SSIS Flat File Connection Manager

This article shows how to create a Flat File Connection Manager in SSIS and load its data into the Integration Services, and transform its data.

The below screenshot shows that it is a simple text file, and a Comma separates each column.

Text File Data

SSIS Flat File Connection Manager

Within the Solution Explorer, right-click on the Connection Managers folder and choose New Connection Manager.

Choose New Connection manager

Select the FLATFILE option, which helps connect with flat files and read their data. For more Data Loading options >> Click Here.

Choose FLATFILE Option

It opens the SSIS Flat File Connection Manager Editor window. Change the Name and add a description as per your need. Let me click on the Browse button to choose the file.

Flat File Connection Manager Editor window

Here, we have chosen the Employee text file.

Format: How the Column values are separated.

  • Delimited: Comma, Space, etc.
  • Fixed Width: Fixed amount of space for each column.
  • Ragged Right: Fixed width.

Text Qualifier: None. Use double quotes if the columns and row values enclose in double quotes.

Use Browse button to choose Employee file

Use the Column tab to check whether the columns are appropriately separated. If not, change the Row and Column delimiters.

Check the Columns Tab and change Row and Column Delimiters

Use the advanced tab to change the Data type of each column as per your requirement.

advanced tab to change the Data type

Now you can see the Flat File Connection Manager. Add data Flow Task and double-click on it.

SSIS Flat File Connection Manager

Add Flat File Source and double-click to choose the Flat File Connection Manager we created earlier.

SSIS Flat File Source to Choose the Connection Manager

Check the columns.

View Columns

Add Copy Column and add a data viewer to see the data. Next, run the SSIS package to view the result.

SSIS Flat File Connection Manager