1. How do u implement Cascading parameter?

The list of values for one parameter depends on the value chosen in preceding
parameter.
Eg: Country --> State --> City
2. How to pass parameter from Report Viewer Control to sub report?
3. How to open another report in a new window from existing report?
Use a little javascript with a customized URL in the "Jump to URL" option of the
Navigation tab.
Non-parameterized Solution
To get started, let's pop up a simple non parameterized report. Follow these
instructions:
1.
Instead of using the "Jump to Report" option on the Navigation tab, use the
"Jump to URL" option.
2.
Open the expression screen (Fx button).
3.
Enter the following:
="javascript:void(window.open('http://servername?%2freportserver%2fpathto
%2freport&rs:Command=Render'))"
4.
Click OK twice, then save and deploy the report.
Parameterized Solution
Assume you have a field called ProductCode. Normally, you might hard code that
like this:
http://servername/reportserver?%2fpathto
%2freport&rs:Command=Render&ProductCode=123
In this case, you want to pass variables dynamically, using an available value from
the source dataset. You can think of it like this:
http://servername/reportserver?%2fpathto
%2freport&rs:Command=Render&ProductCode=Fields!ProductCode.Value
The exact syntax in the "Jump to URL" (Fx) expression window will be:
="javascript:void(window.open('http://servername/reportserver?%2fpathto
%2freport&rs:Command=Render&ProductCode="+Fields!ProductCode.Value+"'))"
4. How to pass parameter from chart to Table in same report?
5. How to apply custom Colors of chart report?
STEP1:
Create your custome color palette in the report using Custom Code in your report. To
do so, click Report => Report Properties => Code and copy below code:
Private colorPalette As String() = { "Blue", "Red", "Teal", "Gold", "Green","#A59D93",
"#B8341B", "#352F26", "#F1E7D6", "#E16C56", "#CFBA9B"}

Private count As Integer = 0

Private mapping As New System.Collections.Hashtable()
Public Function GetColor(ByVal groupingValue As String) As String
If mapping.ContainsKey(groupingValue) Then
Return mapping(groupingValue)
End If
Dim c As String = colorPalette(count Mod colorPalette.Length)
count = count + 1
mapping.Add(groupingValue, c)
Return c
End Function
STEP2:
In the Pie Chart, select Series Properties and select the Fill option from left side.
Now write following expression in the Color expression:
=code.GetColor(Fields!Year.Value)
Here Fields!Year.Value is a field of dataset which is used as Chart Category fields.
6. Can we have Table within a Table in SSRS report?
Yes. We can have Nested Tables.
7. How to apply stylesheet to SSRS Reports
select Report->Report Properties from the menu and then click the Code tab.
Function StyleElement (ByVal Element As String) As String
Select Case UCase(Element)
Case "TABLE_HEADER_BG"
Return "Red"
Case "TABLE_FOOTER_BG"
Return "Green"
Case "TABLE_HEADER_TEXT"
Return "White"t;
Case e Elsese
Return "Blackk
End Select
End Function
Now apply this function to the style property of an element on the report.
=code.StyleElement("TABLE_HEADER_TEXT")
If you want apply dynamic styles to report, then create tables in sql server and insert
style information into the tables.
Create a Dataset, specify the Stored Procedure.
example: =Fields!TABLE_HEADER_TEXT.Value
where TABLE_HEADER_TEXT is a value in the table.

8. Dynamic sorting, Dynamic Grouping in SSRS

Can be done using expressions.
9. Different types of Filters
The 2 types of filters in SSRS are:
Dataset Filter: Filtering within the source query. When you implement a filter within
the data set, less data is sent from the source database server to the Report Server
- usually a good thing.
Report Filter: This includes filtering after the source query has come back on a
data region (like the Tablix), or a data grouping. When you implement a filter within
the report, when the report is re-executed again with different parameter choices, the
Report Server uses cached data rather than returning to the database server.
Using a Dataset Filter is the most efficient method.
10. Difference between Filter and Parameter? Which one is better?
In case of Filters, first the data will be fetched from the database, then the Filters are
applied on the fetched data. Filters are applied at run time first on the dataset, and
then on the data region, and then on the group, in top-down order for group
hierarchies.
To add a filter, we must specify a filter equation (expression). The data type of filtered
data and value must match.
Parameters are applied at the database level. The Data will be fetched based on
parameters at the database level using WHERE condition in the query.
Parameters are better than Filters in performance.
11. Optimization of Report
Report can be optimized in terms of Grouping, Filters.
Report can be optimized through Caching, Snapshot and subscriptions.

