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Use pdf.aux.xml to attached correct co-ordinates to pdf

  • April 15, 2026
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a.bradley
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I have a series of pdf’s that have been georeferenced in ArcGIS Pro, and as a result they have an associated .aux.xml file with them. If I bring that pdf into ArcGIS Pro, it is accurately depicted on the map in the correct location.  However, in FME when I read in the pdf, it shows me all of the vector features in the pdf, but the pdf features themselves are located around the co-ordinate 0,0 and not in the georeferenced location. I understand this is because the .aux.xml isn’t being read by FME. In FME, how can I create a workflow that will accurately read in both the .pdf and its corresponding .aux.xml so that the vector features are visible in the graphics window and to export to a file geodatabase feature class? I don’t want to convert the pdf to raster/tiff because then I will lose the vector features.

Best answer by kailinatsafe

Hello ​@a.bradley, thank you for reaching out! I wanted to share a few thoughts on this use case. Typically, aux.xml files are associated with raster formats, so it's a bit unusual to see one referenced in the context of a non-raster (vector) workflow. When creating PDFs from ArcGIS, geographic information can often be embedded directly on the vector features themselves I think? It may be worth confirming whether that's already the case here, as it could simplify things considerably.

If this is not possible however, in FME, a simple Reprojector transformation likely won't resolve the issue. Depending on what the aux.xml file contains, the correct approach may involve one or a combination of the following transformers: Offsetter, Affiner, Rotator, or Scaler, to manually apply the necessary transformation. Hope this helps, Kailin

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kailinatsafe
Safer
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  • kailinatsafeSafer
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  • April 20, 2026

Hello ​@a.bradley, thank you for reaching out! I wanted to share a few thoughts on this use case. Typically, aux.xml files are associated with raster formats, so it's a bit unusual to see one referenced in the context of a non-raster (vector) workflow. When creating PDFs from ArcGIS, geographic information can often be embedded directly on the vector features themselves I think? It may be worth confirming whether that's already the case here, as it could simplify things considerably.

If this is not possible however, in FME, a simple Reprojector transformation likely won't resolve the issue. Depending on what the aux.xml file contains, the correct approach may involve one or a combination of the following transformers: Offsetter, Affiner, Rotator, or Scaler, to manually apply the necessary transformation. Hope this helps, Kailin

    a.bradley
    Contributor
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    • a.bradleyContributor
    • Author
    • April 20, 2026

    Hello ​@a.bradley, thank you for reaching out! I wanted to share a few thoughts on this use case. Typically, aux.xml files are associated with raster formats, so it's a bit unusual to see one referenced in the context of a non-raster (vector) workflow. When creating PDFs from ArcGIS, geographic information can often be embedded directly on the vector features themselves I think? It may be worth confirming whether that's already the case here, as it could simplify things considerably.

    If this is not possible however, in FME, a simple Reprojector transformation likely won't resolve the issue. Depending on what the aux.xml file contains, the correct approach may involve one or a combination of the following transformers: Offsetter, Affiner, Rotator, or Scaler, to manually apply the necessary transformation. Hope this helps, Kailin

    Thanks ​@kailinatsafe , I did manage to solve my problem in the end using the Affiner transformer to reposition the pdf and then the AffineWarper with the xml control points.

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