Question

I have a few SQL statements stored in text files. How do I pull these files into a string variable in SSIS so that I can use the same query in multiple places?

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Answer to questions:

The queries are long and complex, something I’d prefer to edit in a real text editor, not inside the SSIS text boxes. I’d also like the queries to be editable by people who don’t have access to SSIS or don’t know how to use it. Finally, each of the queries is used in a number of different data flows. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I use the same query in multiple spots I believe I have to either use a variable or re-write the code for each data flow.

Answer 1

Here’s how I did this very thing (after searching everywhere for an answer and finding none.)

I started with a package that the Export Data Wizard created, so my instructions relate to that. Doing it that way sets up the column mappings. If you didn’t use the Export Wizard to create the package you may have to add columns by hand.

1. Add a string variable named SQLFileName to the package.
2. Add a string variable named SQLCommand to the package.
3. Add a Script Task at the start of the Control Flow.
4. Edit the Script Task and go to the Script section.
5. Add SQLFileName to the ReadOnlyVariables section. Set it to
   the path of your .sql file.
6. Add SQLCommand to the ReadWriteVariables section.
7. Click Design Script.
8. Paste in the script below. It just reads in the contents of the
   file specified by SqlFileName into
   SQLCommand.
9. OK your way out and connect the Script Task to the rest of your control flow.
10. Go to your Data Flow and select the Source Query. You’ll need to
    edit the properties using the
    properties window. If you use the
    fancy Edit window you’ll get an
    error about the command text not
    being set. It’s because SQLCommand
    is blank at design-time.
11. Change the AccessMode to SQL Command from variable.
12. Under SQLVariableName, select SQLCommand.
13. You’ll see that a red X gets added to the Source Query. That’s
    because the SQLCommand is blank. To
    prevent the red X, change
    ValidateExternalMetaData to False.

That’s about it. I hope I remembered all the bits. The script is the key part so that you can get the SQL into a variable and then use the variable in the Data Flow.

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   Imports System
    Imports System.IO
    Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Runtime

    Public Class ScriptMain

        Public Sub Main()

            Try

                Dts.Variables("SQLCommand").Value = System.IO.File.ReadAllText(Dts.Variables("SQLFileName").Value.ToString)

                Dts.TaskResult = Dts.Results.Success

            Catch oException As System.Exception

                Dts.TaskResult = Dts.Results.Failure

            End Try

        End Sub

    End Class