1. The total time to generate a report (RDL) can be divided into 3 elements:
Time to retrieve the data (TimeDataRetrieval).
Time to process the report (TimeProcessing)
Time to render the report (TimeRendering)
Total time = (TimeDataRetrieval) + (TimeProcessing) + (TimeRendering)
These 3 performance components are logged every time for which a deployed report
is executed. This information can be found in the table ExecutionLogStorage in the
ReportServer database.
SELECT TOP 10 Itempath, parameters,
TimeDataRetrieval + TimeProcessing + TimeRendering as [total time],
TimeDataRetrieval, TimeProcessing, TimeRendering,
ByteCount, [RowCount],Source, AdditionalInfo
FROM ExecutionLogStorage

ORDER BY Timestart DESC

2. Use the SQL Profiler to see which queries are executed when the report is
generated. Sometimes you will see more queries being executed than you expected.
Every dataset in the report will be executed. A lot of times new datasets are added
during building of reports. Check if all datasets are still being used. For instance,
datasets for available parameter values. Remove all datasets which are not used
anymore.
3. Sometimes a dataset contains more columns than used in the Tablix\list. Use only
required columns in the Dataset.
4. ORDER BY in the dataset differs from the ORDER BY in the Tablix\list. You need
to decide where the data will be sorted. It can be done within SQL Server with an
ORDER BY clause or in by the Reporting server engine. It is not useful to do it in
both. If an index is available use the ORDER BY in your dataset.
5. Use the SQL Profiler to measure the performance of all datasets (Reads, CPU
and Duration). Use the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to analyze the
execution plan of every dataset.
6. Avoid dataset with result sets with a lot of records like more than 1000 records. A
lot of times data is GROUPED in the report without an Drill down option. In that
scenario do the group by already in your dataset. This will save a lot of data transfer
to the SQL Server and it will save the reporting server engine to group the result set.
7. Rendering of the report can take a while if the result set is very big. Look very
critical if such a big result set is necessary. If details are used in only 5 % of the
situations, create another report to display the details. This will avoid the retrieval of
all details in 95 % of the situations.
12. I have 'State' column in report, display the States in bold, whose State
name starts with letter 'A' (eg: Andhra pradesh, Assam should be in bold)
13. In which scenario you used Matrix Report
Use a matrix to display aggregated data summaries, grouped in rows and columns,
similar to a PivotTable or crosstab. The number of rows and columns for groups is
determined by the number of unique values for each row and column groups.
14. Image control in SSRS
An image is a report item that contains a reference to an image that is stored on the
report server, embedded within the report, or stored in a database.
Image Source : Embedded
Local report images are embedded in the report and then referenced. When you
embed an image, Report Designer MIME-encodes the image and stores it as text in
the report definition.
When to Use:
When image is embedded locally within the report.
When you are required to store all images within the report definition.

Image Source : External

When you use an external image in a report, the image source is set to External and
the value for the image is the URL to the image.
When to Use:
When images are stored in a File System, External File Share or Web Site.
Image Source : Database
If we add images that are stored in a database to report then such image is known
as a data-bound image. Data-bound images can also be displayed from binary data
(BLOB) stored in a database.
When to use:
When image is stored in a Database.
When you specify a dataset field that is bound to a database field that contains an
image.
15. Role of Report Manager
Deploying the reports onto the web server.
Delivering the reports through E-mail or File Share using the subscriptions.
Creating the Cached and Snapshot Reports.
Providing the Security to the reports.
16. How to upload a report to report server
In the Report Manager, we have upload option to upload the reports.
17. What is a Shared Dataset
Shared datasets retrieve data from shared data sources that connect to external
data sources. A shared dataset contains a query to provide a consistent set of data
for multiple reports. The dataset query can include dataset parameters.
Shared datasets use only shared data sources, not embedded data sources.
To create a shared dataset, you must use an application that creates a shared
dataset definition file (.rsd). You can use one of the following applications to create a
shared dataset:
1. Report Builder: Use shared dataset design mode and save the shared dataset to a
report server or SharePoint site.
2. Report Designer in BIDS: Create shared datasets under the Shared Dataset folder
in Solution Explorer. To publish a shared dataset, deploy it to a report server or
SharePoint site.
Upload a shared dataset definition (.rsd) file. You can upload a file to the report
server or SharePoint site. On a SharePoint site, an uploaded file is not validated
against the schema until the shared dataset is cached or used in a report.
The shared dataset definition includes a query, dataset parameters including default
values, data options such as case sensitivity, and dataset filters.

