This document is a guide for getting started with Safe Software’s FME Desktop, highlighting its capabilities in data integration and transformation. It covers the key components such as the Data Inspector, Workbench authoring, and debugging, along with demonstration examples like converting CAD to GIS. Additionally, it provides learning resources and support options for users to maximize the value of their data workflows.

1. Introduction to Safe Software’s
FME®
Getting Started with FME Desktop
Your Burning Questions Answered

2. Chris Berger
Desktop Technology Expert
Jovita Chan
Desktop Technology Expert
Your photo here
Presenters
Nampreet Singh
Desktop Technology Experts

3. AGENDA
1. Overview: FME Desktop
1.1. Intro to Data Inspector
1.2. Intro to Workbench
2. Authoring a Workspace
2.1. Readers, Transformers & Writers
2.2. Attributes
2.3. Parameters
2.4. Debugging
3. Demo
3.1. Converting CAD to GIS
4. Learning Resources & Support

4. Poll: How long have you
been using FME?
A. Never used it
B. Opened it a few times
C. Less than 6 months
D. More than 6 months

5. Overview:
FME Desktop

6. OUR MISSION
To help you maximize the
value of your data.

7. Connect Your Data Sources Transform Your Data Automate Your Workflows

8. CONNECT YOUR DATA SOURCES
FME supports geospatial data, structured and unstructured
data, linked data, and time series.
Share
Connect data
between 400+ sources
Extend
Extend FME’s capabilities
with custom connections
Enable
Power business decisions
by removing data silos

9. Validate
Validate to ensure
high quality data
Adjust
Adjust workflows to meet
changing requirements
TRANSFORM YOUR DATA
Use any combination of transformers to address all
levels of complexity.
Modify
Restructure, filter,
calculate & more

10. FME® Integration Platform
FME Desktop FME Server FME Cloud
Connect. Transform. Automate.
FME is the data integration solution with the best support for spatial data worldwide.
Build & Run Workflows Automate Workflows (on-premises) Automate Workflows (cloud)

11. Intro to Data Inspector

12. Inspecting Your
Data
Data Inspector
Why do I need to inspect
my data?

13. When is the Feature Information Window helpful?
● Coordinate systems
● 2D or 3D
● Geometry extents
● User Attributes
● Format Attributes
● Working with lists
● Vertex points

14. Inspecting Your
Data
Visual Preview

15. What’s the
Difference?

16. ● How do I access background maps?
● How do I turn off Visual Preview?
● When should I use one or the other?
Using Visual Preview
Tutorial

17. Intro to Workbench

18. Key terms:
● Workspace
● Workflow
● Template
workspace

19. FME Workbench

20. Authoring a Workspace:
2.1. Readers, Transformers & Writers

21. Reading Data
Ways to add data:
1. Quick Add
2. Reader Icon
3. Reader Menu
4. Drag & Drop

22. Adding a
Database or
Web
Connection
Save connections to reuse

23. 23
Dataset vs. Feature Types
Database:
The database is the
dataset
The tables are the
feature types
Authoring: Readers, Transformers, Writers
File:
The file is the dataset
The sheets/layers are
the feature types
Directory:
The directory is the
dataset
The individual files are
the feature types
▪ A reader defines a dataset, a single reader may have many
feature types (tables)

24. Transformers
Adding Transformers:
1. Quick Add
2. Transformer Icon
3. Toolbar Transformer
4. Transformer Gallery

25. Transformers
Connecting objects on the
Canvas
1. Click and Drag
2. Auto Connect
(previous selected)
3. Hover over
4. Shift click

26. Writing Data
Ways to add data:
1. Quick Add
2. Writer Icon
3. Writer Menu
Tutorial

27. 27
What do the different colors in my workspace mean?
Authoring: Readers, Transformers, Writers
Reader and writer
feature types
Transformers
Can you spot the incomplete transformers?
Which ones have feature caching?

28. 28
Fanout
Dataset:
New file for each group
▪ A fanout is a way within FME to split output data based upon the value of
an attribute. The data is divided at the time of writing, rather than within
the workspace itself
Feature Type:
New sheet for each group

29. Authoring a Workspace:
2.2. Attributes

30. Working with
Attributes
Managing Attributes:
1. Filtering
2. Calculating Values
3. Create, Rename,
Remove
4. Join & more!

31. Authoring a Workspace:
2.3. Parameters

32. Working with
Parameters
User Parameters:
1. Published
2. Private

33. Authoring a Workspace:
2.4 Debugging

34. The
Translation Log
Logging
Warnings
Errors

35. Demo
Converting CAD to GIS

36. Learning Resources
and Support

37. Training Courses >
Live chat >
FREE RESOURCES
WE’RE ALL ABOUT
safe.com
Getting Started
Deep Dive
Lost?
Webinars >
FME Community >
FME Community | Forums >
"FME sets the
standard for
support and is the
leader by far".
- Brad
Very helpful and
went above and
beyond to help
find a solution to
my request! A+"
- Justin
"Thank you!
Answered all my
questions - AGAIN.
You folks always
seem to have a
way of doing that."
- Ray
FME Community | KB >

38. Resources &
Support
We’ve got your back
Transformers
FME Hub
Formats
Documentation
FME
Community
Report a
Problem

39. Heading:
Text

40. THANK YOU!
Try FME for free at safe.com/trial
Any questions we can answer?