I'm a newbie using the Eval. version of SS2K8R2 (ver. MSSQL10_50) on XP SP3, working through the IS tutorial for creating a basic package using the Wizard. Here are my issues: I am not able to use the SQL Native Client; only the SQL Native Client 10.0. During the tutorial we are to modify the field lengths after importing the Excel file into the AdventureWorks2008R2 DB using the IDE, but the field length values are disabled. Alternatively, I "edit" the SQL and changed the lengths to the new field lengths. Further in the exercise, we are to add a "sort" component to the Data Flow schema and add a "derived column" component, however, in the Data Flow diagram, I do not have the "Data Conversion" component. As an alternative, I manually added the component, but havn't been able to link it up to the "Source - Query" component. This essentially kills my exercise and learning process. Can anyone advise how I should resolve the issue with the Native Client incompatibility, as I believe this is where the Visual Studio portion of IS is breaking down. Is it necessary that I load SS2K5, then do an upgrade to SS2K8R2? I really need the help. Thanks in advance. iamh1

Hi, There are many questions in your description so i need to resolve it one by one. 1.SQL Native cient, OLE DB and ODBC does not support some of the new features in SQL Server 2005 and above. The managed .Net providers does. The SQL Native Client can be seen as a solution to have access to the new SQL Server features from native (non .Net) code. There are no other benefits from using it. so both SQL Native client and with version both are same. 2. Field Length. you can change the source lenght which you can able to access from the advance option of the souce. right click on souce and select show advance editior then select input output properties. as showing in the following snapshot. 3. Data conversion not showing: lets investigate why it's not showing the data conversion component. right click on Tool box and select Choose Items.. then click on SSIS Data flow items tab and check the data conversion component. as showing in the following snapshot: http://zaimraza.wordpress.com/

Hi, There are many questions in your description so i need to resolve it one by one. 1.SQL Native cient, OLE DB and ODBC does not support some of the new features in SQL Server 2005 and above. The managed .Net providers does. The SQL Native Client can be seen as a solution to have access to the new SQL Server features from native (non .Net) code. There are no other benefits from using it. so both SQL Native client and with version both are same. 2. Field Length. you can change the source lenght which you can able to access from the advance option of the souce. right click on souce and select show advance editior then select input output properties. as showing in the following snapshot. 3. Data conversion not showing: lets investigate why it's not showing the data conversion component. right click on Tool box and select Choose Items.. then click on SSIS Data flow items tab and check the data conversion component. as showing in the following snapshot: http://zaimraza.wordpress.com/

Zaim, I just checked my email notification and came across your reply. Thanks for your prompt reply. I'm shutting down my system for the evening, and will workup your solutions in the morning and post a followup. Based on what I'd reviewed briefly, with your solutions it looks as though I'll be able to work-around my issues...those not following the learning path from the tutorial (a little advanced stuff there...it's great!). Thanks again iamh1

Zaim, Thanks again for your assistance. After replying to your message, my installation failed and it took the better of three days install/uninstall to finally get in going. I came across a post the stepped through the installation process -- uninstalling, clearing the registry, and renaming or removing folders, but on reinstall, load only the basic components; DB engine, etc., then reinstalling SSIS, RS, AS. It works great! From there I was able to recreate the tutorial and recognized that the tutorial later on used the Advanced Editor to modify the data flow component. Where the tutorial indicates to change the length property, that field is actually "read-only". The second item was with regard to the "data conversion" component depicted in the tutorial graphic, which as it turns out was inaccurate. Further steps in the tutorial used the sort component, and subsequently the derived column component to complete the project, with success. It appears the tutorial documentation needs to be updated. Again, thanks for your assistance. It was greatly appreciated!iamh1