1. Biml for Beginners:
Generating SSIS packages with BimlScript
Cathrine Wilhelmsen
April 25th 2015

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4. Session description
SSIS is a powerful tool for extracting, transforming and loading data, but
creating the actual 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 again. There are no
easy ways to handle metadata and schema changes, and if there are
new requirements you might have to go through all the packages one
more time. It's time to bring the Don't Repeat Yourself principle to SSIS
development.
In this session I will use the free BIDS Helper add-in to show you the
basics of Biml and BimlScript, how to generate SSIS packages
automatically from databases, how easy those packages can be
changed, and how to move common code to separate files that can be
included where needed. See why they say Biml allows you to complete
in a day what once took more than a week!

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

6. Who are you? (*)
SSIS and ETL Developer?
Easily bored?
Tired of repetitive work?
( * Probably not a cat )

7. Why are you here?
Long development time?
Many SSIS packages?
Slow GUI editor?
(Drag, drop, drag, drop, connect,
drag, drop, connect, resize, align,
drag, drop, resize, connect, align…)

8. project done!
new standards
yay
Have you ever experienced this?

9. How can Biml help you?
Timesaving: Many SSIS
Packages from one Biml file
Reusable: Write once and run
on any platform (2005 – 2014)
Flexible: Start simple, expand
as you learn
(Of course I can create 200 packages!
What do you need me to do after lunch?)

10. Business Intelligence Markup Language
Easy to read and write XML dialect
Specifies business intelligence objects
Databases, schemas, tables, columns
SSIS packages
SSAS cubes, facts, dimensions (Mist only)

11. Highlights in Biml History
founded by Scott Currie, is born
Biml was extended with
Biml compiler added to
is launched
founded
is launched
2008:
2009:
2011:
2012:
2014:
2015:

12. How does it work?

13. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>

14. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Biml Declaration = Root Element

15. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Logical Objects = Elements

16. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Child Elements

17. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Empty Elements

18. Biml syntax
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Connections>
<OleDbConnection Name="Source" ConnectionString="…" />
</Connections>
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage">
</Package>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Attributes

19. Demo – Biml

20. Getting started with Biml
1. Download and install BIDS Helper (http://bidshelper.codeplex.com)
2. Right-click on SSIS project and click Add New Biml File

21. Intellisense
Intellisense while typing
CTRL+Space to AutoComplete or show Intellisense

22. Errors
Red squiggly line: Error
Blue squiggly line: Missing attribute or child element
Error spelling
Missing attribute: ConstraintMode

23. Errors
Hovering over errors will show descriptive text
Missing attribute: ConstraintMode
Error spelling

24. Right-click to Check Biml for Errors

25. Your first SSIS Package from Biml
Right-click on Biml file and click Generate SSIS Packages
Packages will appear under SSIS Packages

26. From Biml to SSIS

27. From Biml to SSIS

28. .biml vs .dtsx
human-readable vs. ALL THE CODE!

29. I create SSIS packages faster than that

30. But wait!

31. The magic is in the
Extend Biml with C# or VB.NET code blocks
Import database structure and metadata
Loop over tables and columns
Add expressions to replace static values
(And anything else you can do in C# or VB)

32. BimlScript code blocks
<#@ … #> Directives
<# … #> Control Blocks
<#= … #> Expression Control Blocks

33. BimlScript syntax
<#@ import
namespace="Varigence.Biml.CoreLowerer.SchemaManagement" #>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

34. BimlScript syntax
<#@ import
namespace="Varigence.Biml.CoreLowerer.SchemaManagement" #>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Directive

35. BimlScript syntax
<#@ import
namespace="Varigence.Biml.CoreLowerer.SchemaManagement" #>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Control Blocks

36. BimlScript syntax
<#@ import
namespace="Varigence.Biml.CoreLowerer.SchemaManagement" #>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load<#=table.Name#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>
Expression Control block

37. Demo – BimlScript

38. Basic for loop
<Packages>
<# for (int count = 1; count <= 5; count++) { #>
<Package Name="Load_Person_Person_<#=count#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>

39. foreach (table in a database) loop
<#@ import namespace="Varigence.Hadron.CoreLowerer.SchemaManagement" #>
<# var conAW2014 = SchemaManager.CreateConnectionNode("AW2014", "Data Source...");
#>
<# var AW2014DB = conAW2014.ImportDB("","", ImportOptions.ExcludeViews); #>
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in AW2014DB.TableNodes) { #>
<Package Name="Load_<#=table.Schema#>_<#=table.Name#>">
</Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>

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

41. Split and combine Biml files
Multiple Biml files can be compiled together
Control compile order by specifying tiers in files
<#@ template tier="2" #>
Files are compiled into RootNode from lowest to highest tier
Higher tiers can use objects in RootNode from lower tiers

42. Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode
RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>

43. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>
compile
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

44. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>
use
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

45. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<Tables>
<Columns>
RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>
compile
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

46. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<Tables>
<Columns>
RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages> use
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

47. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<Packages>
RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages> compile
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

48. <Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<Packages>
RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>
generate
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

49. RootNode
<#@ template tier="0" #>
<Connections>
<Databases>
<Schemas>
<#@ template tier="1" #>
<Tables>
<Columns>
<#@ template tier="2" #>
<Packages>
Behind the scenes: compile and load objects into RootNode

50. Demo – Split and combine Biml files

51. Split and combine multiple Biml files
Create tiered files:

52. Split and combine multiple Biml files
Select all the tiered files
Right-click and click Generate SSIS
Packages
Behind the scenes: Objects will be
compiled and loaded into RootNode
from lowest to highest tier

53. Split and combine multiple Biml files
All packages will be generated at the same time
Load packages from 302LoadAllTables.biml
Master package from 303MasterPackage.biml

54. Include files
Include common code in multiple files and projects
Use the include directive
<#@ include file="CommonCode.biml" #>
Include directive will be replaced by content of file
Can include several file types: .biml .txt .sql .cs

55. Demo – Include files

56. CallBimlScript with parameters
Works like a parameterized include
File to be called (callee) specifies input parameters
<#@ property name="Param" type="String" #>
Callee can use parameter values as regular variables and to
control logic
File that calls (caller) provides input parameters
<#=CallBimlScript("CommonCode.biml", Param)#>
CallBimlScript code block is replaced by Biml returned by callee

57. Demo – CallBimlScript with Parameters

58. Demo – Don't Repeat Yourself

59. View compiled Biml
Credits: Marco Schreuder (@in2bi)
http://blog.in2bi.eu/biml/viewing-or-saving-the-
compiled-biml-file-s/
Helper file with high tier (tier="100")
Saves output of RootNode.GetBiml() to file

60. What do you do next?
1. Download BIDS Helper
2. Identify your SSIS patterns
3. Rewrite one SSIS package to Biml to learn the basics
4. Expand with BimlScript
5. Get involved in the Biml community

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

62. Become a Biml Buccaneer!
Next session:
Building a meta-driven near realtime
ETL solution with BIML and SSIS

63. Thank you! 
@cathrinew
cathrinewilhelmsen.net
no.linkedin.com/in/cathrinewilhelmsen
contact@cathrinewilhelmsen.net
cathrinewilhelmsen.net/biml
slideshare.net/cathrinewilhelmsen