QGIS-FME Form Connector
The QGIS-FME Form Connector plugin is a powerful tool that bridges QGIS and FME, enabling seamless data transformation and workflow automation between these two platforms. This plugin allows QGIS users to leverage FME's robust and powerful data transformation capabilities directly from the QGIS interface. Hence, in order to use this plugin, the users must make sure FME Form is installed and licensed to run.
It includes a default FME workspace (template) to help you get started. The template can be customized to the users needs. The workspace is located in the plugin folder directory under "FME Workspace/QGISFMEFormConnectorTemplate.fmw" or you can download it below:
The plugin can be downloaded from the official repository, QGIS plugins or directly from QGIS plugin manager (QGIS manual).
A zip file of the current release is also available in GitHub repository where the sourcecode is also available here .
QGIS-FME Form Connector has been developed using QGIS 3.34.
Key Features:
• Direct FME workspace execution from QGIS.
• Parameter management for FME workspaces.
• Automated source and destination dataset files handling.
• Real-time execution and status monitoring.
• Workspace file browser and selector.
• Command-line parameter customization.
• Temporary and permanent layer output options.
To install the QGIS-FME Form Connector plugin:
1. Open QGIS.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Manage and Install Plugins...
3. Select All tab.
4. Search for QGIS-FME Form Connector.
5. Click Install Plugin.
6. Restart QGIS if prompted.
Note: The plugin requires a valid FME installation on your system.
After installation, the plugin can be accessed through:
• The QGIS menu (FME Platform Connectors > QGIS-FME Form Connector).
Before using the plugin, ensure you have:
• FME Desktop installed (2020 or newer recommended).
• Access to FME workspaces (.fmw files).
• Default .fmw workspace filename is “QGISFMEFormConnectorTemplate.fmw”.
• Appropriate permissions to execute FME commands.
The plugin interface consists of several key components:
1. File Browser Panel (Left):
• Directory navigation tree.
• Address bar for direct path entry.
• Workspace file list.
2. Workspace Information Panel (Left):
• Workspace details and metadata.
• Parameter table for customization.
• Source and destination dataset configuration.
3. Command Execution Panel (Right):
• Command preview.
• Execute button.
• Output console.
• Progress indicator.
• Status messages.
Selecting a Workspace:
1. Use the file browser to navigate to your FME workspace directory.
2. Click on an .fmw file to select it.
3. The workspace details will automatically load in the left panel.
The plugin will automatically:
• Parse the workspace to identify parameters.
• Display source and destination dataset information.
• Generate a command line preview.
Workspace Compatibility:
The plugin works best with FME workspaces that:
• Have clearly defined published parameters.
• Use standard reader/writer formats.
• Include appropriate error handling.
The parameter table allows you to customize how the FME workspace will execute:
1. Required Parameters:
• FME Executable: Path to fme.exe on your system.
• Workspace: Path to the selected .fmw file.
• Source Dataset: Input data path.
• Destination Dataset: Output data path.
2. Custom Parameters:
• Additional parameters defined in the FME workspace.
• Values can be edited directly in the table cells value.
3. Filename Generation:
The plugin automatically generates standardized filenames for input and output datasets using the format:
YYYYMMDD_xxxxx_line2_[input/output].geojson.
To run an FME workspace:
1. Ensure all required parameters are configured.
2. Review the command in the command preview box.
3. Click the "Execute Command" button.
4. Monitor progress in the status area.
During execution:
• The progress bar shows completion percentage.
• The console displays real-time output from FME.
• Status messages indicate current operation.
Execution Options:
• Load output as scratch layer: Loads the output directly into QGIS memory. (a temporary layer)
• Load output as a GeoJSON layer: Loads the output as a layer from a physical GeoJSON layer
After successful execution, the plugin offers several options for handling the output:
Output Status Indicators:
• Green: Successful execution.
• Red: Error occurred.
• Yellow: Warning or partial success.
Common Issues and Solutions:
1. FME Not Found:
• Ensure FME is properly installed.
• Verify the path to fme.exe is correct.
• Check that FME version is compatible.
2. Workspace Errors:
• Confirm the workspace runs correctly in FME Workbench.
• Check for missing published parameters.
• Verify reader/writer formats are supported.
3. Parameter Problems:
• Ensure required parameters have valid values.
• Check file paths for spaces or special characters.
• Verify input data exists and is accessible.
4. Execution Failures:
• Review the console output for specific error messages.
• Check system permissions for file access.
• Verify sufficient disk space for output.