PricewaterhouseCoopers Most Frequently Asked Latest SSIS Interview Questions Answers
Execute package task?
The Execute Package Task enables you to build SSIS solutions called parent packages that execute other packages called “Child Packages”. You’ll find this capability an indispensable part of your SSIS development as your packages begin to grow.
Separating packages into discrete functional workflows makes for shorter development and testing cycles and facilitates best development practices. in SSIS, the child package is aware of the parent package parameters and can reach out and access those parameters – level configuration values. The majority of the configurable properties are in the Package tab of the Executable package Task Editor.
The first option is to provide the location of the child package. The options here are either File system and SQL Server. You can deploy SSIS package in the FIle system task as an .dtsx file, or within the msdb database of a SQL Server instance. if you select file system, you must first create a new connection manager connection to the child package.
If the child package is located in a SQL Server, you’ll need to provide the OLE DB Connection Manager for the SQL Server that holds your packages. In either case, browse to and then select the child package within the connection to set the package to execute in the task.
What is Manifest file in SSIS?
Manifiest file is the utility which can be used to deploy the package using wizard on file system and SQL Server database.
What is File system deployment?
File system deployment means to save package file on local or network drive. Then you can use SQL Agent job to schedule when the packages will run.
How to back up or retrieve the SSIS packages?
If your package is deployed on SQL Server then you can back up the MSDB database as all the package on SQL server deploys at MSDB.
What is a transaction in SSIS package and how to implement it?
Packages use transactions to bind the database actions that tasks perform into atomic units. and by doing this maintain data integrity. Al MS IS container types – packages the For loop, For each loop, and Sequence containers, and the task hosts that encapsulate each task can be configured to use transactions. IS provides three options for configuring transactions: Not supported, Supported, and Required.
Require indicates that the container start a transaction, unless one is already started by its parent container. if a transaction already exists, the containter joins the transaction For example, if a package that is not configured to support transactions includes a Sequence container that uses the Required option, the Sequence Container would start its own transaction. If the package were configured to use the Required option, the Sequence containter would join the package transaction.
Supported indicates that the container does not start a transaction, but joins any transaction started by its parent container. For example, if a package with four Executable SQL tasks starts a transaction and all four tasks use the Supported option, the database updates performed by the Execute SQL tasks are rolled back if any taks fails. if the package does not start a transaction, the four execute SQL tasks are not bound by a transaction, and no database updates except the ones performed by the failed task are rolled back.
Not Supported indicates that the container does not start a transaction or join an existing transaction. A transaction started by a parent container does not affect child containers that have been configured to Not Support transactions. For instance, if a package is configured to start a transaction and a For Loop Container in the package uses the NotSupported option, none of the tasks in the For Loop can roll back if they fail.
Checkpoint?
A checkpoint is the property in SSIS which enables the project to restart from the point of failure. When we set the property to true package create the checkpoint file which stores the information about package execution and use to restart package from the point of failure. If the package runs successfully, the checkpoint file is deleted, and then re-created the next time the package runs.
Can I run SSIS packages with SQL Server Express or Web or Workgroup editions?
I have looked at the SQL Server 2008 feature comparison matrix and it lists the express/web and workgroup editions as having the SSIS runtime. Does this mean it is possible to develop SSIS packages using the developer edition, and then deploy and run them on a server running one of the lowly SQL Server editions such as SQL Server 2008 Express edition?
You need dtexec to run SSIS packages from command line.
How can I manually fail a package in Integration Services?
I am running an Execute SQL Task statement in my SSIS package. The Execute SQL Task is running sql and checking that the tables have more than 1000 rows. If they have less than 1000 rows, I want to fail the package.
How do I force a fail inside of a SQL statement?
AFAIK, tasks in SSIS fail on error. So if your Execute SQL Task has a statment like so in it:
declare @count int
select @count = select count(*) from my_table
if @count < 1000
begin
raiserror(‘Too few rows in my_table’,16,1)
end
else
begin
— Process your table here
end
You should get the results you want.
