I have a request from a vendor to export data out of my SQL Server 2K database view to a 'flat fixed file'.
What kind of file is this exactly, not a .csv ? Does EM have the capabilities through the DTS wizard, by choosing the output to a text file and fixed width ?
Thank you
Hi,
There's a lot of information on importing data from text files, but not a lot on exporting data to text files... I've checked but found no info on this.
I'm trying to export data from SQL Server to a fixed-width flat file and wondering if I'm doing it the right way.
I use a view as source (using a OLEDB connection manager) and I can see the data without problem.
I defined a Flat File Destination (using a flat file connection manager). When setting up the flat file connection manager, I am asked for a file... Does this mean one should create manually a template file with the desired output format? So I used a production file as template since we're replacing an existing process.
After having set up everything, I run the SSIS only to see all the data on the same row. There are no CRLF...
When I create the file connection manager, there's no way to mention the row delimiter. In the properties I see a "Row Delimiter" field and when I try with "{CR}{LF}" it makes no difference. Interesting to note that, contrary to the HeaderRowDelimiter field, the RowDelimiter field has no drop-down control to give choices.
So I had to return the CRLF as the last field of the source view (SELECT .... ,'CRLF' = CHAR(13) + CHAR(10) FROM ...) to make it work.
Seems odd... Is it the way to go?
Thanks
Hi,
View 5 Replies View RelatedCurrently we're working on an SSIS package to extract data from a SQL Server database to several fixed width flat files.
Some of the data needs to be formatted/converted in a certain way
DateTimes need to be formatted in ISO8601Booleans need to be 0/1 instead of False/True...Has anybody any idea what the preferred approach (best practice) would be to do these conversions?Convert everything in the select query? What about readability of your query?
Do it somewhere in the package? If so, how?....
Hi,
I'm trying to extract data from a Flat File which is as fixed length as they come. The file has a header, which simply contains the number of records in the file, followed by the records, with no header delimeter (No CR/LF, nothing).
For example a file would look like the following:
00000003Name1Address1Name2Address2Name3Address3
So this has 3 records (indicated by the first 8 characters), each consisting of a Name and Address.
I can't see a way to extract the data using a flat file connection, unless we add a delimeter for the header (not possible at this stage). Am I wrong?
Any suggestions on possible solution would be much appreciated - I'm thinking Ill have to write a script to parse the file manually.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
When I use SQL 2000 DTS Export to create a fixed length flat file, the data rows are delimited by carriage return-line. Which means that when I open the flat file in a text editor like UltraEdit or WordPad, the data rows are broken out nicely (row ends at the max row length position and new row starts at position 0).
But when I use SSIS to create the file, the whole file is displayed as one line in WordPad. The data rows don't end at the max row lenght position in ultraEdit neither. From Flat File Connection Manager's Preview page, I can see the data rows are displayed properly.
Now I wonder if the flat file destination is a true fixed length file.
Hi,
I am trying to write to a fixed format flat file using Flat File Destination Data Flow Component. I have all required information gathered from more than one sources. But when I tried to format the columns to a big string that will make up one line in the flat file, I could not figure out how to do that. Couple of issues that I am facing are:
How to padd different columns? For example, One interger column has could be 1 to 10 character long in my case. When I convert to string, dont know how to padd the remaining characters i.e. if the value of integer is '1234', it should be written to file as '1234 ' . Which transformation is best in this case, if available?
How to convert T-SQL datetime to a specific date and time format to write in the flate file? I have to write these date formats depending upon one of the parameters passed.
Also, I dont want to put a delimiter at the end of each column, just the new line characters at the end of each record.
Some of the columns has some unwanted characters (like new line characters) how to find them and remove them from the string.
Can we directly write columns to a specific position in the flat file? e.g. col 1 a position 1 and col2 starts at postion 20 etc.
Your co-operation will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Paraclete
I need to be able to export a data file as flat file (.txt) with fixed columns for use by Mainframe.
I will be uploaded this file using the Windows File Share Option
Render Format does not have .txt, but does have a data feed option. So I will try that.
But, I do not see an option for fixed column width.
More SSIS woes. DTS was so much easier.
I have a flat file. It's fixed-with with CRLF record delimiters (a.k.a. Ragged Right format).
Some fields are null, and represented by the text NULL.
I'm trying to import the file into SQL via an OLE DB connection. The target table is a SQL 2000 data table. Two of the fields in the target database are of type smallint.
When I run PREVIEW on the data source (Flat File), everything looks good & correct. I added the convert columns task to convert my strings to smallint. This is where things go haywire.
After linking everything up, the conversion gives me a "Cannot convert because of a possible loss of data." All of my numbers are < 50, so I know this isn't the case. Another SSIS bogus error
My first instinct is the SSIS doesn't understand that NULL means null. I edited the file and replaced all instances of NULL with 4 emtpy string chars. Still no good. It seems to be having a hard time parsing the file now.
I dropped the convert task and tried editing the data source, and set the two smallint fields to smallint instead of string (SSIS formats). I get the same conversion error.
