FME Transformers: 2024.2
FME Transformers: 2024.2
2DBoxReplacer
Replaces feature geometry with a 2D box defined by specified minimum and maximum x and y values.
Typical Uses
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Creating search envelopes
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Creating clip boundaries
How does it work?
The 2DBoxReplacer receives features of any kind and replaces their geometry with 2D boxes as specified in parameters.
The parameters describe rectangular geometry with minimum and maximum x and y values, representing the box's lower left and upper right corners, in the ground units of the feature’s coordinate system.
Values may be entered directly or provided via attributes, parameters, or expressions.
Examples
Example: Creating boxes around points
In this example, we have a point dataset of food cart vendors. We want to replace the points with boxes centered on the point locations.
Note that the features have a UTM coordinate system, with ground units in meters.
The features are routed into a 2DBoxReplacer.
In the parameters dialog, expressions are created to offset the corners by 50 meters from the point location.
The points have been replaced with boxes.
Usage Notes
Creating and Modifying Boxes and Rectangles
Creating rectangular geometry is a common task. These transformers do so in a variety of ways.
Rectangle Transformers Comparison
Transformer |
Use this to... |
Transformer Description |
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Create one or more new features with box geometry of a specific size and position (when Geometry Object is Box). |
Creates features using the parameters supplied, and sends them into the workspace for processing. |
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Replace an existing feature’s geometry with a box of a specific size and position. |
Replaces feature geometry with a 2D box defined by specified minimum and maximum x and y values. |
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Create one rectangle that encompasses all features received. |
Creates a rectangular polygon that spans the extents of all input features. |
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Individually replace the geometry of each feature with a rectangle that covers its extents. |
Replaces feature geometry with a box or cube that spans the extents of the feature. |
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Individually replace the geometry of each raster feature with a rectangle. |
Replaces the geometry of input raster features with a polygon covering either the extents of a raster or the extent of data within a raster. |
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Extract the coordinate values that describe an individual feature’s bounding box (or cube) and store them as attributes. |
Extracts a feature’s minimum and maximum coordinate values into attributes. |
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Create a series of regularly-spaced rectangles that span the extent of all features (when Type of Grid to Create is Polygons). |
Creates a regular grid of points or rectangular polygons that span the extents of all input features. |
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Create a series of regularly-spaced rectangles of a specific size and position (when Type of Grid to Create is Polygons). |
Creates a regular grid of points or rectangular polygons of a specified size, position, and coordinate system. |
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Tiler and RasterTiler |
Chop features into a series of rectangular tiles, specified in a similar fashion to the 2DGridAccumulator. |
Splits input features into a series of tiles by specifying either tile size (in ground units) or total number of tiles. Splits each input raster into a series of tiles by specifying either a tile size in cells/pixels or the number of tiles. |
Configuration
Input Ports
Input
This transformer accepts any feature.
Output Ports
<Rejected> (Dynamic)
The dynamic <Rejected> port appears when a parameter is set to a non-literal value that might make processing impossible.
For example, if a numeric parameter such as Line Width, Count Start, or Decimal Places is set to an expression, attribute value, or user parameter, it is possible to pass in a non-numeric value that cannot be used. Decimal Places = Cat cannot be processed, so the feature will be output via this port.
Rejected features will have an fme_rejection_code attribute explaining the reason for rejection.
Rejected Feature Handling: can be set to either terminate the translation or continue running when it encounters a rejected feature. This setting is available both as a default FME option and as a workspace parameter.
Parameters
General
Min X Value |
Specify the minimum x value (lower left) of the box. |
Min Y Value |
Specify the minimum y value (lower left) of the box. |
Max X Value |
Specify the maximum x value (upper right) of the box. |
Max Y Value |
Specify the maximum y value (upper right) of the box. |
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.
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.
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
These functions manipulate and format strings. | |
Special Characters |
A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor. |
Math functions are available in both editors. | |
Date/Time Functions | Date and time functions are available in the Text Editor. |
These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor. | |
These return primarily feature-specific values. | |
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
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
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Cut, Copy, and Paste
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
Cut, copy, and paste may be used within a transformer, or between transformers. |
Filter
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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
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Import populates the table with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. Specific application varies between transformers. |
Reset/Refresh
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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.
Reference
Processing Behavior |
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Feature Holding |
No |
Dependencies | None |
Aliases | |
History |
FME Community
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Examples may contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver, Open Government Licence - British Columbia, and/or Open Government Licence – Canada.