FME Form: 2024.2

Configuring a Transformer

The configuration window of the Transformer Designer allows you to add and edit the interface components and behavior of a transformer which, in turn, allow an end user to view and manipulate the transformer in FME Workbench. To make this window active, select the Configuration tab (bottom right), or select View > Configuration from the menu.

The configuration window of a newly-created transformer provides a template of ports, parameters, and parameter group boxes to help you get started.

Left Pane: Ports and Metadata

The left pane of the configuration window lists the transformer name and the Input and Output ports of the transformer.

Editing Metadata and Adding Developer Comments

When you click on the Transformer name, you can perform the following in the Configuration pane (by default, this pane is to the far right):

  • Edit the Alternate Names and Categories of the transformer.
  • Add Developer Comments about the transformer and its design for internal reference. To use features such as syntax highlighting, search, and display preferences, click Options.
    Note  Developer comments pertaining to a specific version of the transformer can be added separately in the Version Information window.

Specifying Ports

To add a port, click Port on the toolbar, and select Input or Output. In the Configuration pane (far right, by default), specify the following:

  • Execution Instance Identifier: The name in the execution instructions that are generated for a particular instance of the transformer. These instructions are generated by replacing the Execution Template Identifier in the execution instruction template with the Execution Instance Identifier specified.
  • Execution Template Identifier (Input only): The name used in the execution template to refer to the port.
  • Display Name: The name of the port displayed on the FME Workbench canvas. If not specified, the camel-case version of Execution Instance Identifier is used. If Execution Instance Identifier is not specified, the port arrow attaches directly to the transformer name banner, which is not explicitly displayed as a separate element in FME Workbench.
  • Description (optional): A description of the port that displays in the tooltip in FME Workbench. If not specified, the tooltip displays Display Name.
  • Attributes to Add (Output only): If the port outputs any additional attributes, add the attribute Name and Type.
  • Preserve Attributes (Output only): Specifies the incoming attributes that the port outputs. If not specified, the port outputs all attributes. To specify attributes, click under Inputs, and click the ellipsis (...) to select Attributes. Under Preserve, click the checkbox corresponding to each attribute you want to preserve. Or check Preserve to preserve all attributes. Optionally, under Prefix, specify a prefix to prepend to the attribute name.
  • Geometry To Add (Output only): If the port outputs any additional geometries, add the name of each geometry.
  • Preserve Geometry (Output only): Specifies the incoming geometries that the port outputs. If not specified, the port outputs all geometries. To specify geometries, click under Inputs, and click the ellipsis (...) to select geometries. Under Preserve, click the checkbox corresponding to each geometry you want to preserve. Or check Preserve to preserve all geometries.

To edit a port, select it and perform edits in the Configuration pane (far right, by default).

To change port order otherwise, select a port and click Up, Down, Top, or Bottom on the toolbar. These selections are also available from the Edit menu. Note that Input ports always list before Output ports.

To remove a port, select it and click Delete on the Toolbar or from the Edit menu.

Tip  From the toolbar or Edit menu, you can Cut, Copy, and Paste ports.

Middle Pane: Transformer Parameters

The middle pane of the configuration window lists the parameters of the transformer as they display in the transformer parameters dialog in FME Workbench.

Tip  To see a preview of how the transformer parameters would appear in the properties dialog of the transformer, click the Preview icon on the toolbar.

To add a parameter, click Parameter on the toolbar or Add Parameter from the Edit menu, and specify the parameter type.

To add a group box in which to arrange parameters, select Group Box. Click and drag other parameters into the group box as desired.

To configure the properties of a parameter or group box, select it in the middle pane, and configure in the Configuration pane (far right, by default).

Configuring Parameter Properties

Other Operations on Transformer Parameters

To see a preview of how the transformer parameters would appear in the properties dialog of the transformer, click the Preview icon on the toolbar.

You can change the order of the parameters (except Transformer Name) as they appear individually, within group boxes, or the group boxes themselves. Select the parameter or group box, and click and drag to the desired order. Alternatively, click Up, Down, Top, or Bottom on the toolbar, or from the Edit menu.

To remove a parameter or entire group box, select it and click Delete on the Toolbar or from the Edit menu.

Tip  On the toolbar or from the Edit menu, you can Cut, Copy, and Paste parameters.