fractions or decimal points.
  • This transformer supports very large numbers.
  • Digits are chosen from the set below. Any lowercase digits are automatically converted to uppercase.

0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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.

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.

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.

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.