Question

I am trying to do automatic package execution with a WMI Event Watcher Task within SSIS. The functionality I want is automatic package execution when excel files are dropped into a certain folder. However, these excel files will be the connection managers for populating a database.

Currently SSIS will not allow me to do this because my excel connection manager does not have a path when I run the program, and only exists once the files are dropped in the folder.

Is there a way for variable excel connection managers or the value of the connection string to be a variable?

Also, how do I implement the usage of this variable in an expression?

Answer 1

You can use a variable for the connection string of you excel source:

1. Click on your Connection manager of your excel source
2. In properties window, add an expression(1) ConnectionString(2) and assign a variable(3)

There are alot of different things you can do with variables. They are used alot in combination with for each loop containers and file system tasks. Your normally do something like this

1. create a variable in variable window
2. Set a static value or one that gets changed during the package flow
3. Map the variable to an expression

There are alot howtos on the web, maybe have a look at this to get warm with it:

http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/ssis/working-with-variables-in-sql-server-integration-services/

http://www.rafael-salas.com/2007/03/ssis-file-system-task-move-and-rename.html