Question

How to use SSIS Derived Column Transformation to load string into datetime SQL field

Asked by: qprjohn121

Hi
Having real problems getting a string held in source csv file into a datetime SQL table using SSIS Derived Column Transformation. The relevant csv column holds date information in the form:

2004-05-31 00:00:00.000

I think my data is in the right format to be read easily, although I could be wrong.

In the Edit section of the Derived Column component I currently have the following:

Derived Col Name    Derived Col                   Expression                                            Data type
Column 0                <add as new column>   (DT_DATE)([FlatFileOutputColumn 0])   DT_DATE

This doesnt work, nor do several attempts using DT_TIMESTAMP and DT_TIMESTAMP2, as I always get the error:

Error: An error occurred while attempting to perform a type cast.

Could someone help clarify the format of the date string that needs to be generated  by the Expression, and also suggest a suitable Expression that would work?

thanks



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Asked On
2009-10-09 at 08:25:35ID24799583
Topics

SSIS

,

SQL Server 2005

,

SQL Server 2008

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: qprjohn121Posted on 2009-10-09 at 08:43:25ID: 25536122

I should perhaps add that 'FlatFileOutputColumn 0' is the name defined within the Flat File Source component relating to the csv date column, and is of data type DT_STR.

 

by: HwkrangerPosted on 2009-10-09 at 09:22:21ID: 25536431

use convert colmn task instead of derived.  

also make sure the column you are trying to convert is convertable (scrub data)

 

by: VBClassicGuyPosted on 2009-10-09 at 10:10:30ID: 25536793

This may shed some light:


If you want to convert a String SSIS variable and load it into a DateTime SSIS variable, use the following code in your Script Task:


Dts.Variables("someDateTimeVariable").Value = GetDateFromString(Dts.Variables("someStringVariable").Value.ToString)

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-10-09 at 19:29:52ID: 25540461

Assuming that all the dates are valid, try it this way:
(DT_Date)[FlatFileOutputColumn 0]

 

by: qprjohn121Posted on 2009-10-10 at 03:11:11ID: 25541652

In response to acperkins suggestion:
Removing the brackets doesnt make any difference I'm afraid. I have also tried:

(DT_DATE)(TRIM([FlatFileOutputColumn 0]))   to apply TRIM() in case there were any leading or trailing spaces
and
(DT_DATE)(FlatFileOutputColumn0)    after renaming the column to avoid spaces in the name
and
(DT_DBDATE)(FlatFileOutputColumn0)    in case I should be using DT_DBDATE instead of DT_DATE
and
(DT_DBTIMESTAMP)(FlatFileOutputColumn0) in case I should be using DT_DBTIMESTAMP
and
(DT_DBTIMESTAMP2,3)(FlatFileOutputColumn0) in case I should be using DT_DBTIMESTAMP2

I am coming to the conclusion that my date format is not right. It looks like this:

2004-05-31 00:00:00.000

and I have read that there are other formats eg 2004-05-31T00:00:00.000 that may be required. If we can agree on what form is acceptable, I can work to create it in the expression using substrings etc.

Can anyone clarify the format required to get us started please?



 

by: qprjohn121Posted on 2009-10-10 at 03:32:30ID: 25541715

In response to Hwkranger:
I am working on my SSIS project within Visual Studio 2008 and do not see a 'Converted Column' task in the toolbar. The most relevant-sounding Data Flow Transformations include:

Copy Column
Data Conversion
Derived Column
Export Column
Import Column

or as suggested by VBClassicGuy:

Script Component

Could you clarify which one you mean? Thanks

 

by: qprjohn121Posted on 2009-10-10 at 03:46:14ID: 25541749

In response to VBClassicGuy:
Thanks for this different angle, which I have had a quick go at but not succeeded with just yet. I am focusing on the Derived Column approach as I believe this was the component designed to help me with this type of issue, but will use the Script Task approach if necessary.

I thought I was reasonably ok with VB.NET but in fact I struggled to apply your one-liner to my problem, mostly because I am not at all familiar with pipeline-related objects. Could you provide just a little more of the code, and specify where I should place it within the auto-generated code, knowing that:

1. My source component is called 'Flat File Source'
2. The column I am trying to convert has been named 'FlatFileOutputColumn0' with data type DT_STR

Apols for effectively requesting spoon-feeding here, but if you show me this one, I will quickly be up and running with the Script Task and will be able to use it many times over.

Thanks

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-10-11 at 07:15:29ID: 25545976

That date format of yyyy-mm-dd should be fine, try hard-coding a date this way:
(DT_Date)"2009-10-11"

If that functions in your package, then you know there must be a date with invalid data.

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-11-03 at 15:37:39ID: 25735097

Delete without a refund.

 

by: qprjohn121Posted on 2009-11-04 at 00:49:17ID: 31649874

Sorry for the delay in responding on this one, the reason being is I havent completely solved my problem yet.
However, for those interested in solving a similar problem, I have found that my data had some problems so I am guessing that all of the suggestions received would be ok to solve my issue if this had not been the case.

To the respondents, I thank you very much for your input and have divided the points evenly based on the number of suggestions received - trust you find this ok (especially acperkins who I seem to have upset - apols).

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-11-04 at 06:50:39ID: 25739829

>>To the respondents, I thank you very much for your input and have divided the points evenly based on the number of suggestions received - trust you find this ok (especially acperkins who I seem to have upset - apols).<<
Not at all.  I was just following the EE Guidelines as to how questions should be closed.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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