FME tries very hard to be intelligent about coordinates, perhaps sometimes too hard.

In the Excel reader parameters, make sure to change the column datatypes of type "x/y_coordinate" to something else, e.g. string or number.

Hi @david_r​ ,

thanks for your reply once again.

For me, setting the Excel parameters like this is not possible since the Excel file is dynamically determined during the translation (stored in the attribute '_ca___windows_DET_path' of the feature entering the FeatureReader):

Consequently, FME does not know which parameters it can expect from the Excel file to read:

However, I think it was some kind of weird bug that resulted in the unwanted creation of point geometries. I also had another FeatureReader in the workspace which basically did the same as the problematic one, and this other FeatureReader did not print the log messages of failed point geometry creations.

I did the following and now, the log messages/unwanted creation of point geometries disappeared:

1. Duplicate the problematic FeatureReader transformer (via Ctrl + D).
2. In the "Dataset" property of the ReatureReader, replace the attribute '_ca___windows_DET_path' with the selection of an actually existing file.
3. Click on "Parameters".
4. In the "Parameters" window, I selected the proper "Sheet to Read" and also changed the "Attribute Definition" from "Automatic" to "Manual". I assessed the exposed attributes and their names, and since no X/Y or similar attributes were recognized by FME, I simply switched the "Attribute Definition" back to "Automatic".
5. I closed the "Parameters" window and in the "FeatureReader Parameters" window, I selected the "Dataset" to be '_ca___windows_DET_path' , again

Afterwards, I ran the workspace once again and poof, the log messages were gone. Hence, I conclude it was some kind of weird bug.

So thanks again for your reply which lead me to a solution.

@lbd-kufers​ I think we can probably add an option on the Excel reader parameters to switch of point geometry creation in a future version of FME.

@Mark Stoakes​ This would be a nice addition. Do you require this to be added as an FME idea?

@lbd-kufers​ No. I created a change request.

Nice, thanks @Mark Stoakes​ 

Hi @lbd-kufers​,

I'm happy to report that the change request that Mark had filed has been addressed for FME 2023.1 and is currently available for testing in our Betas. You can find our beta downloads here: engage.safe.com/support/downloads/beta

This change adds an option to Scan for Geometric Types similar to the CSV reader. It's checked by default and I believe in your case you would want to uncheck it so that you don't get point geometry. More information on it can be found at the bottom of this 2023.1 Excel Reader Parameters doc under Advanced.