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Biml for Beginners:
Speed up your SSIS development
Cathrine Wilhelmsen
SQLSaturday Vienna
April 1st 2016

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Session Description
SSIS is a powerful tool for extracting, transforming and loading data, but creating and maintaining
a large number of SSIS packages can be both tedious and time-consuming. Even if you use
templates and follow best practices you often have to repeat the same steps over and over and
over again. Handling metadata and schema changes is a manual process, and there are no easy
ways to implement new requirements in multiple packages at the same time.
It is time to bring the Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) software engineering principle to SSIS projects.
First learn how to use Biml and BimlScript to generate SSIS packages from database metadata and
implement changes in all packages with just a few clicks. Then take the DRY principle one step
further and learn how to update all packages in multiple projects by separating and reusing
common code.
Speed up your SSIS development by using Biml and BimlScript, and see how you can complete in a
day what once took more than a week!

3.
Thank you to our sponsors!

4.
Biml Basics Tools & Projects
Code Management
…the next 60 minutes…

5.
Cathrine Wilhelmsen
@cathrinew
cathrinewilhelmsen.net
Data Warehouse Architect
Business Intelligence Developer

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SSIS developer
Easily bored
Tired of repetitive work
You…
…?

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Long development time
Many SSIS packages
Frequent requirement changes
Work…
…?

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job done!
new standards
...yay
Ever experienced this?

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Ready for a change?

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Business Intelligence Markup Language
Easy to read and write XML language
Describes business intelligence objects:
• Databases, Schemas, Tables, Views, Columns
• SSIS Packages
• SSAS Cubes
What is Biml?

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Why would you use Biml?
SSIS: Plumbing Biml: Business Logic

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Traditional SSIS: Plumbing
Time wasted on dragging, dropping, connecting, aligning
Create the same package over and over and over again with just a few changes
Standards, patterns and templates must be defined up-front
Changes must be done in every single package
High risk of manual errors
More packages, more time

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Agile SSIS: Business Logic
Spend time on what is unique in a package
Create a pattern once and reuse for all similar packages
Handle scope and requirement changes quickly and easily
Changes can be applied to all packages at once
Lower risk of manual errors
Longer time to start, but then reuse and scale

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Will Biml solve all your challenges?
Probably not...
Biml is a tool for generating SSIS packages
Biml is not a pre-defined ETL framework
Biml is not a tool for automated deployment
...but it will solve many challenges!

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How can Biml help you?
Biml is great for large projects with common patterns…
Timesaving: Many SSIS packages from one Biml file
Reusable: Write once and run on any platform
Flexible: Start simple, expand as you learn
…but is also useful for smaller projects!

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What do you need?

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…or you can use the new Biml tools

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How does it work?
…generated packages look exactly like manually created packages

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax: Root Element

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax: Collections of Root Objects

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax: Elements

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax: Attributes

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<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml syntax: Full vs. Shorthand Syntax

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Let's generate
some packages!

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Add New Biml File from BimlExpress menu…

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…or right-click on SSIS project to Add New Biml File

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Biml files are placed under Miscellaneous

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Check Biml For Errors from BimlExpress menu…

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…or right-click on file to Check Biml For Errors

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Generate SSIS Packages from BimlExpress menu…

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…or right-click on file to Generate SSIS Packages

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From Biml to SSIS: Control Flow
<Package Name="TruncateLoad" ConstraintMode="Linear">
<Tasks>
<ExecuteSQL Name="Truncate Table" ConnectionName="Staging">
<DirectInput>TRUNCATE TABLE DestinationTable</DirectInput>
</ExecuteSQL>
<Dataflow Name="Load Table">
<Transformations>...</Transformations>
</Dataflow>
</Tasks>
</Package>

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From Biml to SSIS: Data Flow
<Transformations>
<OleDbSource Name="Source" ConnectionName="AW2014">
<ExternalTableInput Table="SourceTable" />
</OleDbSource>
<DerivedColumns Name="Add LoadDate">
<Columns>
<Column Name="LoadDate" DataType="DateTime">
@[System::StartTime]
</Column>
</Columns>
</DerivedColumns>
<OleDbDestination Name="Destination" ConnectionName="Staging">
<ExternalTableOutput Table="DestinationTable" />
</OleDbDestination>
</Transformations>

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.biml vs .dtsx: human-readable vs ALL THE CODE!
(20% zoom)(150% zoom)

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Ok, so we can go from Biml to SSIS…

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…can we go from SSIS to Biml?