18. How do u display the partial text in bold format in textbox in Report? (eg:
FirstName LastName, where "FirstName" should in bold fornt and "LastName"
should be in normal font.)
Use PlaceHolder
19. How to Keep Headers Visible When Scrolling Through a Report?
1. Right-click the row, column, or corner handle of a tablix data region, and then click
Tablix Properties.
2. On the General tab, under Row Headers or Column Headers, select Header
should remain visible while scrolling.
3. Click OK.

To keep a static tablix member (row or column) visible while scrolling

1. On the design surface, click the row or column handle of the tablix data region to
select it. The Grouping pane displays the row and column groups.
2. On the right side of the Grouping pane, click the down arrow, and then
clickAdvanced Mode. The Row Groups pane displays the hierarchical static and
dynamic members for the row groups hierarchy and the Column groups pane shows
a similar display for the column groups hierarchy.
3. Click the static member (row or column) that you want to remain visible while
scrolling. The Properties pane displays the Tablix Member properties.
4. In the Properties pane, set FixedData to True.

20. How to add Page Break

1. On the design surface, right-click the corner handle of the data region and then
click Tablix Properties.
2. On the General tab, under Page break options, select one of the following options:
Add a page break before:Select this option when you want to add a page break
before the table.
Add a page break after:Select this option when you want to add a page break after
the table.
Fit table on one page if possible:Select this option when you want the data to stay on
one page.

21. A main report contain subreport also. Can we export both main report and
subreport to Excel?
Yes. The exported report contains both the mail report and sub report.
22. how to convert PDF report from Portrait to Landscape format?
In Report Properties -->
Set the width of the report to the landscape size of your A4 paper: 29.7 cm
Set the height of the report to 21 cm.
To avoid extra blank pages during export, the size of the body should be less or
equal to the size of the report - margins.
Set the width of the body to 26.7 cm (29.7 -1.5 - 1.5)
Set the height of the body to 18 cm (21 - 1.5 -1.5)
23. Error handling in Report
Step 1: All the data sets of the report should contain one addition input parameter
which should pass a unique information for every request (for every click of View
Report button) made by the user.
Step 2: Need to implement TRY CATCH blocks for all the Stored procedures used in
the SSRS reports through datasets. The CATCH section of every procedure should
have the provision to save the error details into DB table, if any error occurred while
execution of that procedure.
Step 3: Add one more additional dataset with the name "ErrorInfo" which should call
the store procedure (USP_ERROR_INFO). This procedure should be accepting a
unique value. This unique value should be passed to all the data sets for every click
of 'View Report' button made by the user. This dataset will return the error
information available in the data base table by verifying records with the unique id
which has passes as input parameter.
Step 4:Enable the Use Single Transaction When Processing Queries option in data
source properties, which makes all the query executions through a single
transaction.
Step 5: After successful completion of all the above mentioned steps, insert new
table on SSRS report with custom error information which will be shown to the report
user if the user gets any error during execution of the report.
24. Have u worked on any 3rd party Report Tools
There are few third party Report Tools like Nevron, izenda.
25. Different ways of Deploying reports
1. We can deploy the reports using rs.exe tool
2. In the Solution Explorer,
2.1.Right-click the report project, and then click Properties.
2.2.In the Property Pages dialog box for the project, select a configuration to edit

from the Configuration list. Common configurations are DebugLocal, Debug, and
Release.
2.3.In StartItem, select a report to display in the preview window or in a browser
window when the report project is run.
2.4.In the OverwriteDataSources list, select True to overwrite the shared data
source on the server each time shared data sources are published, or select False to
keep the data source on the server.
2.5.In the TargetDataSourceFolder text box, type the folder on the report server in
which to place the published shared data sources. The default value for
TargetDataSourceFolder is Data Sources. If you leave this value blank, the data
sources will be published to the location specified in TargetReportFolder.
2.6. In the TargetReportFolder text box, type the folder on the report server in which
to place the published reports. The default value for TargetReportFolder is the name
of the report project.
2.7. In the TargetServerURL text box, type the URL of the target report server.
Before you publish a report, you must set this property to a valid report server URL.
3. There are 2 options for deploying the reports that you create with Report Builder
3.0:
1. Report Manager
2. SharePoint document library
26. Difference between Cached Report and Snapshot Report
Cached Report is a saved copy of processed report.
The first time a user clicks the link for a report configured to cache, the report
execution process is similar to the on-demand process. The intermediate format is
cached and stored in ReportServerTempDB Database until the cache expiry time.
If a user request a different set of parameter values for a cached report, then the
report processor treats the requests as a new report executing on demand, but flags
it as a second cached instance.
Report snapshot contains the Query and Layout information retrieved at specific
point of time. It executes the query and produces the intermediate format. The
intermediate format of the report has no expiration time like a cached instance, and
is stored in ReportServer Database.
27. Subscription. Different types of Subscriptions?
Subscriptions are used to deliver the reports to either File Share or Email in
response to Report Level or Server Level Schedule.
There are 2 types of subscriptions:
1. Standard Subscription: Static properties are set for Report Delivery.
2. Data Driven Subscription: Dynamic Runtime properties are set for Subscriptions
28. SSRS Architecture
29. How to deploy Reports from one server to other server

