very odd.

You say you using a file connection. If you don't? How about trying to use the file connection to import a text file. Does that work?

If you hardcode the value into the connection, does it work then?

If the variable is type string, it will not alter the value.

I have used the XML task many many times...

Is would be SUBSTRING(@[System::MachineName], 1, 3)...

Create another variable which uses an expression. There are many string functions avaliable such as substring which will to the trick. See the Expressions editor.

Under what user are you running it on the server? Agent?

I am assuming you can access the file when you are running under the same credentials as the SSIS package...

Here's a blog which outlines some "standards"

http://blogs.conchango.com/jamiethomson/archive/2006/01/05/SSIS_3A00_-Suggested-Best-Practices-and-naming-conventions.aspx

You can loop over the sheets using a for each loop container.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345182(SQL.90).aspx

You could also use a SQL task and query the file using JET and loop over the record set....

If there data is rather flat, using jet is an ideal way to go. if you have something a little more complex in Excel, have a look at Data Defractor...

Although SSIS does not connect to SAP using the supplied components, there is a source adapter you can buy called Xtract IS (http://www.xtract-is.com/IS_EN/index.php) which provides decent connectivity for SAP....

Sorry PJ - my knowledge of custom components is rather limited. I've hacked a couple together but not really done much else with it.

I cannot say I have had this problem and have in the past run 2000 and 2005 on the same machine without a problem.

A quick google on the problem found...

if _all_ you want it the number of records, the your best bet is to use the SQL task and run a select Count(1) From MyOracleTable and use the return...

You can use the rowcount component which logs the number of rows and assigns the final value to variable. You can then use this variable later to do what you...

Not sure why you would want to connect to SSIS through SSMS but anyway....

Are you sure you installed SSIS on the machine and not left it out in the options?

What...

Konesans already has a regex component but it just does matching, no replacing for you.

As for the handling parameters, see the book called SQL Server Intergration Services by Worx. It...