Snipper

Shortens linear geometry by cutting off the ends.

Typical Uses

Shortening or segmenting linear features

How does it work?

The Snipper receives features with line, arc, path, or non-donut area geometry and shortens them according to a specified Starting and Ending Location along the feature.

The snipping locations can be set in a variety of ways:

Exact distance along the feature in ground units
Percentage distance along the feature
Measures
Vertex numbers (indices)

The portion of the geometry between the snipping locations is output. The snipped-off portions at either end are output as Remnants.

Areas with portions snipped become non-closed and are output as lines. Donut areas are not supported.

Z Values

Z values are supported. If the snipping location is a new vertex, the z value is determined by linear interpolation between the input vertices on either side.

When Snipping Mode is Distance (Value) or Distance (Percentage), z values may be used for distance calculation only if Measurement Mode is 3D. Otherwise, distances are determined by x and y coordinates only.

Snip by Distance (Value)

When entering distance values, note that:

Zero (0) is the start point of the geometry.
Any negative value is interpreted as the end point of the geometry.
Any value larger than the total length of the geometry is interpreted as the end point.
If the snipping location does not coincide with an existing vertex, a new vertex is added.

Action	Distance Values	Result
None (Input Feature)
Snip out a section of the line.
Snip off the end of the line.
Snip off the beginning of the line.
Snip off an equal amount at both ends.

Snip by Distance (Percentage)

When entering percentage values, note that:

Zero (0) is the start point of the geometry and 100 is the end point.
Any negative value is interpreted as the end point of the geometry.
Values greater than 100 are interpreted as the end point of the geometry.
If the snipping location does not coincide with an existing vertex, a new vertex is added.

Action	Percentage Values	Result
None (Input Feature)
Snip out a section of the line.
Snip off the end of the line.
Snip off the beginning of the line.

Snip by Vertex

When entering vertex indices, note that:

Zero (0) is the first vertex of the geometry.
-1 is the last vertex of the geometry.
Negative numbers represent vertices relative to the last vertex, where -2 is second-to-last, -3 is third-to-last, and so on.
Snipping may only performed at existing vertices.
Out-of-range index numbers are interpreted as either the first vertex (if less than 0) or last vertex (if larger).

Action	Indices	Result
None (Input Feature)
Snip out a section of the line.
Snip off the last two segments of the line.
Snip off the first segment of the line.

Snipping with Measures

When entering measures, note that:

Snipping with measures determines snipping locations according to measure values, not vertex coordinates.
If the snipping location does not coincide with an existing vertex, a new vertex is added.
Out-of-range measure values are interpreted as either the first or last vertex, depending on whether they are less than or greater than the range of measure values on the feature.

Action	Measures	Result
None (Input Feature with measures)
Snip out a section of the line with Measure (Value).
Snip out a section of the line with Measure (Relative to Start Point).

Usage Notes

The DonutHoleExtractor may be useful for pre-processing areas.

Creating and Modifying Linear Features

These transformers work with lines in a variety of ways.

Line Transformers Comparison

Transformer	Use this to...	Transformer Description
Creator	Create one or more new features with box geometry of a specific size and position (when Geometry Object is Line).	Creates features using the parameters supplied, and sends them into the workspace for processing.
LineBuilder	Create simple lines from lines and/or points.	Connects sequential point and/or line features to create line or area geometry.
LineCombiner	Combine adjoining lines into longer lines or complex paths, with more advanced geometry handling options than the LineBuilder.	Connects line features that meet at common start or end points to create longer lines or paths.
PathBuilder	Combine arcs and lines into longer paths.	Connects sequential line and/or arc features to create path geometry, preserving input segments.
LineCloser	Convert linear features into areas.	Converts a linear feature to an area by connecting the end point to the start point.
LineExtender	Extend linear geometry.	Extends line, arc, or path features at both ends by a specified length.
Chopper	Chop features into smaller features, breaking them at their existing vertices.	Chops line, arc, path, or area features into smaller features based on number of vertices or approximate length.
PathSplitter	Break a path into its component segments (lines and arcs).	Splits path geometry into its component line and/or arc segments.
Snipper	Shorten linear geometry.	Shortens linear geometry by cutting off the ends.
LineOnAreaOverlayer	Intersect lines and areas.	Performs a line-on-area overlay, either splitting lines where they intersect area boundaries or subdividing areas where split by lines. Attributes may be shared between related lines and areas (spatial join).
LineOnLineOverlayer	Intersect lines and lines.	Performs a line-on-line overlay in which all input lines are intersected against each other and resultant line features are created and output. Intersection points are turned into point features that can contain the merged list of attributes of the original intersected lines.
PointOnLineOverlayer	Find where points lay on lines.	Performs a point-on-line overlay. Each input line is split at its closest place to any point within the specified point tolerance, and attributes may be shared between related points and lines (spatial join).

Configuration

Input Ports

Output Ports

Parameters

General

Aggregate Handling

Select a method for handling aggregate geometries:

Deaggregate: Decompose aggregates into their individual components.
Reject: Do not process aggregates and output them via the <Rejected> port.

Snipping Mode

Select a method for snipping.

Distance (Value)	Specify snipping locations by their distance from the first vertex, along the feature in ground units.
Distance (Percentage)	Specify snipping locations by their percentage of the total length of the feature in ground units.
Measure (Relative to Start Point)	Specify snipping locations by their distance from the first vertex, along the feature in units according to either default or named measures (not geometry x and y coordinates).
Measure (Value)	Specify snipping locations by their position on the feature according to either default or named measures (not geometry x and y coordinates).
Vertex	Specify snipping locations by vertex number (index).

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

FME Community

The FME Community has a wealth of FME knowledge with over 20,000 active members worldwide. Get help with FME, share knowledge, and connect with users globally.

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

Examples may contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver, Open Government Licence - British Columbia, and/or Open Government Licence – Canada.

Starting Location	When Snipping Mode is Distance (Value), Distance (Percentage), Measure (Relative to Start Point), or Measure (Value), specify the first snipping point on the feature as a numeric value.
Ending Location	When Snipping Mode is Distance (Value), Distance (Percentage), Measure (Relative to Start Point), or Measure (Value), specify the second snipping point on the feature as a numeric value.