File Connection Manager

Applies to: SQL Server SSIS Integration Runtime in Azure Data Factory

A File connection manager enables a package to reference an existing file or folder, or to create a file or folder at run time. For example, you can reference an Excel file. Certain components in Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services use information in files to perform their work. For example, an Execute SQL task can reference a file that contains the SQL statements that the task executes. Other components perform operations on files. For example, the File System task can reference a file to copy it to a new location.

Usage Types of the File Connection Manager

The FileUsageType property of the File connection manager specifies how the file connection is used. The File connection manager can create a file, create a folder, use an existing file, or use an existing folder.

The following table lists the values of FileUsageType.

Value Description
0 File connection manager uses an existing file.
1 File connection manager creates a file.
2 File connection manager uses an existing folder.
3 File connection manager creates a folder.

Multiple File or Folder Connections

The File connection manager can reference only one file or folder. To reference multiple files or folders, use a Multiple Files connection manager instead of a File connection manager. For more information, see Multiple Files Connection Manager.

Configuration of the File Connection Manager

When you add a File connection manager to a package, Integration Services creates a connection manager that will resolve to a File connection at run time, sets the File connection properties, and adds the File connection to the Connections collection of the package.

The ConnectionManagerType property of the connection manager is set to FILE.

You can configure a File connection manager in the following ways:

  • Specify the usage type.

  • Specify a file or folder.

You can set the ConnectionString property for the File connection manager by specifying an expression in the Properties window of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). However, to avoid a validation error when you use an expression to specify the file or folder, in the File Connection Manager Editor, for File/Folder, add a file or folder path.

You can set properties through SSIS Designer or programmatically.

For more information about the properties that you can set in SSIS Designer, see File Connection Manager Editor.

For information about configuring a connection manager programmatically, see ConnectionManager and Adding Connections Programmatically.

File Connection Manager Editor

Use the File Connection Manager Editor dialog box to specify the properties used to connect to a file or a folder.

Note

You can set the ConnectionString property for the File connection manager by specifying an expression in the Properties window of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). However, to avoid a validation error when you use an expression to specify the file or folder, in the File Connection Manager Editor, for File/Folder, add a file or folder path.

To learn more about the File connection manager, see File Connection Manager.

Options

Usage Type
Specify whether the File Connection Manager connects to an existing file or folder or creates a new file or folder.

Value Description
Create file Create a new file at run time.
Existing file Use an existing file.
Create folder Create a new folder at run time.
Existing folder Use an existing folder.

File / Folder
If File, specify the file to use.

If Folder, specify the folder to use.

Browse
Select the file or folder by using the Select File or Browse for Folder dialog box.