Safe Software

Pitney Bowes Business Insight

MapText

Data Capture

Spatial Data

FME Desktop

FME Desktop is a flexible and powerful spatial ETL toolset that makes it easy for you to translate, transform and integrate spatial data in any format or application. Here are the top ten features, capabilities and components available in FME Desktop:

Support for 250+ Formats

Graphical Authoring Environment

Excellent FME Service and Support

Support for Thousands of Coordinate Systems

Tight Integration with your Applications and Systems

NeoGeography Support

1. Support for 200+ Formats

Read and write data in over 200 formats with a single toolset. FME Desktop format support is unrivalled in the industry and supports CAD, GIS, raster, database, 3D and BIM formats; for example, AutoCAD DWF/DWG, Bentley Microstation Design file, ESRI Shape, GeoTIFF, Industry Foundation Class STEP Files (IFC) and Oracle Spatial. You can also Execute SQL queries against your spatial database, including ESRI ArcSDE, MySQL, PostGIS and SQL Server Spatial 2008 (beta).

View a complete list of supported formats

2. Graphical Authoring Environment

Quickly and easily define data flows with point and click. An intuitive authoring environment, FME Workbench makes it easy for you to graphically specify data transformations ("workspaces") that manipulate your spatial data and its associated attribution.

Watch a brief introductory movie

3. Data Transformations

Ensure you see the spatial data the way that you want to see it. The Transformer Gallery offers more than 300 transformers to help you easily and accurately manipulate the geometry and attributes of your spatial data as it moves from the source system to the destination system; for example:

Perform geometric operations
Rename attributes
Calculate new attribute values
Join attributes from a database to feature geometry
Adjust feature symbology
By linking transformers together, you can perform an unlimited variety of complex spatial ETL operations.
Read more about the data transformation capabilities in FME.
Download the handy Transformer Quick-Reference Guide (PDF).

4. Universal Viewer

FME Universal Viewer Understand your spatial data. Tightly integrated with FME Workbench, the FME Universal Viewer lets you quickly inspect your spatial data's geometry and attributes - before, after, and even during the transformation process. You can use it to examine features, identify attributes and values, and enhance the display using color, symbols and labelling.

5. Universal Translator

Quickly move data from one format to another. Designed for quick translation, the FME Universal Translator makes it easy for you to perform simple conversions between hundreds of formats simple drag-and-drop. You can also use it to run workspaces created by others through FME Workbench.

Watch a brief introductory movie

6. Batch Processing

Save time through efficient batch processing. With FME Desktop, you can set your spatial ETL data flows (workspaces) to run automatically from Windows schedule or a command line. Write your own batch translation scripts or let FME create the script for you. Build one workspace and run it on multiple data sets - there's no need to manually change the source in each workspace. Designed for efficiency, this feature is ideal for:

  running recurring translations at off peak hours
  migrating data from one database to another, with change control
  comparing multiple data sets

Read a whitepaper to explore what's under the hood in FME Desktop.

7. Expert FME Service and Support

Service and Support Get the support you need to take full advantage of FME. To help you get up and running, FME Desktop includes software updates and technical support for the first year. FME users also receive access to an FME beta - updated weekly so you always access to the latest and greatest capabilities. Plus, more than 50 Certified FME Professionals and Trainers are available to help you build your team's FME expertise.

For self-learners, Safe Software also offers a variety of technical and community resources, including:

8. Support for Thousands of Coordinate Systems

Ensure rapid, straightforward coordinate system conversion. With FME Desktop, you can choose from thousands of pre-defined coordinate systems based on a variety of projections, ellipsoids, and datums. You can also define your own custom coordinate system.

Watch a brief movie on how to perform a coordinate system conversion with FME Workbench

9. Tight Integration with Your Applications and Systems

Conveniently access and transform hundreds of different data formats directly from within your application of choice. The full power of FME can be accessed directly from within many popular GIS or Business Intelligence applications, including:

Plus, for maximum flexibility, FME can be accessed by applications in C++, Java, and .NET

10. NeoGeography Support

FME KML Google Earth Conversion Create mashups using the latest web formats and services. FME Desktop can read/write geospatial data in popular web formats such as GeoRSS and Google KML (Google Earth/Maps). You FME can also consume data from web services including WFS, WMS, REST and Geocoding.

FME Desktop can be used to address a variety of data challenges. Here are just a few examples:

Enabling data migration/translation projects
Exchanging data between CAD and GIS systems
Extending the lifetime of legacy systems through data interoperability
Integrating data from multiple sources into a single translation run
Performing quality assurance tests on spatial data
Data model transformation