Feature Datasets

There are two ways to specify a Feature Dataset:

  1. in the Feature Type name
  2. using the format attribute geodb_feature_dataset (deprecated in FME 2023.1+)

Feature Type Name

The Feature Dataset name can be specified as part of the Feature Type name with the following syntax.

<Feature Dataset>/<Feature Class>

When reading:

  • Feature Dataset name is optional; data can still be read even if only the Feature Class name is provided.
  • By default, the Feature Dataset will be included when listing the tables. It can be excluded by selecting the reader parameter option Remove Feature Dataset.

When writing:

  • The <Feature Dataset> will only be used when creating a new Feature Class.
  • If the Feature Class already exists, and the Feature Dataset is different from specified, a warning will be logged.
  • If a <Feature Dataset> is provided, but you are writing to a non-spatial Table, then the Feature Dataset will be ignored with a warning.

Format Attribute: geodb_feature_dataset

This option is deprecated in FME 2023.1 – The attribute will still be honored by the writer, but new readers created in 2023.1+ will not read the geodb_feature_dataset attribute. The Feature Dataset will instead be part of the feature type name.

Note that Feature Type Name takes precedence over this option.

This attribute indicates the feature dataset in which the feature originates.

  • Reading – This is only present if the feature originates from a feature class that is part of a feature dataset.
  • Writing – This can be specified on the first feature to indicate the feature dataset a newly created feature class should be created in. If the feature dataset did not previously exist, a new one will be created. A feature dataset provided in the Feature Type parameters will take precedence over this format attribute.
Note  This format attribute will only be considered when creating a new feature class. It is ignored if the feature class already exists.

Feature Dataset Handling

This writer parameter defines the writer behavior when a Feature Dataset is provided. There are three options:

  • Write Feature Dataset (default) – If a Feature Dataset is specified, it will write it if possible. (See notes above for examples of when it will not write a Feature Dataset.)
  • Warn and Ignore Feature Dataset – In this mode, if a Feature Dataset is specified, a warning will be logged and the writer will treat it as if the Feature Dataset was not provided.
  • Error and End Translation – In this mode, if a Feature Dataset is specified, an error will be logged and the translation will end.