DatabaseUpdater

Update fields in a database table based on the condition specified.

The DatabaseUpdater uses FME Writers to perform updates on tables. Each DatabaseUpdater may have its own database connection, potentially not shared with other writers and transformers. If it is necessary to share a single connection or to change options on the writer that are not available in the DatabaseUpdater, use a writer directly instead.

Updates to geometry columns are supported if the corresponding writer supports the geometry.

Note: If geometry features are null, updates may produce inconsistent results. Some writers do not update null geometry, and others update null geometries to a value of null.

See the FME Readers and Writers help for more information on how writers will respond to updating existing rows.

Unlike FME Writers, fme_db_operation and fme_where attributes are not supported on DatabaseUpdater input features.

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

This transformer has no output ports.

Parameters

General

Table

Specify the table to update. Click the Browse button to select the table from a list retrieved from the database. Note that you can only select this after you have completely specified the database format, dataset, and format-specific parameters.

Condition

Specify how to identify the rows to update. This can either be done through Match Column(s) or through a WHERE Clause.

WHERE Clause

Use a SQL WHERE clause to identify matching records to update. An example clause is the following:

id = 'roads'

Columns to Update

Specify which columns to update and the values to update them with. Columns not listed, that are disabled, or that are set to “<Do Nothing>” will not be updated.

This table entry widget is automatically populated after a table is selected from the Browse button in the Table parameter.

Click the Reload button, located at the right of the table entry widget, to repopulate the table with the columns from the database table. Note reloading only works after you have completely specified the database format, dataset, format-specific parameters, and picked a table.

Automatic population fills the table with columns and tries to set their values with a convenient initial state. If a column had a value prior to populating, that value will be maintained after populating. Columns not already mapped will default to incoming attributes of the same name if one exists, otherwise it will default to “Do Nothing”.

Note that when the Condition parameter is Match Column(s), columns being matched on cannot also be updated. Instead, consider using a WHERE clause for the condition.

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.

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