SurfaceFootprintReplacer

Categories

3D

Geometries

Replaces the geometry of a feature with a planar representation of the feature's shadow.

The output features are made of polygons with 3D coordinates. Any holes in the actual shadows are missing in the output features. The light source casting the shadows is considered to be infinitely far away.

Configuration

Input Ports

This transformer accepts any feature, except those with null geometries.

Output Ports

Output features with replaced shadow geometries.

Features with null geometries are rejected.

Parameters

Shadow Mode

Overhead Shadow: The shadows are obtained from a light source directly above the features. The shadows will have a Z coordinate specified by the Elevation parameter.

Drop Shadow: The shadows are obtained from a light source located in a direction specified by the X, Y, Z parameters. The shadows will have a Z coordinate specified by the Elevation parameter.

Perpendicular Shadow: The shadows are obtained from a light source located in a direction specified by the X, Y, Z parameters, but are cast onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of the light source. Each feature's shadow is located near the original feature, so the shadows may not all lie on the same plane.

Elevation

The value that will be used as the Z coordinate in the output shadow features. This parameter is not used when the Shadow Mode is Perpendicular Shadow.

X, Y, Z

Coordinates representing the direction of the light source projecting the shadow. The light source is considered to be an infinite distance away.

The Z coordinate cannot be 0.

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.

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Keywords: SurfaceFootprintGenerator