Open
"Other Transformers You Might be Interested In"
+22- Safer
Problem: FME has hundreds of transformers, with sometimes interesting names, that can be difficult for a newer user to understand. In this scenario, we borrow from online shopping sites (like Amazon) and provide recommendations for other similar-ish transformers based on our usage stats. Hopefully users then discover "new powers" to get the job done and don't feel so lost. Hypothetical example: "Other FME users who placed a Clipper also used a FeatureMerger, Tester, and AttributeCopier." Then use the Transformer Help to port in the quick description and/or image for context (maybe that information is hidden by default?). Where and how does this information get presented? I'm not sure, but I imagine it'd get most use if in product. Whether or not it's a good idea or even feasible is something I leave for you to assess.
+25- Supporter
This will be very usefull for new users. Perhaps also let users fro the community attach a "favourite transformer" and have them recommend this particular transformer within FME
+63
As long as it doesn't become too obnoxious (Clippy...) this could be useful, especially to new users.
+10Or maybe suggest alternatives. E.g. someone puts in a Joiner and you get a suggestion that a FeatureMerger combined with a FeatureReader could be used instead.
+22- Safer
Related but different: Update the docs to include a "Related transformers" section. PHP does this in its docs and it is incredibly useful (i.e.
http://php.net/manual/en/function.array-keys.php "See Also"). It would also allow old users who are diving into a new area of FME (i.e. new to Point Clouds say) to quickly see how all the different functions relate to each other. So for AttributeCreator it would probably show: AttributeRenamer - Rename attributes AttributeCopier - Copy attributes For GeometryValidator: DuplicatorRemover - Detect & Remove duplicate features based on a attribute SpikeRemover - Clean up geometries by removing spikes Generalizer - Perform various generalisation, smoothing, and fitting algorithms on a feature
+10- Contributor
At the bottom of the help is a good place to put these alternatives, it is where you end up when the current transformer does not do what you want to do. I would like to see antonyms there as well. I have trouble finding the opposite function because of the eccentric naming of transformers. eg what is the opposite of LineJoiner? Hint: Chopper. Really??
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