30. Different life cycles of Report

1.Report authoring:
This stage involves creation of reports that are published using the Report Definition
language. RDL is an XML based industry standard for defining reports.
Report Designer is a full-featured report authoring tool that runs in Business
Intelligence Development Studio and Report Builder.
2. Report management:
This involves managing the published reports as a part of the webservice. The
reports are cached for consistency and performance. They can be executed
whenever demanded or can be scheduled and executed.
In short Report Management includes:
- Organizing reports and data sources,
- Scheduling report execution and delivery
- Tracking reporting history.
3. Report delivery:
Reports can be delivered to the consumers either on their demand or based on an
event. Then they can view them is a web-based format.
Web based delivery via Report Manager web site
Subscriptions allow for automated report delivery
URL Access, Web Services and Report Viewer control
4.Report security:
It is important to protect reports as well as the report resources. Therefore, Reporting
Services implement a flexible, role-based security model.
31. Different type of Reports
Linked report:A linked report is derived from an existing report and retains the
original's report definition. A linked report always inherits report layout and data
source properties of the original report. All other properties and settings can be
different from those of the original report, including security, parameters, location,
subscriptions, and schedules.
Snapshot reports: A report snapshot contains layout information and query results
that were retrieved at a specific point in time. Report snapshots are processed on a
schedule and then saved to a report server.
Subreport: A subreport is a report that displays another report inside the body of a
main report. The subreport can use different data sources than the main report.
Cached reports: A cached report is a saved copy of a processed report. Cached
reports are used to improve performance by reducing the number of processing
requests to the report processor and by reducing the time required to retrieve large
reports. They have a mandatory expiration period, usually in minutes.
Drill Down Report: Means navigate from the summary level to detail level in the
same report.
Drill Through Report: Navigation from one report to another report.
Ad hoc reports:Ad Hoc reporting allows the end users to design and create reports
on their own provided the data models.
3 components: Report Builder, Report Model and Model Designer

Use 'Model Designer' tool to design 'Report Models' and then use 'Report Model' tool
to generate reports.
Report Builder
- Windows Winform application for End users to build ad-hoc reports with the help of
Report models.
32. Explain the Report Model Steps.
1. Create the report model project
select "Report Model Project" in the Templates list
A report model project contains the definition of the data source (.ds file), the
definition of a data source view (.dsv file), and the report model (.smdl file).
2. Define a data source for the report model
3. Define a data source view for the report model
A data source view is a logical data model based on one or more data sources.
SQL Reporting Services generates the report model from the data source view.
4. Define a report model
5. Publish a report model to report server.
33. How to get the data for Report Model Reports
Datasource View
34. Difference between RDL and RDLC?
RDL files are created for Sql Server Reporting Services and .RDLC files are for
Visual Studio Report Viewer Component.
The element of RDL contains query or command and is used by the Report Server to
connect to the datasources of the report.
The element is optional in RDLC file. This element is ignored by Report Viewer
control because Report Viewer control does not perform any data processing in
Local processing mode, but used data that the host application supplies.
35. Difference between Sorting and Interactive Sorting?
To control the Sort order of data in report, you must set the sort expression on the
data region or group. The does not have control over sorting.
You can provide control to the user by adding Interactive Sort buttons to toggle
between ascending and descending order for rows in a table or for rows and
columns in a matrix. The most common use of interactive sort is to add a sort button
to every column header. The user can then choose which column to sort by.
36. What is Report Builder
Windows Winform application for End users to build ad-hoc reports with the help of
Report models.
37. Difference between Table report and Matrix Report
A Table Report can have fixed number of columns and dynamic rows.
A Matrix Report has dynamic rows and dynamic columns.
38. When to use Table, Matrix and List
1. Use a Table to display detail data, organize the data in row groups, or both.
2. Use a matrix to display aggregated data summaries, grouped in rows and
columns, similar to a PivotTable or crosstab. The number of rows and columns for

