Learn how to invoke SSRS reports from an SSIS package after the data load is completed.  Read more...

Recently while working on a project to import data from an Excel worksheet using SSIS, I realized that sometimes the SSIS Package failed even though when there were no changes in the structure/schema of the Excel worksheet. I investigated it and I noticed that the SSIS Package succeeded for some set of files, but for others it failed. I found that the structure/schema of the worksheet from both these sets of Excel files were the same, the data was the only difference. How come just changing the data can make an SSIS Package fail? What actually causes this failure? What can we do to fix it?  Read more...

Level 9 of the Stairway to Integration Services looks at control flow tasks and error handling.  Read more...

If you want to run an Oracle Package and then execute a web service, copy files or folders, a sequence of tasks, you may need to use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).  Read more...

In Level 8 of the Stairway to SSIS we look at more advanced workflow management within a package.  Read more...

Having finally got around to upgrading my custom components to SQL Server 2012, I thought I’d share some notes on the process. One of the goals was minimal duplication, so the same code files are used to build the 2008 and 2012 components, I just have a separate project file.   Read more...

Level 8 of this stairway series looks at the automation of your tracing using Integration Services.  Read more...

The Row Number Transformation calculates a row number for each row, and adds this as a new output column to the data flow. The column number is a sequential number, based on a seed value. Each row receives the next number in the sequence, based on the defined increment value.  Read more...

I have several applications that use SSIS packages and I want to be able to store all the configurations together in a single table when I deploy. When a package executes I need a way of specifying the "application" and having SSIS automatically handle the package configuration based on the application.  Read more...

In the third of her SSIS Basics articles, Annette Allen shows you how to use Variables in your SSIS Packages, and explains the functions of the system-defined variables.  Read more...

As the name suggests we have taken the current Row Count Transform that is provided by Microsoft in the Integration Services toolbox and we have recreated the functionality and extended upon it. There are two things about the current version that we thought could do with cleaning up Lack of a custom UI You have to type the variable name yourself In the Row Count Plus Transformation we solve these issues for you.  Read more...

Marcin Policht explores a method of running SSIS packages that relies on the dtexec.exe utility.  Read more...

With the Konesans File Watcher Task for SSIS we can import files as soon as they arrive.  Read more...

The regular expression transformation exposes the power of regular expression matching within the pipeline. One or more columns can be selected, and for each column an individual expression can be applied. The way multiple columns are handled can be set on the options page.  Read more...

In order to be able to take data from a variety of sources, manipulate it, and then export it to one of several destinations, SSIS has to use its own data types. If you hit problems, then you may need to intervene to ensure an appropriate conversion.  Read more...

Use the power of regular expressions to cleanse your data right there inside the Data Flow. This transformation includes a full user interface for simple configuration, as well as advanced features such as error output configuration. Two regular expressions are used, a match expression and a replace expression. The transformation is designed around the named capture groups or match groups, and even supports multiple expressions.  Read more...

This component needs little explanation. It generates random integer (DT_I4) and string (DT_WSTR) data and places them in the pipeline. You specify how many columns of each you would like and for any string columns you pass a fixed length value. You then need to specify how many rows in total you require to be generated. This component is used by us to do testing of the pipeline and components downstream.  Read more...

The next installment of our Stairway to Integration Services looks at the precedence constraints in your package workflow.  Read more...

Annette continues her popular series for SSIS beginners by showing how a data flow task can be used in a package to move data from a SQL Server database to an Excel file, and insert an additional column into the Excel file that’s based on derived data.  Read more...

The next installment of our Stairway to Integration Services from Andy Leonard looks at workflow and how you can control what happens in your package.  Read more...