Can SSIS "populate from source" like DTS?

[elvisboats]

Folks, I've got a think-it-would-be-simple task that is really
stumping me. I need to populate a flat file from SSIS with fixed
length columns. In DTS, this would be as simple as going into the
transformation step, selecting a table or writing a SELECT statement,
and in the Destination tab clicking on the "Populate From Source"
button. Since my source table has all CHAR fixed length columns, it
would create the text file column lengths exactly how I want it -
badda bing badda boom.

The issue is, I don't see a SSIS equivalent to the "Populate From
Source" function in DTS. Frankly I find the idea of manually creating
190 columns and specifying the lengths EXTREMELY tedious and prone to
error. There MUST be a way of doing this automatically in SSIS... but
how?

[Todd C]

Hello 'Elvis':

Try this:
Create a new SSIS Package. Drag a Data Flow onto the Control Flow and
double-click it.
On the Data Flow, add a Source Adapter from an appropriate source.
Now drag a Flat File Destination onto the Data Flow. Connect the green arrow
from the source to the Destination.
Double-click on the destination to configure it. Pay particular attention to
all the options presented in all the dialog boxes.
It should 'auto-discover' the meta data of the source and set up a flat file
Connection Manager with the same Column Headings.

HTH
--
Todd C

[If this response was helpful, please indicate by clicking the appropriate
answer at the bottom]

Post by elvisboats
Folks, I've got a think-it-would-be-simple task that is really
stumping me. I need to populate a flat file from SSIS with fixed
length columns. In DTS, this would be as simple as going into the
transformation step, selecting a table or writing a SELECT statement,
and in the Destination tab clicking on the "Populate From Source"
button. Since my source table has all CHAR fixed length columns, it
would create the text file column lengths exactly how I want it -
badda bing badda boom.
The issue is, I don't see a SSIS equivalent to the "Populate From
Source" function in DTS. Frankly I find the idea of manually creating
190 columns and specifying the lengths EXTREMELY tedious and prone to
error. There MUST be a way of doing this automatically in SSIS... but
how?