How to Set Different Custom Python Interpreters for 32-bit and 64-bit FME Installations on the Same Machine

As of FME 2022.0, Python 2.7 has been deprecated and is no longer available within FME. Please see the Python 2.7 Deprecation article. Additionally, FME for Windows 32-Bit has also been deprecated. Please see FME 32-bit Windows Continued Support for more information. This is a Legacy article and will no longer be maintained.

Introduction

Normally, if you are setting FME to use a Custom Python Interpreter, you would set the path to the Python dll in Workbench using
FME Options -> Runtime -> Use Custom Python Interpreter.

However, this method will set the Python interpreter for ALL the FME installations on your computer. This can be a problem if you have both 32 bit and 64 bit versions of FME installed, since the Python dll will differ for both.

The solution is to use FME command line APPLY_SETTINGS to set the path to the Python dll's in each FME installation, as needed.

 

How to use command line to set Python custom interpreters for FME

1. Run Windows Command Prompt as Administrator

2. Navigate to the FME installation directory for the FME (32-bit or 64-bit) you would like to set a custom Python interpreter (for example, C:\Program Files\FME\ )

3. Enter the following commands:

fme APPLY_SETTINGS SYSTEM "Python/Use Custom Python" true  fme APPLY_SETTINGS SYSTEM "Python/Python Interpreter" <pythonpath>

where <pythonpath> is the full path to the python*.dll

4. Repeat in the other FME installation directory if you need to set that FME to use a custom Python interpreter as well.

The commands above will save settings in the following registry locations:
64 bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Safe Software Inc./Feature Manipulation Engine/Python
32 bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/Safe Software Inc./Feature Manipulation Engine/Python
Refer to this article for additional information on selecting a custom Python Interpreter for FME.