AttributeSplitter

Splits attribute values into parts, based on a delimiter or fixed-width pattern, and creates a list attribute containing one list element for each part.

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Typical Uses

Converting a delimited list of values into an FME list attribute
Extracting one part of an attribute value based on column-aligned text with a known structure

How does it work?

Once connected to an input feature stream, the AttributeSplitter lets you select an Attribute to Split. The value for that attribute is divided into parts based on parameter selections, and the results added to a new list attribute.

Splitting can be done with either a delimiter (such a comma-separated list of values), or by providing a format string that identifies the width of each part in a piece of column-aligned text.

In the case of a delimited list, the number of parts in the value can be variable. A field qualifying character may also be specified for cases where the delimiter appears within the string as a non-delimiting value (such as commas within addresses in comma-separated strings).

For fixed-width splitting, parts will be extracted exactly according to the format string provided.

Whitespace may be trimmed from the resulting values, and Empty Parts - parts with no resulting value - may be kept or dropped.

The new list attributes can be used with other list-based transformers. Alternatively, you can expose specific list elements to be used as individual attributes (see example below).

Examples

Example: Splitting delimited addresses into attributes (exposing individual list elements)

In this example, we have a shapefile containing points of interest, with postal addresses included as a single attribute. The parts of the addresses are separated by commas.

Unlike the first example (with a variable number of tree types), we do know how many parts these attributes should have.

In the parameters dialog, the Delimiter is set to comma (,), we will trim whitespace, and create a new list attribute called Address. Note that Drop Empty Parts is set to No - if part of an address is missing, dropping it would cause the other parts to end up in the wrong list element.

With the AttributeSplitter configured, the Address{} list is now available in the transformer output. Right-click (context menu) on the list name, and we can Expose Elements from the list.

List elements are numbered starting with zero (0). In the Select List Elements dialog, entering the range 0-3 will expose the four total list elements that make up the address.

With the list elements exposed and now accessible, an AttributeManager is used to rename them according to their content.

The output features now have individual address component attributes.

Usage Notes

Lists are usually indicated in FME Workbench by name, followed by a pair of curly brackets - mylist{}.
A specific list element contains its number between the brackets - mylist{0}
To access specific list elements in FME Workbench, right-click on a list name in the attribute list and choose Expose Elements.
For information on working with lists, see List Attributes.
To split attributes using regular expression pattern matching, consider using the StringSearcher.

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

General

Attribute to Split	After the transformer is connected to an input feature stream, choose an attribute from the pull-down menu.
Delimiter or Format String	Provide a string to be used for splitting, in the format of your choice: If using a Delimiter: enter the character or string used as a delimiter. Special characters may be entered using the Text Editor from the drop-down menu. If using a Format String (fixed-width): provide a string in the format #s#s#s, where each number is the length of the substring you wish to extract. Any number of #s components are allowed. Empty strings are output if the string to be split is too short to complete the format string. Example: Input string 123456 with format string 2s1s3s1s produces this list: `_list{0}' has value `12' `_list{1}' has value `3' `_list{2}' has value `456' `_list{3}’ has value `’
Field Qualifier Character	When using a delimiter, if a value is provided here, delimiters between pairs of the specified Field Qualifier Character will be treated as ordinary strings and not delimiting characters (also known as escaping). Consider this comma-delimited record: FA035,2009,City Hall Lawn Garden,"453 W 12th Av, Vancouver BC",Yes If Field Qualifier Character is set to ", the address will be extracted as an intact string which includes a comma: "453 W 12th Av, Vancouver BC" Without it, the address would be split at the comma. Note that the Field Qualifier Character is not removed from the string.
Trim Whitespace	By default, the resulting strings have both leading and trailing (left and right) whitespace removed but you can change the setting to either left or right, or none.
List Name	Enter a name for the new list attribute.
Drop Empty Parts	Determines whether to keep empty parts that resulted from splitting. By default, all parts will be returned, whether or not they are empty. If the parameter value is set to Yes, only non-empty parts will be returned. If this parameter is set to No, splitting a,b,,,c,d,e with commas returns the following list: `_list{0}' has value `a' `_list{1}' has value `b' `_list{2}' has value `' `_list{3}' has value `' `_list{4}' has value `c' `_list{5}' has value `d' `_list{6}' has value `e' If this parameter is set to Yes, splitting a,b,,,c,d,e with commas returns the following list: `_list{0}' has value `a' `_list{1}' has value `b' `_list{2}' has value `c' `_list{3}' has value `d' `_list{4}' has value `e'

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.

Reference

Processing Behavior	Feature-Based
Feature Holding	No
Dependencies	None
Aliases
History

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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.