File watcher task question

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File watcher task question

Mh-397891

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April 30, 2008 at 1:54 pm

#121737

Installed File watcher task, then created a new SSIS package by adding the file watcher task in the control flow, below are my setting's inside the file watcher task editor:
2. Options
Filter - *.*
Find Existing Files - True
Timeout warning - False
3. Path
Path input type: Direct imput
Path - \\server1\Sourcefolder
Include subdirectories - False
Actually my understanding about this task is:
This file watcher task will constantly check for the file and then will execute the SSIS package.
If my understanding is correct, then where do we specify the name of the SSIS package?? And also do we need this SSIS package which has the File watcher task to run every 5 minutes or so, so that it can keep checking for the file existence.
Please help, thanks!!

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Mh-397891 SSCertifiable Points: 6704 More actions · Answer 1

I linked up the File watcher task and the Exec package task(Filesystem - with the desired package that should execute when true).

Do I need to schedule this package1 which has FWT and EPT to run continuously so that when it finds the file in the source folder, the package1 will execute??

If there is no file in the folder, the package will keep running(alomost like in hung mode) and only when the file is present then the package will complete execution, and once it completes execution how does it start executing again?

Can we do something like this:

1. Schedule the package to run say every 5 minutes

2. Once the file is present the desired package will execute which is linked to the file watcher task, if not the desired package will not run and the package1 should stop.

Thanks much!!

Ulrich Bauhofer Say Hey Kid Points: 700 More actions · Answer 2

You can set the option "Timeout" to a value, say 2. The FileWatcher will look for 2 Minutes for the file. If it finds the file, the control flow will go to the next task in your dtsx. Set the Option "Timeout warning" True). You can check the length of the filename you get back in the output variable (len filename == 0) and use this in in the precedence constraint editor.

Depending on your needs it's possible to put all your task in one package. Just set the FileWatcher in a loop (and delete the value of your output variable before) and the other tasks, too.

Mh-397891 SSCertifiable Points: 6704 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks for your response, Is it safe to use File watcher task, as I heard that it can cause memory leaks!

I set the option of timeout value to 2 minutes and also Timeout warning to True.

When tried to execute from BIDS, it worked like you said, it stopped execution after 2 minutes if there is no file and if a file was present in the folder the SSIS package executed successfully.

But when I scheduled the SSIS package as a JOB (type:file system), it runs and takes the source file and loads the data into the table, but says the job failed with the following Message:

The job failed. The Job was invoked by Schedule 1 (Step1). The last step to run was step 1 (Step1).

How do I do this??

You can check the length of the filename you get back in the output variable (len filename == 0) and use this in in the precedence constraint editor.

Thanks!!

john.arnott SSChampion Points: 11882 More actions · Answer 4

I don't know if FileWatcher itself has a memory leak bug, but apparently SSIS does when running infinite loops. See the comments in Jamie Thomson's blog: http://blogs.conchango.com/jamiethomson/archive/2006/10/18/SSIS_3A00_-Random-information-for-beginners.aspx

Ulrich Bauhofer Say Hey Kid Points: 700 More actions · Answer 5

a) try to run the job with "Timeout warning" False

b) doubleclick the precedence constraint (the green arrow)

choose Expression

in the field Expression set len(@filename == 0)

@filename is the user-variable set by filewatcher (see output-variable)

thaabiet.salaam SSC Enthusiast Points: 124 More actions · Answer 6

Hi

I've successfully implemented the File watcher task and the rest of the package executes fine. The problem is that it only ever picks up the first file in the folder, i.e. only one file is picked up every time the task starts. How do I get this task to continuously pick up files in the folder?

Ulrich Bauhofer Say Hey Kid Points: 700 More actions · Answer 7

Hi,

you can use a for loop container or a for each loop container. put the filewatcher-task and your task to process the file on of these containers

thaabiet.salaam SSC Enthusiast Points: 124 More actions · Answer 8

Thank you very much! It all works like a charm now 🙂

VG-619426 Hall of Fame Points: 3914 More actions · Answer 9

Where did you all installed File Watcher Task From ? IS this is a custom task?

Is this similar to WMI task in SSIS ?

Thanks,

VG

john.arnott SSChampion Points: 11882 More actions · Answer 10

File Watcher is indeed a custom task from Konesans, Inc., downloadable at http://www.sqlis.com/23.aspx.

VG-619426 Hall of Fame Points: 3914 More actions · Answer 11

Thank for the reponse john!!!

Is this free to download ?? ...I don't see download link in here http://www.sqlis.com/23.aspx

Thanks,

VG

john.arnott SSChampion Points: 11882 More actions · Answer 12

The download link is part way down the page below the properties chart. Find "Version 1.2.6.100".

VG-619426 Hall of Fame Points: 3914 More actions · Answer 13

Thanks again jonh!!

I downloaded it and let me explore with it....

VG

surendra.chatakondu SSC Enthusiast Points: 186 More actions · Answer 14

Hi,

I am new to working on SSIS pacakges and do u have any step by step description how to work on file watcher task? My needs are, i need to check for files on shared path and get those files and process it one by one and insert into a table and then copy to a different location. Appreciate your help in advance.

Thanks

Suri