• Article

Flat File Connection Manager Editor (Columns Page)

Use the Columns page of the Flat File Connection Manager Editor dialog box to specify the row and column information, and to preview the file.

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

Static 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.

Flat File Format Dynamic Options

Format = Delimited

  • Row delimiter
    Select from the list of available row delimiters, or enter the delimiter text.

    Value

    Description

    {CR}{LF}

    Rows are delimited by a carriage return-line feed combination.

    {CR}

    Rows are delimited by a carriage return.

    {LF}

    Rows are delimited by a line feed.

    Semicolon {;}

    Rows are delimited by a semicolon.

    Colon {:}

    Rows are delimited by a colon.

    Comma {,}

    Rows are delimited by a comma.

    Tab {t}

    Rows are delimited by a tab.

    Vertical bar {|}

    Rows are delimited by a vertical bar.

  • Column delimiter
    Select from the list of available column delimiters, or enter the delimiter text.

    Value

    Description

    {CR}{LF}

    Columns are delimited by a carriage return-line feed combination.

    {CR}

    Columns are delimited by a carriage return.

    {LF}

    Columns are delimited by a line feed.

    Semicolon {;}

    Columns are delimited by a semicolon.

    Colon {:}

    Columns are delimited by a colon.

    Comma {,}

    Columns are delimited by a comma.

    Tab {t}

    Columns are delimited by a tab.

    Vertical bar {|}

    Columns are delimited by a vertical bar.

  • Refresh
    View the effect of changing the delimiters to skip by clicking Refresh. This button only becomes visible after you have changed other connection options.

  • Preview rows
    View sample data in the flat file, divided into columns and rows by using the options selected.

  • Reset Columns
    Remove all but the original columns by clicking Reset Columns.

Format = Fixed Width

  • Font
    Select the font in which to display the preview data.

  • Source data columns
    Adjust the width of the row by sliding the vertical red row marker, and adjust the width of the columns by clicking the ruler at the top of the preview window

  • Row width
    Specify the length of the row before adding delimiters for individual columns. Or, drag the vertical red line in the preview window to mark the end of the row. The row width value is automatically updated.

  • Reset Columns
    Remove all but the original columns by clicking Reset Columns.

Format = Ragged Right

Note

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.

  • Font
    Select the font in which to display the preview data.

  • Source data columns
    Adjust the width of the row by sliding the vertical red row marker, and adjust the width of the columns by clicking the ruler at the top of the preview window

  • Row delimiter
    Select from the list of available row delimiters, or enter the delimiter text.

    Value

    Description

    {CR}{LF}

    Rows are delimited by a carriage return-line feed combination.

    {CR}

    Rows are delimited by a carriage return.

    {LF}

    Rows are delimited by a line feed.

    Semicolon {;}

    Rows are delimited by a semicolon.

    Colon {:}

    Rows are delimited by a colon.

    Comma {,}

    Rows are delimited by a comma.

    Tab {t}

    Rows are delimited by a tab.

    Vertical bar {|}

    Rows are delimited by a vertical bar.

  • Reset Columns
    Remove all but the original columns by clicking Reset Columns.