Build Data Flows from SQL Server to XML through SSIS

SQL Server databases are commonly used to store enterprise records. It is often necessary to move this data to other locations. The CData SSIS Task for XML allows you to easily transfer XML data. In this article you will export data from SQL Server to XML.

Add Source and Destination Components

To get started, add a new ADO.NET Source control and a new XML Destination control to the data flow task.

Configure the ADO.NET Source

Follow the steps below to specify properties required to connect to the SQL Server instance.

1. Open the ADO.NET Source and add a new connection. Enter your server and database information here.
2. In the Data access mode menu, select "Table or view" and select the table or view to export into XML.
3. Close the ADO NET Source wizard and connect it to the destination component.

Create a New Connection Manager for XML

Follow the steps below to set required connection properties in the Connection Manager.

1. Create a new connection manager: In the Connection Manager window, right-click and then click New Connection. The Add SSIS Connection Manager dialog is displayed.
2. Select CData XML Connection Manager in the menu.
3. Configure the connection properties.

   Connecting to Local or Cloud-Stored (Box, Google Drive, Amazon S3, SharePoint) XML Files

   CData Drivers let you work with XML files stored locally and stored in cloud storage services like Box, Amazon S3, Google Drive, or SharePoint, right where they are.

   Setting connection properties for local files

   Set the URI property to local folder path.

   Setting connection properties for files stored in Amazon S3

   To connect to XML file(s) within Amazon S3, set the URI property to the URI of the Bucket and Folder where the intended XML files exist. In addition, at least set these properties:

   • AWSAccessKey: AWS Access Key (username)
   • AWSSecretKey: AWS Secret Key

   Setting connection properties for files stored in Box

   To connect to XML file(s) within Box, set the URI property to the URI of the folder that includes the intended XML file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect to Box.

   Dropbox

   To connect to XML file(s) within Dropbox, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the folder that includes the intended XML file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect to Dropbox. Either User Account or Service Account can be used to authenticate.

   SharePoint Online (SOAP)

   To connect to XML file(s) within SharePoint with SOAP Schema, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the document library that includes the intended XML file. Set User, Password, and StorageBaseURL.

   SharePoint Online REST

   To connect to XML file(s) within SharePoint with REST Schema, set the URI proprerty to the URI of the document library that includes the intended XML file. StorageBaseURL is optional. If not set, the driver will use the root drive. OAuth is used to authenticate.

   Google Drive

   To connect to XML file(s) within Google Drive, set the URI property to the URI of the folder that includes the intended XML file(s). Use the OAuth authentication method to connect and set InitiateOAuth to GETANDREFRESH.

   The property is the controlling property over how your data is represented into tables and toggles the following basic configurations.

   • Document (default): Model a top-level, document view of your XML data. The data provider returns nested elements as aggregates of data.
   • FlattenedDocuments: Implicitly join nested documents and their parents into a single table.
   • Relational: Return individual, related tables from hierarchical data. The tables contain a primary key and a foreign key that links to the parent document.

   See the Modeling XML Data chapter for more information on configuring the relational representation. You will also find the sample data used in the following examples. The data includes entries for people, the cars they own, and various maintenance services performed on those cars.

Configure the XML Destination

In the destination component Connection Manager, define mappings from the SQL Server source table into the XML destination table and the action you want to perform on the XML data. In this article, you will insert people entities to XML.

1. Double-click the XML destination to open the destination component editor.
2. In the Connection Managers tab, select the connection manager previously created.
3. In the Use a Table, menu, select people. In the Action menu, select Insert. 👁 The destination table and action to be performed.
   
4. On the Column Mappings tab, configure the mappings from the input columns to the destination columns. 👁 The mappings from the SQL Server source to the SSIS destination component.
   

Run the Project

You can now run the project. After the SSIS Task has finished executing, data from your SQL table will be exported to the chosen table.