Overview

Use FME Server right out of the box to create a simple easy to use online translator. The easyTranslator.fmw workspace that comes with FME Server generates a webpage where anyone can translate data from and to any FME supported file formats. FME's generic reader can "guess" at the format from the extension and we use the data download service to return the output data to the user.

Viewing the Example

There are two ways to try the Easy Translator

We made simple web application using FME Server's REST API and the Ext JS JavaScript library.

Run it live

Or you can try the Easy Translator just as it is out-of-the-box with default web page created by FME Server. Instructions below.

Run it live

1. Start by choosing a file on your machine to upload. If you are working with a format that has multiple files like shape (which includes .dbf, .shx etc) you can upload zip file to make it easier. In our example we will choose an AutoCAD .dwg file that comes with the FME Training data (C:\FMEData\Data\Water\distribution_L25.dwg).
2. Next, upload the file by clicking the "Upload Files" button
3. Now we need to set the parameter "Source File" to the AutoCAD file file we have uploaded by clicking the "Choose Uploaded Files" button under the source file prompt
4. We can tell FME the format, or in this case let it "GUESS_FROM_EXTENSION" since we know that FME will assume it has an AutoCAD file when it sees a .dwg extension
5. The source coordinate sytem default is correct as is "TX83-CF"
6. The "Destination Filename:" can be set to any name, in this case lets call it "distribution_L25"
7. We'll translate the data into ESRI Shape format by choosing this for the "Destination Format"
8. Assume we want the data in Latitude, Longitude NAD84 and choose the LL84 coordinate system for "Destination Coordinate System" parameter
9. Click run and you will get a link to the shape file for download. Since a shape file needs multiple file, the download will be a zip file that contains each of the required files

Download the Workspace and Data

You can download the workspace and the sample data used in the example from the attached file - EasyTranslator.zip