Flat File Text Date Conversion To SQL Server Date Comments And Suggestions

Hi,
Basically the above is a very common requirement, please comment on my solution which I've arrived at by searching through the web; -

In summary I have used 3 SSIS components these are "Flat File Source", "Derived Column" and "SQL Server Destination".

1) File Connections Manager Editor
1.1) Within File Connections Manager Editor; -
Name the data type e.g. "INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE_SRC"
and assign a type to the data type e.g. string[DT_STR]

1.2) Click on the Preview button to ensure the expected text is assigned to the expected data type.


2) Derived Column Transformation Editor
2.1) Assign Derived Column Name, e.g.
INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE

2.2) Select <add as new column> within Derived Column.

2.3) Enter the conversion Expression, e.g. ; -
2.3.1)
(SUBSTRING(INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE_SRC,8,2) + "/" + SUBSTRING(INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE_SRC,5,2) + "/" + SUBSTRING(INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE_SRC,1,4))

2.3.2)
Since the above conversion is such a common task I suggest that Service Pack 3 of SQL Server 2005 delivers the following functionality; -

STRINGTODATE ('YYYYMMDD',INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE_SRC)

2.4) Select "database timestamp [DT_DBTIMESTAMP] " as Data Type.

2.5) Within the Mappings tab of the SQL Destination Editor have; -
Input Column as INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE and
Destination Column as INTERCHANGE_NET_APP_DATE.

Please comment on the above, I will then pass on my suggestion to Microsoft.

Thanks in advance,

Kieran.