OrientationExtractor

Returns a feature's orientation. This will have different possible return value, based on the input geometry type. Note that the orientation will always be no_orientation for any geometries not listed below.

Area

If the input is an area geometry which fits the right-hand or left-hand rule, the attribute will be set to the value right_hand_rule or left_hand_rule, respectively. The attribute will not have a meaningful value for degenerate areas, such as areas with a figure-8 boundary, or areas that are actually a line or point.

The right-hand rule requires that, on a walk of the area's coordinates, the area is on the right-hand side. Thus, outer boundaries must be clockwise and inner boundaries must be counterclockwise. The opposite is true for the left-hand rule.

Surface

If the input is a surface geometry, where all parts of the surface are consistently oriented, the attribute will be set to the value valid_surface_orientation. If the parts are unoriented or inconsistent, the attribute will be set to the value no_orientation.

Solid

If the input is a solid geometry, where all of the normals point away from the interior of the solid, the attribute will be set to the value valid_solid_orientation. If all of the normals point towards the interior of the solid, the attribute will be set to the value reversed_solid_orientation. In all other cases, the attribute will be set to the value no_orientation.

Point

If the input is an oriented point geometry, the point’s orientation is extracted as a 3x3 matrix representation, and the attribute set as a list of the matrix values, in row-major order. Aggregates and multipoints only have point orientation extracted if they contain a single oriented point.

Configuration

Parameters

Editing Transformer Parameters

Transformer parameters can be set by directly entering values, using expressions, or referencing other elements in the workspace such as attribute values or user parameters. Various editors and context menus are available to assist. To see what is available, click beside the applicable parameter.

How to Set Parameter Values

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.

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.

Content Types

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

Table Tools

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.

For more information, see Transformer Parameter Menu Options.

FME Community

The FME Community is the place for demos, how-tos, articles, FAQs, and more. Get answers to your questions, learn from other users, and suggest, vote, and comment on new features.

Search for all results about the OrientationExtractor on the FME Community.