Dynamic Excel File Source

  • What are the steps necessary to pass the Excel Source the excel file name as a variable? I've tried this a few different ways now and have had issues each way.

    I've been trying to get this working for days! I've read a couple of long threads that involve a ForEach Loop Container to get multiple excel files and I've stepped thru them and am still stuck. I only wish to load one file per run. The format and location of the Excel File will never change - just the file name.

    Here's what I've tried most recently:

    1. Create Variable

    Variable Name: FileName

    Scope: Package

    Data Type: String

    Value: F:\apps\excel\Expense_Report_Form.xls

    2. Run Package Nomally (w/o variable)

    Excel Source: I set this up to point to the Excel File and tested with the Data Conversion and OLE DB Destination. Execute the package and it runs as expected. Moves Excel data to SQL Server.

    3. Create expression (Connection Manager)

    In the connection manager for the excel source create a expression

    Property: ConnectionString

    Expression: "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + @[User::FileName] +";Extended Properties=\"Excel 8.0;HDR=YES\";"

    When I click evaluate expression it returns the following:

    Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=F:\apps\excel\Expense_Report_Form.xls;Extended Properties="Excel 8.0;HDR=YES";

    As soon as I setup the expression the excel source gets a red X with error "an OLE DB error has occurred." If I try and execute the package it fails at that step. What am I missing here?? Right now I have delay validation set to "false" on the connection manager properties.

    I am beyond frustrated at this point. I would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer. Thanks in advance:-)

  • Delay validation should be set to True, not False, if the source file does not exist until run-time.

    You could approach this a different way. Set up a hard-coded connection to, say, Data.xls and as the first part in your package, copy the dynamically named Excel file to it, overwriting what is already there.

    Then allow the process to run using data.xls, which will always exist and your validation problems should go away.

    Phil

    The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
    Martin Rees

    You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.
    Stan Laurel

  • Thanks for the reply Phil! I completely rebuilt the package, set delay validation = false..and it runs without error!

    One more question. I'm trying to execute the package from a SP. What's the proper syntax to pass the variable from the SP to the SSIS package? My overall goal is to call the SSIS package programatically from an asp.net application. So I'll be passing the filename as a varaible from the program.

    Here's what I have so far:

    AS

    DECLARE @cmd varchar(1000)

    DECLARE @SSISpath varchar(1000)

    DECLARE @ReturnCode int

    set @SSISpath = 'F:\apps\SSIS Packages\ExcelImport.dtsx'

    set @cmd= 'dtexec /F "' + @SSISpath + '"'

    set @cmd = @cmd + ' /SET \Package.Variables[User::FileName].Properties[Value];"'

    EXEC @ReturnCode = master..xp_cmdshell @cmd

    Again, thanks for all your help!

  • Hi I have same problem, I could not follow you could you please explan little more detail what to do.

    It would be really great help, I spend, 5 hrs on this. In .cvs works perfect

  • Munabhai (11/8/2012)


    Hi I have same problem, I could not follow you could you please explan little more detail what to do.

    It would be really great help, I spend, 5 hrs on this. In .cvs works perfect

    What's the issue? Any errors?

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

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