USING VARIABLES AND PARAMETERS

Variables and parameters are the glue holding dynamic package development together. As discussed earlier, both of these objects are used to move values between package components. They are no different from variables in any programming environment. Variables in SSIS packages are scoped, or can be accessed, either within the package level or to a specific package component. Parameters can be scoped to either the package or project level.

Defining Variables

Variables can be created, deleted, renamed, and have their data types changed, as long as the package is in design mode. Once the package is validated and in runtime mode, the variable definition is locked; only the value of the variable can change. This is by design, so that the package is more declarative and type-safe. Creating a new variable is done through a designer that defines the scope of the variable depending upon how it is accessed. As mentioned earlier, variables can be scoped either to the package or to a specific component in the package. If the variable is scoped at a component level, only the component or its subcomponents have access to the variable. The following important tips can keep you out of trouble when dealing wi....