groups is determined by the number of unique values for each row and column
groups.
3. Use a list to create a free-form layout. You are not limited to a grid layout, but can
place fields freely inside the list. You can use a list to design a form for displaying
many dataset fields or as a container to display multiple data regions side by side for
grouped data. For example, you can define a group for a list; add a table, chart, and
image; and display values in table and graphic form for each group value
39. Report Server Configuration Files
1. RSReportServer.config:
Stores configuration settings for feature areas of the Report Server service: Report
Manager, the Report Server Web service, and background processing.
2. RSSrvPolicy.config
Stores the code access security policies for the server extensions.
3. RSMgrPolicy.config
Stores the code access security policies for Report Manager.
4. Web.config for the Report Server Web service
Includes only those settings that are required for ASP.NET.
5. ReportingServicesService.exe.config
6. Registry settings
7. Web.config for Report Manager
Includes only those settings that are required for ASP.NET
8. RSReportDesigner.config
9. RSPreviewPolicy.config
40. Difference between a Report and adhoc Report
Ad Hoc reporting allows the end users to design and create reports on their own
provided the data models.
Adhoc Report is created from existing report model using Report Builder.
41. How do u secure a Report
1. Authorization is provided through a role-based security model that is specific to
Reporting Services.
Different Types of Roles provided by SSRS :
- Browsers
- Content Manager
- My Reports
- Publishers
- Report Builder
2. IIS security controls access to the report server virtual directory and Report
Manager.
42.How to Combine Datasets in SSRS (1 Dataset gets data from Oracle and
other dataset from Sql Server)
Using LookUP function, we can combine 2 datasets in SSRS.
In the following example, assume that a table is bound to a dataset that includes a
field for the product identifier ProductID. A separate dataset called "Product" contains
the corresponding product identifier ID and the product name Name.

=Lookup(Fields!ProductID.Value, Fields!ID.Value, Fields!Name.Value, "Product")

In the above expression, Lookup compares the value of ProductID to ID in each row
of the dataset called "Product" and, when a match is found, returns the value of the
Name field for that row.
43. Difference between Report Server and Report Manager
Report Server handle authentication, data processing, rendering and delivery
operations.
The configuration settings of Report Manager and the Report Server Web service
are stored in a single configuration file (rsreportserver.config).
Report Manager is the web-based application included with Reporting Services that
handles all aspects of managing reports (deploying datasources and reports,
caching a report, subscriptions, snapshot).
44. Steps to repeat Table Headers in SSRS 2008?
1. Select the table
2. At the bottom of the screen, select a dropdown arrow beside column
groups. Enable "Advanced Mode" by clicking on it.
3. under Row Groups,select the static row and choose properties / press F4.
4. Set the following attributes for the static row or header row.
Set RepeatOnNewPage= True for repeating headers
Set KeepWithGroup= After
Set FixedData=True for keeping the headers visible.
45. How to add assemblies in SSRS
45. Report Extensions?
46. parent grouping, child grouping in SSRS
47. How to show "No Data Found" Message to end user?
Add a Text box with expression =IIF(Count(, "DataSet")=0,"No Data Returned",
nothing)
and set the visibility of this Text box as =IIF(Count(, "DataSet")=0,False,True)
48. What is the 'Use single transaction when processing the queries' in the
Datasource? Dataset Execution Order?
By default, datasets are executed in parallel.

This option used to reduce the amount of open connections to the database. For
example, if you have a report with 3 datasets and you dont have this option
checked, a new connection is made to the database for every single dataset.
However, if you have it checked, then only one connection will be open to the

database and all the datasets will return the data and the connection will be closed.
This can be used to reduce network traffic and potentially increase performance.
Open the data source dialog in report designer, and select the "Use Single
Transaction when processing the queries' check box. Once selected, datasets that
use the same data source are no longer executed in parallel. They are also
executed as a transaction, i.e. if any of the queries fails to execute, the entire
transaction is rolled back.

The order of the dataset execution sequence is determined by the top-down order of
the dataset appearance in the RDL file, which also corresponds to the order shown
in report designer.
49. ReportServer and ReportServerTempDB Databases
ReportServer: hosts the report catalog and metadata.
For eg: keeps the catalog items in the Catalog table, the data source information in
the Data-Source table of ReportServer Database.
ReportServerTempDB: used by RS for caching purposes.
For eg: once the report is executed, the Report Server saves a copy of the report in
the ReportServerTempDB database.
What do we mean by dataflow in SSIS?
Data flow is nothing but the flow of data from the corresponding sources to the referred
destinations. In this process, the data transformations make changes to the data to make it ready
for the data warehouse.
What is a breakpoint in SSIS? How is it setup? How do you disable
it?
A breakpoint is a stopping point in the code. The breakpoint can give the Developer\DBA an
opportunity to review the status of the data, variables and the overall status of the SSIS package.
10 unique conditions exist for each breakpoint.
Breakpoints are setup in BIDS. In BIDS, navigate to the control flow interface. Right click on the
object where you want to set the breakpoint and select the Edit Breakpoints option.
Can you name 5 or more of the native SSIS connection managers?
1) OLEDB connection Used to connect to any data source requiring an OLEDB connection
(i.e.,
SQL Server 2000)
2) Flat file connection Used to make a connection to a single file in the File System. Required
for reading information from a File System flat file

