XML the xfMap path

Most of the people I meet in the Geo-information sector are aware of FME as a translation tool  from one format to another.

That is originally what FME was built for (20 years ago) and is still one of the jobs where FME transcend all the rest of the available tools.

But FME is much more than a format translation tool, is as good as any GIS software available , and in my opinion it blows away most of them.


I constantly get amazed looks from costumers, when explaining them that most of their requirements can be done with FME, and in most cases in a single workspace.

The ability to dazzle with FME is not restricted to the spatial domain, FME's support of non spatial formats (for example the Excel writer, the shapefile of non spatial) makes it possible for non spatial people to benefit from FME when a serious user is around.

XML is another format where FME can be of great benefit, since almost any imaginable operation on XML can be done in FME, the combination of spatial and non spatial makes FME a truly versatile tool.

Since nowadays you can find XML almost everywhere, from OGC services styling to cadaster data sources all is served via XML.
The only main difference in the data is the schema (data model) and that can range from simple to extremely complex.

In FME the advised way of approaching XML data is by using feature paths, this makes XML handling very easy and does not require any in depth knowledge of the data schema.
However in some cases using feature path doesn't (and sometimes can't) handle the XML as good as xfMap.
xfMaps are the basis of XML handling in FME and if you know your xfMap then handling XML becomes super easy. The main drawback is that you do need in depth knowledge of the data schema.

The big advantage of using  xfMap over feature paths is the ability to read very large XML files, I suspect that when using feature paths the file is read into the computers memory, this can be an issue when dealing with huge volumes of data, even if your machine is supercharged and all of your FME settings are in place.

When using xfMap the file that crashed your machine trying to handle it with feature paths, will now easily load the same data.

I have tested this with the new BRK (new cadastral registration) data, available from the Dutch Kadaster.
Trying to parse the XML (260MB) with feature paths, just crashed my machine (and I do have a reasonable machine with the FME settings set properly).
With a very simple (and powerful) xfMap the same file loaded within 10 seconds and was ready to be transformed.

So to wrap it up, use xfMap if:

1. The data volume is large and the feature paths configuration doesn't comply.
2. The data schema is static
3. You have too much time on your hands.

This is the last post for 2013, if you have already had some glimpses of what is to be expected for us with FME 2014, then I am sure you are as excited as I am!

A prosperous 2014 to us all.

Itay

Search feature

As a seasoned FME user you are probably aware of the fact that a reader's bounding box coordinates settings are an efficient way to read only data which is spatially relevant for your location.

A little less known option, native to the FME  ESRI database readers (SDE and Arc Objects GDB  is the search feature. This option lets you use the reader (actually the underlaying database) to preform a selection of spatial selection based on a feature.

To make use of this functionality requires a little bit of preprocessing if you don't have the search features in the necessary format.
Let's take an example to make this clear.

• Lets say you have projects boundaries polygons available (doesn't matter in which format since FME is the champion of formats) and you want to use these features as a search feature on data in an SDE or GDB database.
• You basically need to convert your boundaries into the format accepted by the search feature setting (space delimited coordinates)
• This can be easily done with FME (see the CoordinateConcatenator transformer >FME 2013)

What I ended up with is a space delimited csv file:

Search features read by the csv reader

• Now it is time to implement it on the database reader, go to the Navigator> Parameters > Advanced > Search feature

• Create a parameter from the setting (right click > Create user parameter), select choice with alias (multiple).

• In the parameter's configuration setting select the import option, this will basically open a wizard (much the same as a normal reader) in which you can select the csv file created.
• Make sure you correctly select the values and alias fields and you will end up with a selection menu for the search feature.

Selection of search features when prompting

As the name of the setting suggests you can only select one feature, and if you intend to have a selection from multiple features: the FeatureReader is the way to go.

You might think 'pfff.... I can use the FeatureReader ' well you can!! as in all things FME there are many roads that lead to the desired results but since this functionality exists, why not make use of it?

First rumblings

Where to start.....


I guess a bit of free typing wont hurt at this stage, I mean nobody is actually going to read this? right?
My conclusion is quite easy for me to understand and argue, but for any other some clarifications are needed.

My initial idea was to create a personal log that one day might take shape into a full grown blog, this soon took another form, an blog to promote/add exposure to my self.

Shortly, I am (or trying to be) a freelance spatial ETL professional, I live in the Netherlands one of the most advanced geospatial nation in Europe. 
Because of that and the amount of competition in the geospatial market, exposure is critical for a start up business.

BTW did I mention FME?

More on that later....