Using FME Flow with Esri ArcGIS Software

Full Guide: FME Flow Troubleshooting Guide
 

Introduction

To read and write from Esri Geodatabase formats, like ArcSDE and File Geodatabase, FME Flow requires that ArcGIS Server software be installed and licensed on the same machine (with an exception for the File Geodatabase Open API Reader/Writer).
 

Connecting FME Flow to ArcGIS Server

ArcGIS Server must be installed and licensed on the same machine as the FME Flow Engine Service. The ArcGIS version must be compatible with FME: Notes on FME and Esri Versions and Compatibility. There are no additional configuration steps required. 

If you have distributed Engine hosts, ArcGIS Server must be installed on every host. Alternatively, you can make use of Queue Control to route jobs using Esri formats to run on a specific engine host. For more information on using job routing for your Esri-dependent workflows, please see Guide to Manage Esri Jobs using Queue Control.

"Install ArcMap Runtime Support"--  This feature is required to support the publishing and running of services from ArcMap, and includes Python 2.7. Without this feature, any existing ArcMap-based services must be migrated to the Pro-based runtime. If excluded the workspace setting Esri Compatibility can only be Esri ArcGIS Pro, not Auto or Esri ArcMap

Connecting to Esri Applications from FME Flow without a license

An ArcGIS Server license is required to connect with the following Esri Geodatabase formats: 

• ArcSDE Geodb
• File Geodb*
• Personal Geodb

*Except File Geodb Open API 

However, there are alternative options that allow you to connect with Esri Applications without making use of these Readers/Writers: 

• The File Geodatabase Open API Reader/Writer allows you to work with File Geodatabase without an installed Esri product.
• Read and write to hosted features with the ArcGIS Portal Reader/Writer or ArcGIS Online Reader/Writer. 
• Upload and access hosted online content and files, like File Geodatabase, with the EsriArcGISOnlineConnecter . Please see How to use the EsriArcGISOnlineConnector for instructions.

Troubleshooting

“Can I use ArcGIS Pro with FME Flow?”

It is technically possible for FME Flow to use ArcGIS Pro. However, the use of ArcGIS Desktop or ArcGIS Pro in a server context violates Esri's license terms. Please see Esri’s article on this topic, "How does Data Interoperability relate to FME? ", for more information, or contact your Esri account manager for more clarification of Esri’s licensing terms.

See the FME and Esri ArcGIS Troubleshooting Guide.