No Process Is on the Other End of the Pipe
I receive this error when I try to connect to SQL Server 2005. I have enabled TCP/IP, Named Pipes, and restarted the server but that is not working.
FYI, I’ve just had the same error.
I switched to Windows authentication, disconnected, then tried to login again with SQL authentication. This time I was told my password had expired. I changed the password and it all worked again.
What is the SSIS package and what does it do?
SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) is an upgrade of DTS (Data Transformation Services), which is a feature of the previous version of SQL Server. SSIS packages can be created in BIDS (Business Intelligence Development Studio). These can be used to merge data from heterogeneous data sources into SQL Server. They can also be used to populate data warehouses, to clean and standardize data, and to automate administrative tasks.
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a component of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. It replaces Data Transformation Services, which has been a feature of SQL Server since Version 7.0. Unlike DTS, which was included in all versions, SSIS is only available in the “Standard” and “Enterprise” editions.
Integration Services provides a platform to build data integration and workflow applications. The primary use for SSIS is data warehousing as the product features a fast and flexible tool for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL).). The tool may also be used to automate maintenance of SQL Server databases, update multidimensional cube data, and perform other functions.
Loop over a list of files & load each one
Tasks Required: Foreach Loop, Data Flow Task
Configure the Foreach Loop to loop over any particular directory of files. The loop should be configured to output
to a given variable. Map the given variable to a connection manager by using expressions.
Execute package task?
The Execute Package Task enables you to build SSIS solutions called parent packages that execute other packages called “Child Packages”. You’ll find this capability an indispensable part of your SSIS development as your packages begin to grow.
Separating packages into discrete functional workflows makes for shorter development and testing cycles and facilitates best development practices. in SSIS, the child package is aware of the parent package parameters and can reach out and access those parameters – level configuration values. The majority of the configurable properties are in the Package tab of the Executable package Task Editor.
The first option is to provide the location of the child package. The options here are either File system and SQL Server. You can deploy SSIS package in the FIle system task as an .dtsx file, or within the msdb database of a SQL Server instance. if you select file system, you must first create a new connection manager connection to the child package.
If the child package is located in a SQL Server, you’ll need to provide the OLE DB Connection Manager for the SQL Server that holds your packages. In either case, browse to and then select the child package within the connection to set the package to execute in the task.
What is Manifest file in SSIS?
Manifiest file is the utility which can be used to deploy the package using wizard on file system and SQL Server database.
What is File system deployment?
File system deployment means to save package file on local or network drive. Then you can use SQL Agent job to schedule when the packages will run.
How to back up or retrieve the SSIS packages?
If your package is deployed on SQL Server then you can back up the MSDB database as all the package on SQL server deploys at MSDB.
What is a transaction in SSIS package and how to implement it?
Packages use transactions to bind the database actions that tasks perform into atomic units. and by doing this maintain data integrity. Al MS IS container types – packages the For loop, For each loop, and Sequence containers, and the task hosts that encapsulate each task can be configured to use transactions. IS provides three options for configuring transactions: Not supported, Supported, and Required.
Require indicates that the container start a transaction, unless one is already started by its parent container. if a transaction already exists, the containter joins the transaction For example, if a package that is not configured to support transactions includes a Sequence container that uses the Required option, the Sequence Container would start its own transaction. If the package were configured to use the Required option, the Sequence containter would join the package transaction.
Supported indicates that the container does not start a transaction, but joins any transaction started by its parent container. For example, if a package with four Executable SQL tasks starts a transaction and all four tasks use the Supported option, the database updates performed by the Execute SQL tasks are rolled back if any taks fails. if the package does not start a transaction, the four execute SQL tasks are not bound by a transaction, and no database updates except the ones performed by the failed task are rolled back.
Not Supported indicates that the container does not start a transaction or join an existing transaction. A transaction started by a parent container does not affect child containers that have been configured to Not Support transactions. For instance, if a package is configured to start a transaction and a For Loop Container in the package uses the NotSupported option, none of the tasks in the For Loop can roll back if they fail.
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| PricewaterhouseCoopers Most Frequently Asked Latest SSIS Interview Questions Answers |
Checkpoint?
