Custom formats

A custom format is a translation workspace that is exported as a format and utilized in the FME reader gallery. It is saved to an external (.fds) file and can be imported to reader galleries on other desktops.

Operating system	Folder location
Windows XP	C:\Documents and Settings\<login name>\My Documents\FME\Formats
Windows Vista	C:\Users\<login name>\Documents\FME\Formats\

Folder locations per operating system

Usage

Creating a custom format adds the format to the FME reader gallery. Once created, subsequent uses of the gallery allow you to edit the format in FME Workbench or delete it from the list and remove the (.fds) file from the default folder location.

Possible uses include the following examples:

• Using a custom format with an interoperability connection to share a consistent schema for data that is received from different sources
• Working with the most current view of data that is routinely revised by others in your organization
• Delivering data to someone who simply needs to view the data, without understanding how the data has been processed
• Working with comma-delimited text files as line features and attributes