SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a powerful tool for data transformation and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes. One of the coolest features of SSIS is the ability to generate packages programmatically. This allows developers to bridge the gap between specific business requirements and the capabilities of the tool.

In traditional ETL applications, there is often a disconnect between the requirements and the available tools. With SSIS, there are no limitations from a practical perspective. You can create any data transformation logic using the Control Flow Task and the Data Transformation Task, which includes stock and custom components. The ability to generate these components dynamically using external metadata is a game-changer.

When working with SSIS, there are two types of metadata: internal and external. Internal metadata is defined at design time and assumes that the metadata will remain the same at runtime. External metadata, on the other hand, allows for dynamic changes to the columns, column mappings, and other properties of the package.

By leveraging the SQL Management Objects (SMO) object model, developers can design and implement ETL processes that are reusable and dynamic. This means that the logic can be easily applied to different sets of inputs without requiring any programming or developer intervention.

Let’s take a look at an example to illustrate the power of programmatically generating packages in SSIS. Imagine a marketing company that needs to process data from different sources and apply a set of transformations to it. Initially, the logic is implemented as a script, but it is hard-coded and not reusable. By converting the script into a custom transform component, a SSIS developer can easily reuse the logic and change the source columns as needed.

However, to make the process truly reusable and dynamic, we can create an application that allows end users to select the files to process and apply the “Marketing Company” process via the SSIS Package independently. This can be achieved by programmatically generating the completed package using the SMO object model.

Here is a simplified code example that demonstrates how to programmatically generate a package for the “Marketing Company” solution:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Dts.Runtime;

namespace GenPackage
{
    public class GenPackage
    {
        private Package FindVendParseAddrPkg;
        private MainPipe DataFlow;
        // Add other variables and components here

        public GenPackage(List<Hashtable> _findInputColumn)
        {
            // Create the package and set properties
            this.FindVendParseAddrPkg = new Package();
            this.FindVendParseAddrPkg.Name = "findvendparseaddrPkg";
            this.FindVendParseAddrPkg.Description = "findvendparseaddr sample";

            // Add other components and configure them

            // Save the package
            Application a = new Application();
            a.SaveToXml("findvendparseaddr.dtsx", this.FindVendParseAddrPkg, null);
        }

        // Add other methods and components here
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List<Hashtable> _findInputColumnlist = new List<Hashtable>();
        Hashtable _findInputColumn = new Hashtable();
        // Add input column mappings here
        _findInputColumnlist.Add(_findInputColumn);
        GenPackage sample = new GenPackage(_findInputColumnlist);
    }
}

As you can see, by using the SMO object model, we can create a package from scratch and configure its components programmatically. This allows us to generate a package that is driven by external metadata, making it highly reusable and dynamic.

By extending this solution further, we can create an application that allows users to select different sources, columns, and campaign IDs, and generate the package on the fly. This eliminates the need for programmer involvement and increases the reuse of business logic.

In conclusion, the ability to programmatically generate packages in SSIS opens up a world of possibilities for data transformation and ETL processes. By leveraging the power of the SMO object model, developers can create highly reusable and dynamic solutions that meet specific business requirements. Whether you’re working with a marketing company or any other industry, SSIS provides the flexibility and scalability needed to handle complex data integration tasks.