A checkpoint is the property in SSIS which enables the project to restart from the point of failure. When we set the property to true package create the checkpoint file which stores the information about package execution and use to restart package from the point of failure. If the package runs successfully, the checkpoint file is deleted, and then re-created the next time the package runs.
Can I run SSIS packages with SQL Server Express or Web or Workgroup editions?
I have looked at the SQL Server 2008 feature comparison matrix and it lists the express/web and workgroup editions as having the SSIS runtime. Does this mean it is possible to develop SSIS packages using the developer edition, and then deploy and run them on a server running one of the lowly SQL Server editions such as SQL Server 2008 Express edition?
You need dtexec to run SSIS packages from command line.
How can I manually fail a package in Integration Services?
I am running an Execute SQL Task statement in my SSIS package. The Execute SQL Task is running sql and checking that the tables have more than 1000 rows. If they have less than 1000 rows, I want to fail the package.
How do I force a fail inside of a SQL statement?
AFAIK, tasks in SSIS fail on error. So if your Execute SQL Task has a statment like so in it:
declare @count int
select @count = select count(*) from my_table
if @count < 1000
begin
raiserror(‘Too few rows in my_table’,16,1)
end
else
begin
— Process your table here
end
You should get the results you want.
No Process Is on the Other End of the Pipe
I receive this error when I try to connect to SQL Server 2005. I have enabled TCP/IP, Named Pipes, and restarted the server but that is not working.
FYI, I’ve just had the same error.
I switched to Windows authentication, disconnected, then tried to login again with SQL authentication. This time I was told my password had expired. I changed the password and it all worked again.
What is the SSIS package and what does it do?
SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) is an upgrade of DTS (Data Transformation Services), which is a feature of the previous version of SQL Server. SSIS packages can be created in BIDS (Business Intelligence Development Studio). These can be used to merge data from heterogeneous data sources into SQL Server. They can also be used to populate data warehouses, to clean and standardize data, and to automate administrative tasks.
SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a component of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. It replaces Data Transformation Services, which has been a feature of SQL Server since Version 7.0. Unlike DTS, which was included in all versions, SSIS is only available in the “Standard” and “Enterprise” editions.
Integration Services provides a platform to build data integration and workflow applications. The primary use for SSIS is data warehousing as the product features a fast and flexible tool for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL).). The tool may also be used to automate maintenance of SQL Server databases, update multidimensional cube data, and perform other functions.
Loop over a list of files & load each one
Tasks Required: Foreach Loop, Data Flow Task
Configure the Foreach Loop to loop over any particular directory of files. The loop should be configured to output
to a given variable. Map the given variable to a connection manager by using expressions.
Mention How Would You Deploy An Ssis Package On Production?
To deploy SSIS package we need to execute the manifest files and need to determine whether to deploy this into File System or onto SQL Server. Alternatively you can also import package from SSMS from SQL Server or File System.
Explain How To Handle Early Arriving Facts Or Late Arriving Dimension?
Late Arriving Dimension are unavoidable, to handle these we can create a dummy dimensions with natural/business key and keep the rest of the attributes as null or default. So when actual dimension arrives, the dummy dimension is updated with Type 1 change. This is also referred as Inferred Dimensions.
Explain How Can You Do An Incremental Load?
The best and fastest way to do incremental load is by using Timestamp column in the source table and storing the last ETL timestamp.
To deploy SSIS package we need to execute the manifest files and need to determine whether to deploy this into File System or onto SQL Server. Alternatively you can also import package from SSMS from SQL Server or File System.
Explain How To Handle Early Arriving Facts Or Late Arriving Dimension?
Late Arriving Dimension are unavoidable, to handle these we can create a dummy dimensions with natural/business key and keep the rest of the attributes as null or default. So when actual dimension arrives, the dummy dimension is updated with Type 1 change. This is also referred as Inferred Dimensions.
Explain How Can You Do An Incremental Load?
The best and fastest way to do incremental load is by using Timestamp column in the source table and storing the last ETL timestamp.
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