3) ADO.Net connection Uses the .Net Provider to make a connection to SQL Server 2005 or
other
connection exposed through managed code (like C#) in a custom task
4) Analysis Services connection Used to make a connection to an Analysis Services database or
project. Required for the Analysis Services DDL Task and Analysis Services Processing Task
5) File connection Used to reference a file or folder. The options are to either use or create a file
or folder
6) Excel
What is the use of Bulk Insert Task in SSIS?
Bulk Insert Task is used to upload large amount of data from flat files into Sql Server. It supports
only OLE DB connections for destination database.
What is Conditional Split transformation in SSIS?
This is just like IF condition which checks for the given condition and based on the condition
evaluation, the output will be sent to the appropriate OUTPUT path. It has ONE input and
MANY outputs. Conditional Split transformation is used to send paths to different outputs based
on some conditions. For example, we can organize the transform for the students in a class who
have marks greater than 40 to one path and the students who score less than 40 to another path.
How do you eliminate quotes from being uploaded from a flat file
to SQL Server?
This can be done using TEXT QUALIFIER property. In the SSIS package on the Flat File
Connection Manager Editor, enter quotes into the Text qualifier field then preview the data to
ensure the quotes are not included.
Can you explain how to setup a checkpoint file in SSIS?
The following items need to be configured on the properties tab for SSIS package:
CheckpointFileName Specify the full path to the Checkpoint file that the package uses
to save the value of package variables and log completed tasks. Rather than using a hard-coded
path as shown above, its a good idea to use an expression that concatenates a path defined in a
package variable and the package name.
CheckpointUsage Determines if/how checkpoints are used. Choose from these options:
Never(default), IfExists, or Always. Never indicates that you are not using Checkpoints. IfExists
is the typical setting and implements the restart at the point of failure behavior. If a Checkpoint
file is found it is used to restore package variable values and restart at the point of failure. If a
Checkpoint file is not found the package starts execution with the first task. The Always choice
raises an error if the Checkpoint file does not exist.
SaveCheckpoints Choose from these options: True or False (default). You must select
True to implement the Checkpoint behavior.

 What are the different values you can set for CheckpointUsage
property ?
There are three values, which describe how a checkpoint file is used during package execution:
1) Never: The package will not use a checkpoint file and therefore will never restart.
2) If Exists: If a checkpoint file exists in the place you specified for the CheckpointFilename
property, then it will be used, and the package will restart according to the checkpoints written.
3) Always: The package will always use a checkpoint file to restart, and if one does not exist,
the package will fail.
What is the ONLY Property you need to set on TASKS in order to
configure CHECKPOINTS to RESTART package from failure?
The one property you have to set on the task is FailPackageOnFailure. This must be set
for each task or container that you want to be the point for a checkpoint and restart. If you do not
set this property to true and the task fails, no file will be written, and the next time you invoke the
package, it will start from the beginning again.
Where can we set the CHECKPOINTS, in DataFlow or ControlFlow ?
Checkpoints only happen at the Control Flow; it is not possible to checkpoint transformations or
restart inside a Data Flow. The Data Flow Task can be a checkpoint, but it is treated as any other
task.
Can you explain different options for dynamic configurations in
SSIS?
1) XML file
2) custom variables
3) Database per environment with the variables
4) Use a centralized database with all variables
What is the use of Percentage Sampling transformation in SSIS?
Percentage Sampling transformation is generally used for data mining. This transformation builds
a random sample of set of output rows by choosing specified percentage of input rows. For
example if the input has 1000 rows and if I specify 10 as percentage sample then the
transformation returns 10% of the RANDOM records from the input data.
What is the use of Term Extraction transformation in SSIS?
Term Extraction transformation is used to extract nouns or noun phrases or both noun and noun
phrases only from English text. It extracts terms from text in a transformation input column and
then writes the terms to a transformation output column. It can be also used to find out the
content of a dataset.

