GeometryExtractor

Extracts the geometry of a feature according to the setting of the geometry encoding parameter.  

The resulting encoded geometry is added to the feature in an attribute. This attribute can later be restored as the feature's geometry via the GeometryReplacer transformer.

This transformer is often used to make a copy of the feature's geometry into an attribute before some temporary geometry change is made, so that it can later be restored.  Alternatively, the geometry may be extracted to be stored in a database or other file format that cannot handle geometry, but can handle large attributes as blobs or text strings.  Later, FME can read this data back and restore the geometry via the GeometryReplacer transformer.

Note that geometry-related format-specific attributes (such as such as geodb_type, autocad_entity, or shapefile_type) and coordinate systems are not extracted.

Usage Notes

  • GeometryExtractor does not perform any repairs to feature geometries during extraction. Geometries are extracted in their current state.

  • To carry out a similar operation on raster data, please use the RasterExtractor transformer. For point cloud data, please use the PointCloudExtractor.

  • Be sure to position this transformer as close as possible to where the geometry attribute is being used. Positioning the transformer too early can cause unnecessary use of system resources.

  • Geometry stored as an attribute may not retain its coordinate system. Use a CoordinateSystemExtractor if necessary.

Configuration

Output Ports

Note: Feature order may change in relation to other output ports. Feature order per port is maintained.

Parameters

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.

Dialog Options - Tables

Transformers with table-style parameters have additional tools for populating and manipulating values.

Transformer History

This transformer contains the functionality of the now-deprecated OGCGeometryExtractor and XMLGeometryExtractor.

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