Execute Process Task - (SSIS Control Flow)

The Execute Process Task is an SSIS Control Flow task used to execute a command-line process or an application. It can be configured to pass arguments to the process and capture output or errors generated by the process.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the Execute Process Task is as follows:

Executable: <Path to executable>
Arguments: <Command line arguments>
WorkingDirectory: <Working directory path>

Example

Consider an example where we need to execute a batch file called mybatchfile.bat. The batch file takes a filename as its input argument and creates a new file with a timestamp appended to its name. The following settings can be used in the Execute Process Task to run the batch file:

Executable: "C:\path\to\batch\file\mybatchfile.bat"
Arguments: "$(User::Filename)"
WorkingDirectory: "C:\path\to\working\directory"

In the above example, we are passing the filename as an argument using a package variable $(User::Filename). We are also specifying the working directory for the process using the WorkingDirectory parameter.

Output

The Execute Process Task does not have any direct output. However, if the process being executed generates output or error messages, they can be redirected to a file or captured in a variable using the StandardOutputPath and ErrorOutputPath or StandardOutputVariable and ErrorOutputVariable parameters respectively.

Explanation

The Execute Process Task allows SSIS developers to interact with any command-line or GUI-based application that can be launched from Windows. The process or application can be any executable file, script, or batch file that is installed on the local or remote machine.

The task can be used to pass arguments to the process, capture output or errors produced by the process, and control the working directory and environment variables used by the process. It provides flexibility and control over external processes that can be invoked as part of an SSIS package.

Use

The Execute Process Task is commonly used to execute batch files, PowerShell scripts, or other command-line tools that developers may want to include in their SSIS package. It can also be used to execute GUI applications that require user interaction.

The task is often used in conjunction with other SSIS tasks or components like Data Flow Task, Script Task, or Package Tasks to build end-to-end data integration workflows that automate business processes.

Important Points

• The Execute Process Task can execute any command-line or GUI-based application that is installed on the local or remote machine.
• The task can be used to pass arguments to the process, capture its output or errors, and control the working directory and environment variables used by the process.
• The task does not have any direct output but can capture output or errors produced by the executed process.
• The Execute Process Task is commonly used to execute batch files, PowerShell scripts, or other command-line tools as part of an SSIS package.

Summary

In summary, the Execute Process Task is a powerful SSIS Control Flow task that enables developers to execute external processes or applications as part of their data integration workflows. It can be used to interact with any command-line or GUI-based application and pass arguments, capture output, or control the environment variables used by the executed process.