 What is Data Viewer and what are the different types of Data
Viewers in SSIS?
A Data Viewer allows viewing data at a point of time at runtime. If data viewer is placed before
and after the Aggregate transform, we can see data flowing to the transformation at the runtime
and how it looks like after the transformation occurred. The different types of data viewers are:
1. Grid
2. Histogram
3. Scatter Plot
4. Column Chart.
What is Ignore Failure option in SSIS?
In Ignore Failure option, the error will be ignored and the data row will be directed to continue on
the next transformation. Lets say you have some JUNK data(wrong type of data or JUNK data)
flowing from source, then using this option in SSIS we can REDIRECT the junk data records to
another transformation instead of FAILING the package. This helps to MOVE only valid data to
destination and JUNK can be captured into separate file.
Which are the different types of Control Flow components in SSIS?
The different types of Control Flow components are: Data Flow Tasks, SQL Server Tasks, Data
Preparation Tasks, Work flow Tasks, Scripting Tasks, Analysis Services Tasks, Maintenance
Tasks, Containers.
What are containers? What are the different types of containers in
SSIS?
Containers are objects that provide structures to packages and extra functionality to tasks. There
are four types of containers in SSIS, they are: Foreach Loop Container, For Loop Container,
Sequence Container and Task Host Container.
What are the different types of Data flow components in SSIS?
There are 3 data flow components in SSIS.
1. Sources
2. Transformations
3. Destinations
What are the different types of data sources available in SSIS?
There are 7 types of data sources provided by SSIS: a.) Data Reader source b.) Excel source c.)
Flat file source d.) OLEDB source e.) Raw file source f.) XML source g.) Script component

 What is SSIS Designer?

It is a graphical tool for creating packages. It has 4 tabs: Control Flow, Data Flow, Event
Handlers and Package Explorer.
What is Control Flow tab?
It is the tab in SSIS designer where various Tasks can be arranged and configured. This is the tab
where we provide and control the program flow of the project.
What is Data Flow tab?
This is the tab where we do all the work related to ETL job. It is the tab in SSIS Designer where
we can extract data from sources, transform the data and then load them into destinations.
What is the function of control flow tab in SSIS?
On the control flow tab, the tasks including dataflow task, containers and precedence constraints
that connect containers and tasks can be arranged and configured.
What is the function of Event handlers tab in SSIS?
On the Event handlers tab, workflows can be configured to respond to package events.
For example, we can configure Work Flow when ANY task Failes or Stops or Starts ..
What is the function of Package explorer tab in SSIS?
This tab provides an explorer view of the package. You can see what is happening in the package.
The Package is a container at the top of the hierarchy.
What is Solution Explorer?
It is a place in SSIS Designer where all the projects, Data Sources, Data Source Views and other
miscellaneous files can be viewed and accessed for modification.
How do we convert data type in SSIS?
The Data Conversion Transformation in SSIS converts the data type of an input column to a
different data type.
How are variables useful in ssis package?
Variables can provide communication among objects in the package. Variables can provide
communication between parent and child packages. Variables can also be used in expressions and
scripts. This helps in providing dynamic values to tasks.
Explain Aggregate Transformation in SSIS?
It aggregates data, similar you do in applying TSQL functions like Group By, Min, Max, Avg, and
Count. For example you get total quantity and Total line item for each product in Aggregate
Transformation Editor. First you determine input columns, then output column name in Output
Alias table in datagrid, and also operations for each Output Alias in Operation columns of the

same datagrid. Some of operation functions listed below :

Group By
Average
Count
Count Distinct : count distinct and non null column value
Min, Max, Sum
In Advanced tab, you can do some optimization here, such as setting up Key Scale option (low,
medium, high), Count Distinct scale option (low, medium, high), Auto Extend factor and Warn
On Division By Zero. If you check Warn On Division By Zero, the component will give warning
instead of error. Key Scale option will optimize transformation cache to certain number of key
threshold. If you set it low, optimization will target to 500,000 keys written to cache, medium can
handle up to 5 million keys, and high can handle up to 25 million keys, or you can specify
particular number of keys here. Default value is unspecified. Similar to number of keys for Count
Distinct scale option. It is used to optimize number of distinct value written to memory, default
value is unspecified. Auto Extend Factor is used when you want some portion of memory is used
for this component. Default value is 25% of memory.
Explain Audit Transformation ?
It allows you to add auditing information as required in auditing world specified by HIPPA and
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). Auditing options that you can add to transformed data through this
transformation are :
1. Execution of Instance GUID : ID of execution instance of the package
2. PackageID : ID of the package
3. PackageName
4. VersionID : GUID version of the package
5. Execution StartTime
6. MachineName
7. UserName
8. TaskName
9. TaskID : uniqueidentifier type of the data flow task that contains audit transformation.
Explain Character Map Transformation?
It transforms some character. It gives options whether output result will override the existing
column or add to new column. If you define it as new column, specify new column name.
Operations available here are:
1. Uppercase
2. Lowercase
3. Byte reversal : such as from 01234 to 04321
4. Full width
5. Half width

