Default Paths

Select Tools > FME Options > Default Paths.

Tip  Use the Filter search to find a setting located anywhere in FME Options.

Connection Storage

The Database Accessibility setting specifies how FME stores data and public key files for database connections and web connections.

If Database Accessibility is Personal (default), the connections data file is stored and encrypted on the user's local system. Connections are available only to the user.

If Database Accessibility is Shared, the connections data file and associated database encryption key file are stored in locations that can be accessed by multiple users. Connections are available to any user with access to those locations.

To change this setting, cick Edit. The Change Connection Storage dialog opens. Click OK when complete. If you specify Shared , you must also specify:

  • Database Directory: Path to the folder in which to create the database to store connection data.
  • Key Folder: Path to the folder in which to locate the database encryption key file. If the key file does not already exist, one is created after you click OK.
  • Key File Password (optional): Enter a password for accessing the key file.

    • Tip: In addition to setting Key File Password, we recommend adjusting permissions on the key file, using the settings of your operating system, as an added layer of protection.

Documentation Help Locations

By default, when you access Help from any FME Form tool (FME Workbench, FME Data Inspector, and others), it is opened from the safe.com website. This means that you will always see the latest help topics for updates and for new features.

You can change this default behavior and access product documentation from the help files that are installed locally (for example, if Internet access is unreliable or is not available).

Click a component Help menu. If FME is accessing installed offline help, a checkmark is displayed beside Use Offline Help.

You can toggle online and offline help access from this menu, or follow the steps below to change the default behavior.

  1. On the menu bar, click Tools > FME Options.
  2. On the sidebar of the FME Options page, click Default Paths.
  3. Under Documentation Help Locations click the checkbox beside Use Offline Help.
  4. Click OK.

If FME cannot open the documentation from the top-most location, the next location in the list is attempted. Use the up and down arrows to change the list order.

Shared FME Folders

A shared FME folder contains FME files that have been made available for other users to use. These files are:

  • workspaces (*.fmw)
  • mapping files (*.fme)
  • custom  transformers (*.fmx)
  • custom formats (*.fds)
  • custom coordinate systems (*.fme is ideal; however, most file formats will work)
  • transformer categories (*.fmxlist)

This option is especially useful for workgroups. For instance, if an entire workgroup uses just a few custom coordinate system definitions, keeping these definitions in one place means that everyone doesn't have to have a copy.  Then, whenever any of the definitions are updated, the entire group automatically has access to the new version.

Every time you start FME, it will scan the folders for new or updated transformers, formats, coordinate systems, coordinate system exceptions, coordinate system grid overrides, CS-MAP transformation exceptions, and transformer lists.

Steps

  1. Click the Add button.
  2. Browse to the folder that you want to open for sharing, and select it.
  3. If the required subfolders do not exist, FME asks if you want to create them. (Note that your system administrator may have to set up permissions and subfolders for this folder.) Click Yes. The folder name is added under Shared FME Folders, and FME adds the following subfolders:

    4. Subfolder Names

    CoordinateSystemExceptions

    CoordinateSystemGridOverrides

    CoordinateSystems

    CsmapTransformationExceptions

    Formats

    TransformerCategories

    Transformers
    Workspaces
  4. Restart FME Workbench.

Click the arrow buttons to change the order in which FME scans the resource folders.

Tip  Use caution when naming custom formats, transformers, and coordinate systems. If there is a naming conflict (for example, if you have a custom transformer with the same name as one in a shared folder), the file FME uses at runtime is selected at random.

Removing Shared Directories

To remove a folder, click the Remove button. FME removes the folder from the shared resource list.

See Also

workbench help