Question

How to view the "Element" Attribute within an Esri SDE Annotation Layer in FME?


Badge +6

We are working with an Esri SDE SQL database and bringing some annotation layers into FME to review attributes and confirm the appropriate values have been applied based on our business rules. When looking at the Annotation layer within MS SQL Server Management Studio, the attribute of "ELEMENT" shows up. When in FME and after exposing all the attributes on the Annotation layer, no "Element" field is seen.

 

What can be done to expose this attribute in FME?

imageThanks in advance for your time.


3 replies

Badge +2

@juliarozema​ Hi Julia - are you reading the data with the FME Esri Geodatabase (ArcSDE) reader? The Element field is the blob that contains the annotation geometry and symbology - essentially the spatial column for the annotation. FME will read it and convert it into the FME geometry representation

Badge +6

@juliarozema​ Hi Julia - are you reading the data with the FME Esri Geodatabase (ArcSDE) reader? The Element field is the blob that contains the annotation geometry and symbology - essentially the spatial column for the annotation. FME will read it and convert it into the FME geometry representation

Thank you @Mark Stoakes​ 

We are reading the data with an Esri Geodatabase (ArcSDE Geodb) Reader. If we use a different type of reader, can we see the ELEMENT attribute?

Is there a way to expose the “Element” or “FME Geometry” fields to compare the length of the alpha-numeric strings to determine differences in annotation placement styles.

Badge +2

@juliarozema​ I think FME splits out all the Esri annotation into separate format attributes as described under Annotation Attributes here. The details probably depend on the type of annotation and whether it includes leader lines etc. and also ArcMap or Pro. Annotation symbology is usually controlled in Esri and referenced by the geodb_symbol_id and geoddb_anno_class_id.

Reply