SSIS Export SQL Table Data to Tab Delimiter Text File

This SSIS Integration Services article shows how to export SQL Server table records or data to a Tab delimited text file with an example.

The below screenshot shows the records in the Employee table.

Employee table

SSIS Export SQL Table Data to Tab Delimiter Text File

Drag and drop the SSIS Data Flow Task into the control flow region. For more Data Loading options >> Click Here.

Add Data Flow Task

Double-click to go to the Data Flow Region. Then, add the OLE DB Source and double-click on it to open the Editor. Next, click the New button to configure the OLE DB Connection Manager. Here, we have picked the existing one, but you can create a new one by clicking the New button (arrow pointed).

Add Ole Db source to configure ole db connection manager

Choose the Employee table from the available list. Next, go to the columns tab to examine the columns and click the Ok button.

Select the Employee table

Drag the flat file destination and relate the OLE DB source to it. Next, Double-click on the flat file destination to open the Editor, and click on the new button to choose the Delimited as the flat file format.

Choose Delimiter File format option in SSIS to export SQL Server table data to Tab delimited file

Click the Browse button to create a new file to store the Tab delimiter records.

Browse button to create a new file

Next, checkmark the Column Names in the first data row option to copy the headers.

checkmark the Column Names

Change the Column Delimiter to Tab {t} within the Column tab. 

Change the Column Delimiter to Tab in SSIS to export SQL Server data to flat file

Use the advanced section to change the Data type or column names and click OK to close the window.

Change the Data type or column names

Move to the Mappings tab within the Flat File Destination Editor to check the input and available destination column mapping.

Check the Input and Destination Column Mapping

Run the SSIS Export SQL Table Data to Tab Delimiter Text File package.

Execute SSIS Export SQL Table Data to Tab Delimiter Text File package

As you can see, the text file has all the records where a Tab space separates each column.

Text File With Tab Space Separated Columns