As of FME 2024.0, support for Esri ArcGIS Online (AGOL), ArcGIS Enterprise Portal, and ArcGIS Server Feature Service formats has transitioned to a unified approach using the new Esri ArcGIS Feature Service (Format). This format replaces the legacy reader/writer formats for each of the three services.
Starting in FME 2026.1, the legacy formats will be hidden in the Quick Add menu. Instead, equivalent functionality is now provided by the downloadable Esri ArcGIS Connector package, available on FME Hub. The package also includes new web services and key transformers such as the ArcGISOnlineConnector, ArcGISAttachmentConnector, and ArcGISBranchVersionManager. The package can be installed directly through the Quick Add menu in FME Workbench. Once installed, the new Esri Feature Service format will appear in the Gallery as a unified method for interacting with all three types of Esri ArcGIS Feature Services.
For details on this transition, including guidance on updating existing workspaces, please refer to the article: Working with Esri ArcGIS Feature Services in FME.
Introduction
FME 2024.0 introduced web services to generate tokens in Esri applications. This can be a more reliable method of accessing ArcGIS Portal or Online since you generate a new token every time you access it. Using OAuth 2.0 (authorization code) authentication may cause token refresh issues in some environments, primarily if the service is rarely used. Additionally, if you are using FME Flow, the token web connections do not need to be authenticated again on Flow, which further simplifies the process.
If you are looking for instructions on how to set up OAuth 2.0, please see the following articles:
How to Create an ArcGIS Enterprise Portal Web Connection (OAuth 2.0)
How to Create an ArcGIS Online Web Connection (OAuth 2.0)
Requirements
- FME Form 2024.0+
- Esri ArcGIS Portal account or ArcGIS Online account
Step-by-step Instructions
The same web service can be used to create a token web connection for ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Portal. However, because the parameters for each service are different, you will need to create a separate web connection for Portal and Online if you want to use both.
Open FME Form and select New. Go to Utilities > FME Options (2025.1+) or Tools > FME Options (earlier versions) and select Web Connections. Click the + sign on the bottom toolbar and click add.
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ArcGIS Online
In the Add Web Connection window, set the following parameters
- Web Service: Esri ArcGIS Generate Token (safe.esri-agol)
- Connection Name: <Your own name for the connection>
- Visibility: Shared
-
Token URL:
https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/generateToken - Username: <your username>
- Password: <your password>
Click OK to save the web connection details
ArcGIS Portal
- Web Service: Esri ArcGIS Generate Token (safe.esri-agol)
- Connection Name: <Your own name for the connection>
- Visibility: Shared
-
Token URL:
<Your Esri Portal>/portal/sharing/rest/generateToken - Username: <your username>
- Password: <your password>
Click OK to save the web connection details
To use these connections in your workspace, add an Esri ArcGIS Feature Service reader to your canvas and click Parameters to select the connection and feature service.
Please use the Esri ArcGIS Feature Service format, which is available as part of the ArcGIS Connector package from FME Hub. For more information on this package and change, please see Working with Esri ArcGIS Feature Services in FME.
(Optional) Upload to FME Flow
To use the generate token services on FME Flow, you only need to upload the web connection. In FME Options > Web Connections, right-click on the connection name and select “Upload to FME Flow”. Select the Flow connection you want to upload to and click OK.
Unlike the OAuth connections, the token connections do not require additional authentication on FME Flow.
Additional Resources
Tutorial: Getting Started with ArcGIS Online and Portal