The Transformer Gallery: Should it Stay or Should it Go?

I personally prefer Quick Add more, but it has one major downside: It cannot be resized
(not sure if that was sorted in 2024, didn’t get a chance to test it), It would be great if we could resize window itself and columns too.

I posted that idea some time ago, but it didn’t get much traction, even though I know that this is pain point for many users.
 

• Allow extending reader/transformer/writer name column in Quick Add dialog In Development
• 5 Votes

(On the separate note: I am nearly sure that I added photo too, but probably disappeared during the transfer to new Community pages)
 

I voted Gallery leaver with the assumption that the browse by Transformer category functionality will be added to the Quick Add window. 

As someone noted in the Linked In post comments the Gallery very useful for beginners. I used to use the Gallery extensively when I was starting out.

I’m with the two posts above, resizing and quick add by category but I do have one thing I would like accessible somewhere, namely opening a browser to FME Hub so you can see the full documentation.

I think it is too early to remove it. We are yet to see the embedded transformer functionality in the Navigator, or the ability to browse in the quick add. Lets confirm that those things cater for user needs before removing the existing functionality.

I voted stay. I rarely use it myself, but in training we always make it one of our recommendations to browse the gallery when looking for a transformer. We think it's a good tool for novice users to quickly get used to a lot of the transformer names and that might save them some frustration in the long run.

Is there another way to list “embedded transformer”? It is still needed for this.

I'm following redgeographics opinion here, I hardly ever use it myself anymore, but I do remember from my first steps in FME that it was a useful help in finding your way around and getting to know the many transformers

And, if the gallery bothers you it’s easy to turn it off, but once it’s gone forever no way to turn it on if you liked it...

@tomfriedl - yes, this is being added to the Navigator window.

Then I have good news for you. That is part of the planned changes for 2024.1

I’m OK with the dedicated panel going away, but I think a ‘Categorized’ option should be added to the Quick Add. That’s the only functionality I would miss.

I agree with many of the comments above, I never use the transformer gallery for adding transformers, just to show new users the transformer categories and names.

When I do find it useful is for working with linked custom transformers. I think reloading the transformer list in there after creating/editing a linked transformer feels more intuitive. And I can see the numbers changing 😅

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It looks like no-one ever uses it to add transformers, just to browse through the categories. I can certainly see how that’s useful (because I often forget the name of a transformer and have to browse to find it!) I’m passing on all the feedback so we’ll see what our product managers say. I have my own opinion, but I won’t post it here because I don’t want to influence anyone!

mark2atsafe wrote:

FME friends,

As you know, the Transformer Gallery in FME Workbench is the window that exists in the lower left hand corner of Workbench, and gives you access to transformers.

However, now that most people are using Quick Add instead, we are considering removing the Transformer Gallery from Workbench completely.

Obviously, with a big change like this, we want to first get your feedback on how this might affect you.

So please:

• Visit this page to find out more information and to cast a vote in our poll of users.
• Add your comments to the thread below (but do check out the other page first).

If you vote in the poll you’ll get bonus reputation and a community badge to show which side you are on!

If you leave a comment below, please let us know what functionality you would miss by the gallery being removed. We think we have most of it covered elsewhere in Workbench, but we want to be sure.

Thanks for your feedback.

Mark

@mark2atsafe I just voted now :)

It’s View can be turned off if people don’t want to see it, it doesn’t have to be removed from the product. I have many windows like the Parameter Editor, Overview or Help always off.

It’s true that once you learn FME you have less use for it, but for a new user it’s the best way to read through the list to hunt for what you want. Some transformer types like raster and point cloud are named to be searchable on their name, but the canvas type and search function doesn’t replace searching for something you don’t know the name of.

The workbench gallery is also one way to find what new transformers have been added in a new version, especially if they don’t get publicised ;). The web transformer gallery isn’t always kept up to date (TimeRounder) with what’s new.

I voted to remove it, I rarely use it outside of embedded transformers and browsing categories. That said, I can absolutely understand the view of wanting to keep it, especially for new users.

For Listing embedded transformers, I would love to see the navigator changes added before it’s removed entirely.

Considering the dynamic situation of the website at present, I would prefer not to rely on the Online Transformer Gallery.

Very interesting to hear everyone’s views on elements like this. Would love to see this kind of discussion more often.

Personally I never really use it - however it’s worth getting the opinions of newbies, as they probably interact with FME in a different way to experienced users like this group - and I’m sure it’ll be more helpful to them.

Never really used this Transformer Gallery, as there are - as you already indicate - other ways to search for and/or add transformers to the canvas. BTW I hope you do not have any plans to remove the canvas, do you? Because that's an FME Workbench window which I do use on a very regular basis… 😇

Cheers,

Egge-Jan