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Yes! 

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Let's reverse-engineer
some packages!

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Package Importer in BimlOnline

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Choose a File

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Convert from SSIS to Biml

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Choose and filter assets

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Copy the Biml…

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…or Create /Add to BimlOnline Project

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The magic is in the

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What is BimlScript?
Extend Biml with C# or VB code blocks
Import database structure and metadata
Loop over tables and columns
Expressions replace static values
Allows you to control and manipulate Biml code

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BimlScript Code Nuggets
<#@ … #> Directives (Instructions to BimlCompiler)
<# … #> Control Nuggets (Control logic)
<#= … #> Text Nuggets (Replace nugget with text value)
<#+ … #> Class Nuggets (Create helper classes and methods)

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BimlScript Syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>"></Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

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BimlScript Syntax: Control Nuggets
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>"></Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

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BimlScript Syntax: Text Nuggets
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>"></Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

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How does it work?

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Yes, but how does it work?

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Yes, but how does it actually work?
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>"></Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="LoadCustomer"></Package>
<Package Name="LoadProduct"></Package>
<Package Name="LoadSales"></Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>

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Biml vs. BimlScript
Automate, control and
manipulate Biml with C#
Flat XML
"Just text"

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Let's generate
a lot of packages!

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It's like magic!

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Don't Repeat Yourself

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Move common code to separate files
Centralize and reuse in many projects
Update code once for all projects
1. Tiered Biml files
2. Include files
3. CallBimlScript with parameters
Don't Repeat Yourself

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BimlExpress vs. BimlOnline / BimlStudio
"Black Box"
Only SSIS packages visible
Visual Editors
All in-memory objects visible

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Tiered Biml Files
Use the template directive:
<#@ template tier="1" #>
Create objects in-memory from lowest to highest tier to:
• Solve logical dependencies
• Simulate manual workflows
In-memory objects are added to the RootNode
Get objects from RootNode in higher tiers

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
Tier 1: Create database connections
Tier 2: Create loading packages
Tier 3: Create master package to execute packages

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Connections>...</Connections>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>...</Packages>
<#@ template tier="3" #>
<Package>...</Package>

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Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files

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1. Create Biml files with specified tiers
2. Select all the tiered Biml files
3. Right-click and click Generate SSIS Packages
How do you use Tiered Biml files?
1
2
3

75.
Include Files
Include common code in multiple files and projects
Can include many file types: .biml .txt .sql .cs
Use the include directive
<#@ include file="CommonCode.biml" #>
The directive will be replaced by the included file
Include pulls code from the included file into the main file

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Include Files

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Include Files

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Include Files

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CallBimlScript with Parameters
Works like a parameterized include
File to be called (callee) specifies input parameters it accepts
<#@ property name="Table" type="AstTableNode" #>
File that calls (caller) passes input parameters
<#=CallBimlScript("CommonCode.biml", Table)#>
CallBimlScript pushes parameters from the caller to the callee, and the
callee returns code

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CallBimlScript with Parameters

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CallBimlScript with Parameters

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CallBimlScript with Parameters
logic based
on parameters

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CallBimlScript with Parameters

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CallBimlScript with Parameters

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How does this actually work?

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Biml Basics Tools & Projects
Code Management
…the past 60 minutes…

87.
What do you do next?
1. Install BimlExpress
2. Complete lessons on BimlScript.com
3. Identify your SSIS patterns
4. Rewrite one SSIS package to Biml
(Boost your learning by reverse-engineering with BimlOnline)
5. Expand with BimlScript
6. Separate and reuse common Biml code
7. ...never look back to the days of drag&drop :)

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Get things done
Start small
Start simple
Start with ugly code
Keep going
Expand
Improve
Deliver often

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…BimlBreak the rest of the week 
Biml on Monday...

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Talk to sponsors in the break! 

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@cathrinew
cathrinewilhelmsen.net
linkedin.com/in/cathrinewilhelmsen
contact@cathrinewilhelmsen.net
slideshare.net/cathrinewilhelmsen
Biml resources and references:
cathrinewilhelmsen.net/biml