Unsupported Esri Field Type Error (GlobalID) | ArcSDE Geodatabase

Symptom

When attempting to use the Global ID as the Update/Delete Key Field with the Esri Geodatabase (ArcSDE Geodb) writer, an error occurs:

An unsupported Esri field type was encountered. The Geodatabase Reader/Writer does not 
know to which Geodatabase field type to map this Esri field type

Cause

Global ID is a special ID that is used specifically for ESRI database replication. Creating a field with this datatype is not currently supported by FME. You can only create a feature class with a Global ID column by using the Esri Add Global ID tool after the feature class has been created.

You can write to an existing table with a Global ID column and similar to ObjectId, the Global ID field will be automatically populated with unique values. However, writing existing values does not work.

For more information about this Field type see: Geodatabase Field Data Types
 

Resolution

As of FME 2019.0, you can now preserve ESRI GlobalID fields when writing to ESRI Geodatabases. For more information, or to provide your feedback please see this Ideas Forum post: ESRI Global IDs.