6. Hiragana/katakana/traditional Chinese/simplified Chinese

7. Linguistic casing
Explain Conditional split Transformation ?
It functions as ifthenelse construct. It enables send input data to a satisfied conditional
branch. For example you want to split product quantity between less than 500 and greater or
equal to 500. You can give the conditional a name that easily identifies its purpose. Else section
will be covered in Default Output Column name.
After you configure the component, it connect to subsequent transformation/destination, when
connected, it pops up dialog box to let you choose which conditional options will apply to the
destination transformation/destination.
Explain Copy column Transformation?
This component simply copies a column to another new column. Just like ALIAS Column in TSql.
Explain Data conversion Transformation?
This component does conversion data type, similar to TSQL function CAST or CONVERT. If
you wish to convery the data from one type to another then this is the best bet. But please make
sure that you have COMPATABLE data in the column.
Explain Data Mining query Transformation?
This component does prediction on the data or fills gap on it. Some good scenarios uses this
component is:
1. Take some input columns as number of children, domestic income, and marital income to
predict whether someone owns a house or not.
2. Take prediction what a customer would buy based analysis buying pattern on their shopping
cart.
3. Filling blank data or default values when customer doesnt fill some items in the questionnaire.
Explain Derived column Transformation?
Derived column creates new column or put manipulation of several columns into new column.
You can directly copy existing or create a new column using more than one column also.
Explain Merge Transformation?
Merge transformation merges two paths into single path. It is useful when you want to break out
data into path that handles errors after the errors are handled, the data are merge back into
downstream or you want to merge 2 data sources. It is similar with Union All transformation, but
Merge has some restrictions :
1. Data should be in sorted order
2. Data type , data length and other meta data attribute must be similar before merged.

 Explain Merge Join Transformation?

Merge Join transformation will merge output from 2 inputs and doing INNER or OUTER join on
the data. But if you the data come from 1 OLEDB data source, it is better you join through SQL
query rather than using Merge Join transformation. Merge Join is intended to join 2 different data
source.
Explain Multicast Transformation?
This transformation sends output to multiple output paths with no conditional as Conditional Split
does. Takes ONE Input and makes the COPY of data and passes the same data through many
outputs. In simple Give one input and take many outputs of the same data.
Explain Percentage and row sampling Transformations?
This transformation will take data from source and randomly sampling data. It gives you 2
outputs. First is selected data and second one is unselected data. It is used in situation where you
train data mining model. These two are used to take the SAMPLE of data from the input data.
Explain Sort Transformation?
This component will sort data, similar in TSQL command ORDER BY. Some transformations
need sorted data.
Explain Union all Transformation?
It works in opposite way to Merge transformation. It can take output from more than 2 input
paths and combines into single output path.
What r the possible locations to save SSIS package?
You can save a package wherever you want.
SQL Server
Package Store
File System
What is a package?
A discrete executable unit of work composed of a collection of control flow and other objects,
including data sources, transformations, process sequence, and rules, errors and event handling,
and data destinations.
What is a workflow in SSIS?
A workflow is a set of instructions on how to execute tasks.
(It is a set of instructions on how to execute tasks such as sessions, emails and shell commands. a
workflow is created form work flow mgr.

 What is the diff between control flow Items and data flow Items?
The control flow is the highest level control process. It allows you to manage the run-time
process activities of data flow and other processes within a package.
When we want to extract, transform and load data within a package. You add an SSIS dataflow
task to the package control flow.
What are the main component of SSIS(project-architecture)?
SSIS archItecture has 4 main components
1.ssis service
2.ssis runtime engine & runtime executables
3.ssis dataflow engine & dataflow components
4.ssis clients
Different components in SSIS package?
Control flow
Data flow
Event handler
Package explorer
What are Connection Managers?
It is a bridge b/w package object and physical data. It provides logical representation of a
connection at design time the properties of the connection mgr describes the physical connection
that integration services creates when the package is run.
What is environment variable in SSIS?
An environment variable configuration sets a package property equal to the value in an
environment variable.
Environmental configurations are useful for configuring properties that are dependent on the
computer that is executing the package.
How to provide securIty to packages?
We can provide security in two ways
1. Package encryption
2. Password protection.
What are Precedence constraints?
Constraints that link executable, container, and tasks wIthin the package control flow and specify
condItion that determine the sequence and condItions for determine whether executable run.
What is Design time Deployment in SSIS ?

When you run a package from with in BIDS,it is built and temporarily deployed to the folder. By
default the package will be deployed to the BIN folder in the Packages Project folder and you
can configure for custom folder for deployment. When the Packages execution is completed and
stopped in BIDS,the deployed package will be deleted and this is called as Design Time
Deployment.