Mapping File

From Fmepedia

A mapping file (.FME file) is a series of commands for FME to perform. Mapping files use functions and factories to work on the data. A mapping file can be run through the FME Universal Translator. Prior to the arrival of FME Workbench (ca. 2001), this was the only way to tweak a translation process.

You can create a mapping file either by manually programming it (and some hard-core users can still write a mapping file from scratch) or by using the FME Workbench. In Workbench, there is a 'save as .fme' option. However, as the Workbench file format itself (.FMW file) is essentially a mapping file with an XML header, there is currently little use for them anymore.

Mapping files are written in a plain ascii format, so you can use any text editor to edit them. One little trick to help you develop them is copy-and-paste from Workbench. If you select one or more transformers in Workbench, copy them and then paste them in your text editor, the mapping file equivalent of those transformers will be pasted.

.fme is also the file extension sometimes used for a pipeline file.