File Connection Manager
Applies to: 
SQL Server
SSIS Integration Runtime in Azure Data Factory
A File connection manager enables a package to reference an existing file or folder, or to create a file or folder at run time. For example, you can reference an Excel file. Certain components in Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services use information in files to perform their work. For example, an Execute SQL task can reference a file that contains the SQL statements that the task executes. Other components perform operations on files. For example, the File System task can reference a file to copy it to a new location.
Usage Types of the File Connection Manager
The FileUsageType property of the File connection manager specifies how the file connection is used. The File connection manager can create a file, create a folder, use an existing file, or use an existing folder.
The following table lists the values of FileUsageType.
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | File connection manager uses an existing file. |
| 1 | File connection manager creates a file. |
| 2 | File connection manager uses an existing folder. |
| 3 | File connection manager creates a folder. |
Multiple File or Folder Connections
The File connection manager can reference only one file or folder. To reference multiple files or folders, use a Multiple Files connection manager instead of a File connection manager. For more information, see Multiple Files Connection Manager.
Configuration of the File Connection Manager
When you add a File connection manager to a package, Integration Services creates a connection manager that will resolve to a File connection at run time, sets the File connection properties, and adds the File connection to the Connections collection of the package.
The ConnectionManagerType property of the connection manager is set to FILE.
You can configure a File connection manager in the following ways:
Specify the usage type.
Specify a file or folder.
You can set the ConnectionString property for the File connection manager by specifying an expression in the Properties window of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). However, to avoid a validation error when you use an expression to specify the file or folder, in the File Connection Manager Editor, for File/Folder, add a file or folder path.
You can set properties through SSIS Designer or programmatically.
For more information about the properties that you can set in SSIS Designer, see File Connection Manager Editor.
For information about configuring a connection manager programmatically, see ConnectionManager and Adding Connections Programmatically.
File Connection Manager Editor
Use the File Connection Manager Editor dialog box to specify the properties used to connect to a file or a folder.
Note
You can set the ConnectionString property for the File connection manager by specifying an expression in the Properties window of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). However, to avoid a validation error when you use an expression to specify the file or folder, in the File Connection Manager Editor, for File/Folder, add a file or folder path.
To learn more about the File connection manager, see File Connection Manager.
Options
Usage Type
Specify whether the File Connection Manager connects to an existing file or folder or creates a new file or folder.
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| Create file | Create a new file at run time. |
| Existing file | Use an existing file. |
| Create folder | Create a new folder at run time. |
| Existing folder | Use an existing folder. |
File / Folder
If File, specify the file to use.
If Folder, specify the folder to use.
Browse
Select the file or folder by using the Select File or Browse for Folder dialog box.
Add File Connection Manager Dialog Box UI Reference
Use the Add File Connection Manager dialog box to define a connection to a group of files or folders.
To learn more about the Multiple Files connection manager, see Multiple Files Connection Manager.
Note
The built-in tasks and data flow components in Integration Services do not use the Multiple Files connection manager. However, you can use this connection manager in the Script task or Script component.
Dialog box options for Add File Connection Manager
Usage type
Specify the type of files to use for the multiple files connection manager.
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| Create files | The connection manager will create the files. |
| Existing files | The connection manager will use existing files. |
| Create folders | The connection manager will create the folders. |
| Existing folders | The connection manager will use existing folders. |
Files / Folders
View the files or folders that you have added by using the buttons described as follows.
Add
Add a file by using the Select Files dialog box, or add a folder by using the Browse for Folder dialog box.
Edit
Select a file or folder, and then replace it with a different file or folder by using the Select Files or Browse for Folder dialog box.
Remove
Select a file or folder, and then remove it from the list by using the Remove button.
Arrow buttons
Select a file or folder, and then use the arrow buttons to move it up or down to specify the sequence of access.
Suggest Column Types Dialog Box UI Reference
Use the Suggest Column Types dialog box to identify the data type and length of columns in a Flat File Connection Manager based on a sampling of the file content.
To learn more about the data types used by Integration Services, see Integration Services Data Types.
Dialog box options for Suggest Column Types
Number of rows
Type or select the number of rows in the sample that the algorithm uses.
Suggest the smallest integer data type
Clear this check box to skip the assessment. If selected, determines the smallest possible integer data type for columns that contain integral numeric data.
Suggest the smallest real data type
Clear this check box to skip the assessment. If selected, determines whether columns that contain real numeric data can use the smaller real data type, DT_R4.
Identify Boolean columns using the following values
Type the two values that you want to use as the Boolean values true and false. The values must be separated by a comma, and the first value represents True.
Pad string columns
Select this check box to enable string padding.
Percent padding
Type or select the percentage of the column lengths by which to increase the length of columns for character data types. The percentage must be an integer.