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Trouble with SubstringExtractor

  • June 12, 2025
  • 4 replies
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liamfez
Influencer
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Has anyone else had any issues with the SubstringExtractor in FME2025? I have a process that works in an older version (2021) but in the 2025 version I am seeing a different behavior.

Wanting the last 7 characters in a string I used a Start Index of -7 and an End Index of -1. This worked in FME 2021. When opening the workspace in FME 2025, it initially works, but when I upgrade the transformer from V2 to V3, it then returns no value. I created a new blank workspace and added a brand new SubstringExtractor in 2025 and saw the same result. It seems to work selecting values from the start like Start 4 End 7, or Start 2 End -1. But having the start be negative seems to always return no value. The change listed for the V2-V3 upgrade was adding bulk mode support.

Hoping I am just missing something/doing something wrong here.

Version is 2025.0.1.0

Attached is a version of the workspace with the transformer not upgraded, that way you can see the before and after by just upgrading it on your end if desired.

 

Thanks

Best answer by DanAtSafe

Hi ​@liamfez Unfortunately this is a known issue which has existed since FME 2024.1 (for version 3) but it will be fixed soon (via FMEENGINE-86932) in FME 2025.1 beta. 

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4 replies

tomfriedl
Contributor
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  • tomfriedlContributor
  • Contributor
  • June 12, 2025

I can reproduce the problem as described. It’s a bug. But you must not upgrade this transformer.

https://community.safe.com/general-10/fme-form-starter-20721
takashi
liamfez
DanAtSafe
Safer
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  • DanAtSafeSafer
  • Safer
  • Best Answer
  • June 12, 2025

Hi ​@liamfez Unfortunately this is a known issue which has existed since FME 2024.1 (for version 3) but it will be fixed soon (via FMEENGINE-86932) in FME 2025.1 beta. 

tomfriedl
raghavendrans
liamfez
liamfez
Influencer
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  • liamfezInfluencer
  • Author
  • Influencer
  • June 12, 2025

​@tomfriedl and ​@DanAtSafe Thank you both. 

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lambertus
Enthusiast
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  • lambertusEnthusiast
  • Enthusiast
  • July 8, 2025

​@liamfez an alternative approach could be - until 2025.1 is there - to use the String Function in the Attribute Manager. I used this one this afternoon and it works fine.

String function:
Substring(string,startIdx[,numChars])

 

 

DanAtSafe
liamfez

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