Changing the NULL values to 0 fixed the problem, but they're not 0. They're null.
Short of creating another script that converts all zeros to NULL using the aforementioned hack, I'm out of ideas.
I'm I missing something or is SSIS just incapable of handling nulls in fixed-width flat file formats?
TIA
We're having issues exporting a set of data from SQL to a fixed width flat text file by just doing a right click on the DB, then choosing Tasks > Export Data. You can not specify a row delimiter when you choose a Fixed Width format. The only way around this that we've found is to specificy char(13) and char(10) at the end of the SQL select statement. Without row delimiters you end up with 1 giant record rather than 20,000 regular sized records. Is there any other way around this that we're missing?
Using Ragged Right is not an option either since the record lengths will be inconsistent if the last field doesn't contain a consistent length to the data.
Thanks,
Mike
I have a text file that is comma delimited and im pulling it in with a flatfile connection manager. I want to read some of the data, then output another flat file but in a fixed column width. What settings do I made to the connection manager of the output flatfile ?
View 9 Replies View RelatedI am new to SSIS and am having trouble with automatically setting up the destination output columns.
I am sure there must be an easy way to do this.
My table (source) has 86 columns in it of varying lenghts.
In my connection magagers, I have created one for the SQL Server (source data) and one for the flat file (destination output).
I have also created an OLE DB source data object and a destination Flat File object and set them up to the respective connection managers.
Finally I have linked the source to the destination.
Now when I look at the source, it shows me all 86 columns.
When I open up destination, there are no columns set up.
Problem: do I have to type in all the columns manually in the connection manager for the Flat File?
I would think there would be some automatic way that it would self-populate the columns over to the flat file destination.
I am sorry, I am posting this message again, since I did not get anyreply.I want to export a table into a "fixed width" file using SQL 2005import export wizard.This is the version I have:SQL Server 2005 - 9.00.2047.00For some reason it joins all the rows together. For EX: if the tableis like this:Create table Mytable (col1 varchar(50) null, col2 varchar(60) null,col3 varchar (100) Null)Insert into MyTable values ("abcdef", "12345", "8900")Insert into MyTable values ("xxxxxxx", "11111111", "22222222")Insert into MyTable values ("yyyyyyyyy", "5555555555555555","6666666666")Insert into MyTable values ("abcdef", "12345", "8900")Insert into MyTable values ("xxxxxxx", "11111111", "22222222")Insert into MyTable values ("yyyyyyyyy", "5555555555555555","6666666666")It is not exporting every row in a single line. Actually if I open itin "Ultra Edit", it is all in one line.I used to do this regularly with SQL 2000 import export wizard and itexported every row in one line.I looked at the setting:The header row delimiter has {CR}{LF}Code page has 1252 Ansi-Latin.In the Advanced tab:String:dt_str.I tried changing the header row delimiter to just {CR} or just {LF}.Also I tried changing the string to dt_text and nothing seems to help.Please help.Thank you
View 1 Replies View RelatedHi All,
I have a simple SSIS package that runs a query on the db and outputs a fixed width flat file. I have all my column widths defined and in the connection manager i can preview the output. Everything looks great. All the fields fall where they should and each record is on it's own line.
When i run the SSIS program and then go open my text file with a text editor the ouput is all on the same line. I have tried changing my file format from fixed width to ragging right and adding a row delimiter but that doesn't work either. I feel like i'm missing something small here. It could even be an issue w/ my text editor (although i've tried to open the text file in multiple editors). In the flat file connection manager I have my file defined to be 187 characters long, So figure every 187 characters it should output a new line (it should add the carraige return right?).
Has anyone encountered an issue like this?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Hi-I have a sql database (2005) that I need to extract a report from that looks somehintg like SELECT * From Empl_Hours WHERE some_flag <> 'true' .The thing works fine, but the problem is this: I need to insert a record in the 1st row that looks like "Static_text"+row_count() +"more_static_text"where row_count is the actual # of rows that were retrieved. Thanks in advance for any help.DAn
View 3 Replies View RelatedI can't use DTS nor DTSwizard as I need to put it in a .sql and run it through a command line via .bat file (it's more for the users).
Each row ends with an EOL character, the fields are all fixed width, but I have a little problem here, some rows are empty but just with a EOL character.
How shall I go about it?
many thanks! :D
Dear fellows,
I know that I think as sql2k programmer-dba yet but I can€™t avoid.
I€™ve got Flat File Connection Manager Editor dragged with a text file as €˜ragged right€™ format and CRLF as header row limiter. When from properties page and Columns option I€™m going to alter just a few colums I am not be able.
It seems that you must erase all of them in order to define one or two. And in the case you€™d have 50????
When I ran sql2k DTS designer did that without problems, alter columns again and again.
As far as I know it€™s a lose of flexibility, or not? Or is there any way for do that without deleting nothing else?
SQL 6.5
NT 4.3
Can someone assist me with the following....
1. I am attempting to export data from a SQL DB (single table using a query) to a "flat file".
2. I would then like to take this "flat file" and import the data into a different SQL DB (same schema structure as first DB).
Unfortunately this has to be done in two steps.
Thank you for your help.
RPowid
I am trying to setup ssis data flow package to export a smalldatetime field to just date only. I have changed the dattype to datbase date [DT_DBDATE] AND ALSO [DT_DATE] but it still exports datetime format. What is the best and easiest way to setup flat file connection manager to only export date and not the time. Do I have to add another setup to convert to date only?
View 1 Replies View RelatedI'm using SSIS package to export some data to a comma delimited CSV file. The problem is that some of the fields have commas in them. Is there a way to deal with this other to changing the delimiter?
View 2 Replies View Relatedthe "flat file" destination is missing from the choices when attempting to
export data.
Greetings, everyone.
Does anyone know of a tool or a method of extracting the following information to a flat file?
Schema (tables, keys, etc.)
Options
Security
Triggers
Constraints
Stored Procedures
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Ben Zeidenberg
Hi there,
To put in context, we are using BizTalk to get the result from a stored proc and export it to a text file using a XML schema (XSD). The XSD includes formatting info such as the justification, padding, etc. We are moving this process to SSIS and we want to reuse the BizTalk schemas.
Is it possible?
Thanks
Frantz
I writing the data from sql table to flat file destination. I want to insert the record count in the first line of the destination file.
Record count must preceed 00.EX . Writing 4500 records from database should show 004500 in the first line of flat file.
I have an execute task to store the count in a variable now.
I am using the below code in my command prompt and it is copying all the records from a particular table and dropping in Flat file format in particular folder location. The below code is working if I am pointing to my local database but if I need to point to different database outside my environment how should I set it here also including the case where User ID and password are required to access the db.bcp AdventureWorks.HumanResources.Department out C:myDepartment_c_t.txt -c -t, -r -T -S.
View 12 Replies View RelatedI have a requirement where I have to take all the data available from a sql table and write it out as a flat file in folder location.Its a simple table have 8-10 coloumns, have to take this data on daily basis from sql table and deliver out as flat file in a folder.
View 19 Replies View RelatedI have like 100 columns and most of them work fine, but some will not work. I need to select the columns with correct width for fixed width flat file.
Here is typical SQL statment that works for most of them.
left(RTRIM(A.City) + Replicate(' ', 25) ,25) as [City]
The above one is not working, but many other works fine like the address. Why would it work for some, but not others?
It works fine if I use any char, but not space. i.e.
left(RTRIM(A.City) + Replicate('*', 25) ,25) as [City]
Hi,
I am trying to create a program that transfers tables to flat files.
At this point in time, I have suceeded in created one that creates delimited files.
However, I am now trying to create fixed-width files as you can do with the SSIS designer, but programatically.
Is there a way to programatically determine the width of a column from the source table? I can not seem to find any kind of function or member that stores this information or allows me to retrieve it.
I know what I need to change in order to set a width for a column, but I just don't know how to find the width without just asking the user to provide one.
Hi,
I am testing SSIS and have created a Flat File Destination. I defined the Flat File Connection as New for the first time and it worked fine. Now, I would like to go back and modify the Flat File Connection in the Flat File Destination Editor, but it allows only to create a New connection rather allowing me to edit the existing one. For testing, I can go back and create a new connection, but if my connection had 50-100 columns then it would be an issue to re-create it from scratch.
Did someone else faced this issue?
Thanks,
AQ
Is there a better way to handle fixed width flat files than the built-in SSIS capability? I have a fixed width file with over 400 columns and it looks like I need to manually click lines where each column starts/ends (quite tedious and prone to error). I have an excel version of the spec with start position, length, and data type for each column. So far it looks like the only way to automate this task is to somehow automatically generate the package XML from the spec and paste it into the dtsx file. Anyone know of a better way?
View 7 Replies View RelatedHi,
I have a situation where a tab limited text file is used to populate a sql server table.
The tab limited text file comes from a third party vendor. There are fixed number of columns we need to export to the sql server table. However the third party may add colums in the text file. Whenenver the text file has an added column (which we dont need to import) the build fails since the flat file connection manager does not create the metadata for it again. The problem goes away where I press the button "Reset Columns" since it builds the metadata then. Since we need to build the tables everyday we cannot automate it using SSIS because the metadata does not change automatically. Is there a way out in SSIS?
I am transferring data from an OLEDB source to a Flat File Destination and I want the column width for all of the output columns to 30 (max width amongst the columns selected), but that is not refected in the Fixed Width Flat File that got created. The outputcolumnwidth seems to be the same as the inputcolumnwidth. Is there any other setting that I am possibly missing or is this a possible defect?
Any inputs will be appreciated.
M.Shah
Hi all,
I m using SSIS and i am transfering the data from Flat File Source to the OLE DB destination File. The source file contain some corrupt data which i am transfering to the other Flat file destination file.
Debugging is succesful but i am not getting any error output in the Flat file destination file.
i had done exactly which is written in the msdn tutorial of SSIS.
Plz tell me why i am not getting the error output in the destination flat file?
thanx