Scripted Parameter

Type: Scripted (Python) and Scripted (Tcl)
FMEpedia > Python and FME Basics > Scripted Parameters
Community > Create a Reader based on User Choice

In fact, I've never used scripted parameters in any practical projects...
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2013-10-30
Maybe this is a practical example.
> Specify Log File Name
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Referring to other User Parameter value in a User Parameter setting

$(PARAM_NAME)
this syntax in a parameter setting represents another parameter value in the same worksapce.
Community > Prompt for 'reader'/ 'writer'

Date / Datetime string in FME

FME converts a datetime value read from a source dataset into 'YYYYmmddHHMMSS.000' string - having a decimal fraction.
Since the DateFormatter transformer doesn't recognize a digit string with a decimal fraction as a datetime representation, we have to round it before formatting with the transformer.
And we also have to format a date / datetime string into 'YYYYmmdd' or 'YYYYmmddHHMMSS' before writing it into a date / datetime type attribute (field) of a destination dataset.
Community > MS SQL Server Writer: Failed to parse `Date' from attribute value

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2013-11-01
There seems to be a case that the Excel writer doesn't convert a datetime string to a datetime value. Quote my post for the Community:
"I tested Excel writer in FME 2013 SP4, Windows Xp SP3.
Input datetime string format is YYYYmmddHHMMSS in all cases.
Results:
1) XLS_ADO writer, Excel version 97/2000/2002/2003 (*.xls)
Writer User Attribute Type = datetime
The value is written as a datetime value. But the field format cannot be specified in FME, it has to be modified manually after writing if necessary.

2) XLS_ADO writer, Excel version 2007 (*.xlsx)
Writer User Attribute Type = datetime
The value is written as a character string. Why?

3) XLSXW writer (new Excel writer added in FME 2013 SP2)
Writer User Attribute Type = datetime
The value is written as a datetime value, and also the field format (e.g. yyyy-mm-dd) can be specified in the writer feature type dialog box."
-- Community > Change ouput format of datetime in Excel_ADO Writer?

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FME stores all attributes as character strings

FME Workbench > FME Architecture (Reference) > Attributes
"Feature attributes are usually a primitive type: integers, floats, characters. Internally, FME stores all attributes as character strings and automatically converts between a string representation and a numeric representation as needed."

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2015-05-07: Unfortunately the page has been retired. The URL is invalid now.
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But, we can change the type through Python script if necessary and convertible.
Community > How to coerce attribute type for JSONTemplater?
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2013-09-30
Continue to FME stores all attributes as character strings: Part 2
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Parsing attribute values

Community > Parsing attribute values

- StringSearcher or AttributeSplitter
- Tester
- StringReplacer or StringConcatenator

I would use a combination of StringSearcher and StringReplacer with:
^(.+) to (.+)$

# Python script also can be used.
import fmeobjects
import re

class UpDownRegulator(object):
    def __init__(self):
        self.attrName = 'up_to_down'
        self.regex = re.compile('^\s*(.+)\s+to\s+(.+)\s*$')

    def input(self, feature):
        s = feature.getAttribute(self.attrName)
        if s:
            m = self.regex.match(s)
            if m:
                u, d = m.group(1), m.group(2)
                if u < d: u, d = d, u
                feature.setAttribute(self.attrName, '%s to %s' % (u, d))
        self.pyoutput(feature)

    def close(self):
        pass

Sort only part of an attribute in a list

Community > Sort only part of an attribute in a list

# Python script version

import fmeobjects

import re

AttrName = ['field0', 'field1', 'field2', 'field3']

def sortAttributes(feature):

    v = {}

    for n in AttrName:

        s = feature.getAttribute(n)

        if s and re.match('^.+_.+$', s): v[s.split('_')[-1]] = s

    i = 0

    for k in sorted(v.keys()):

        feature.setAttribute(AttrName[i], v[k])

        i = i + 1

    for j in range(i, len(AttrName)):

        feature.setAttribute(AttrName[j], '')