Flat File Connection Manager Editor (General Page)

Use the General page of the Flat File Connection Manager Editor dialog box to select a file and data format. A flat file connection enables a package to connect to a text file.

To learn more about the Flat File connection manager, see Flat File Connection Manager.

Options

  • Connection manager name
    Provide a unique name for the flat file connection in the workflow. The name provided will be displayed within SSIS Designer.
  • Description
    Describe the connection. As a best practice, describe the connection in terms of its purpose, to make packages self-documenting and easier to maintain.
  • File name
    Type the path and file name to use in the flat file connection.
  • Browse
    Locate the file name to use in the flat file connection.
  • Locale
    Specify the locale to provide language-specific information for ordering and for date and time formats.
  • Unicode
    Indicate whether to use Unicode. If you use Unicode, you cannot specify a code page.
  • Code page
    Specify the code page for non-Unicode text.
  • Format
    Indicate whether the file uses delimited, fixed width, or ragged right formatting.

    Value Description

    Delimited

    Columns are separated by delimiters, specified on the Columns page.

    Fixed width

    Columns have a fixed width.

    Ragged right

    Ragged right files are files in which every column has a fixed width, except for the last column. It is delimited by the row delimiter.

  • Text qualifier
    Specify the text qualifier to use. For example, you can specify that text fields are enclosed in quotation marks.

    Note

    After you select a text qualifier, you cannot re-select the None option. Type None to de-select the text qualifier.

  • Header row delimiter
    Select from the list of delimiters for header rows, or enter the delimiter text.

    Value Description

    {CR}{LF}

    The header row is delimited by a carriage return-line feed combination.

    {CR}

    The header row is delimited by a carriage return.

    {LF}

    The header row is delimited by a line feed.

    Semicolon {;}

    The header row is delimited by a semicolon.

    Colon {:}

    The header row is delimited by a colon.

    Comma {,}

    The header row is delimited by a comma.

    Tab {t}

    The header row is delimited by a tab.

    Vertical bar {|}

    The header row is delimited by a vertical bar.

  • Header rows to skip
    Specify the number of header rows or initial data rows to skip, if any.
  • Column names in the first data row
    Indicate whether to expect or provide column names in the first data row.

See Also

Reference

Flat File Connection Manager Editor (Columns Page)
Flat File Connection Manager Editor (Advanced Page)
Flat File Connection Manager Editor (Preview Page)

Other Resources

Integration Services Error and Message Reference

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance