SSIS Scripting Languages

This covers how to change the scripting language in SSIS for Katmai.

SSIS Basics

This is a live presentation I gave recently. Here is a bare bones bottom of the barrel discussion on SSIS. This is for complete beginners. I’m explaining in this session, the simplest of basics on SSIS and BIDS. I give a couple of basics demos. This is the beginning of what I’ll build on in the next couple sessions as we get deeper into the specifics of this cool product. So if you know absolutely nothing about SSIS then this is the place for you.

SSIS Basics 2: Flatfile Olympics

Here we’re just going to jump into SSIS and do some real practical work. We’re going to learn all about taking things to/from multiple files. This is not to be missed because there are some really good concepts here that will carry over to many other tasks in SSIS. I specifically chose these operations because they teach such a wide variety of skills. So come learn how to get a gold medal in flatfiles.

Check if File Exists

Inspired by a user question I decided to make a quick vid on how to use a script task to check that a file exists. No frills in this one, just a quick walkthrough of the code.

Connection strings in Package Config Files

Here I show you how to put your data source connection string inside a package configuration XML file. This was inspired by a forum post by a user so I decided to make a video for him.

Creating Files with ForEach Loop

Here I take the intro one step further and show you how to create multiple txt files based off of a looping variable in the ForEach loop container. This is a very common task and I see this question quite a bit in the forums, so I documented it.

SSIS Data Cleansing

Fix data errors with derived cols and conditional split transformations.

Deploy Packages

Jen and I sit up very late one night and discuss how do deploy SSIS packages. If you don’t know anything at all about deploying packages or just want to learn a couple tricks, then you’ll love this. Plus we’re tired enough to goof around a bit.

Derived Columns

Here I show you how to work with derived columns in SSIS and use it to not only marry columns, but also troubleshoot data flows. This is a nice intro to this versatile transform.

Execute SQL Task with Parameters

This video discusses how to pass parameters to queries and SPs inside the Execute SQL Task. It doesn’t teach the basics of the task. It assumes you already know how to use it. This video is only concerned with passing parameters.

Forcing Package Failures

This one was by user request to show how you can compare the counts of 2 tables and use it to force the package to fail if the counts don’t match. This comes in handy when comparing the counts of the source and destination tables after your load. The scenario is specific but can be modified to anything you like.

Introduction to ForEach Loops

Here I show you the basics of how to work with ForEach loops. Good stuff.

Ground Zero SSIS: Class 1

This is the 1st class I'm teaching at the NTSSUG for ground zero SSIS. I hope to have 6 in all, but it may get stretched out further.

Ground Zero SSIS: Class 2

In this 2nd class we discuss how to decide whether you should architect your table loads in single or multiple packages. We also start on file loads.

Ground Zero SSIS: Class 3

Here in another live presentation to NTSSUG we discuss where to hold your query inside your packages, as well as get into flatfile error handling.

MultiFlatFile Connection Manager

Here I talk about how to use the multiflatfile connection manager in SSIS to loop through flatfiles.

Clean Package Design

This is a nice little primer on designing clean packages that are easier to support. Get rid of the sea of arrows that afflict your processes.

Row Count Transform

Here I discuss how to use the row count transform in SSIS and give you some good advice for naming and working with the variable associated with it.

Introduction to Sequence Containers

This video takes a look at the basics of using the Sequence Container in SSIS. There’s not a lot to it, but it’s a good intro if you don’t know what it is.

Dealing with Sql_variant in SSIS

Every now and then you come across something you don't want to deal with that you're forced to handle in your SSIS packages. Here I'll discuss techniques for handling the Sql_variant data type in your packages so your data loads properly.

Commenting Tribal Knowledge in SSIS Packages

There is a lot of tribal knowledge that accumulates in any organization. Here I discuss some ways to document your SSIS packages so you can start to record some of this information. Your packages will be more supportable, easier to update, and you’ll take hours or sometimes days off of a re-design or support effort. You won’t be sorry you started doing this.

Troubleshooting Simple Flatfile Load Errors

In this video I put together a small SSIS flatfile-to-SQL package, and troubleshoot a couple of errors.

SSIS text file errors

Dealing with SSIS txt file errors. You will learn how to properly redirect outputs to maximize your scrubbing efforts.

SSIS Variable Scope

Learn how SSIS scopes variables. It’s not a complicated topic, but worth covering.

SSIS Using Variables in Script Tasks

Here I talk about how to setup the script task to work with variables, and how to access them through code once the script can see them.

Fix SSIS Pkg Import Errors

This is a live troubleshooting video. I had an error importing an SSIS pkg so I turned on the camera and worked the issue live for you. A couple of the symptoms are not being able to copy tasks inside Visual Studio and getting an error about not being able to serialize the runtime object. This is one of those cases where at least being exposed to the types of things that can go wrong will help you come up with a solution even when you've never seen a specific error.

Troubleshoot SSIS: "Script component cannot build user component"