What are SSIS Packages

This explains about Packages in SSIS of SQL Server, various components and the steps to create a package.

SSIS Packages are organized collection of SSIS objects which include Connections, Control Flow Elements, Event Handlers, Variables and Configurations.

SSIS Packages are created in Business Intelligence Development Studio which includes:

1. Connection to the data sources
2. Data Flows: include the sources and destinations that extract and load data, the transformations that modify and extend data, and the paths that link sources, transformations, and destinations.
3. Control Flows: include tasks and containers that execute when the package runs.
4. Event Handlers: these are workflows that run in response to the events raised by a package, task, or container.

Steps to create SSIS Package:

1. Creation of Connection Managers: used to integrate different data sources into package.
2. Building Control Flows: we can create control flow by dragging and dropping items from the toolbox to the surface, and then dragging and dropping connections between the objects.
3. Building Data Flows: we can drag and drop things from the Toolbox to build Data Flows.
4. Event handlers are defined on the Event Handlers tab of the Package Designer. When we create an event handler, we handle the event by building an entire secondary SSIS package.