1. Biml for Beginners:
Speed up your SSIS development
Cathrine Wilhelmsen · SQLSaturday Chicago · March 5th 2016

2. 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. The Basics Tools & Projects
Code Management

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

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

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

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

8. Ready for a change?

10. 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?

11. From Traditional SSIS to Agile SSIS
Traditional SSIS: Plumbing Agile SSIS: Business Logic

12. Will Biml solve all your problems?
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 problems!

13. How can Biml help you?
Timesaving: Many SSIS Packages from one Biml file
Reusable: Write once and run on any platform
Flexible: Start simple, expand as you learn

14. What do you need?

15. …or you can use

16. …or you can invest in
(Mist will be rebranded as BimlStudio)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24. Let's generate
some packages!

25. Right-click on SSIS project and click Add New Biml File

26. Biml files are placed in the Miscellaneous folder
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>

27. Right-click on the Biml file to Generate SSIS Packages
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
<Packages>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage1"></Package>
<Package Name="EmptyPackage2"/>
</Packages>
</Biml>

28. From Biml to SSIS
<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>

29. From Biml to SSIS
<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>

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

31. Ok, so we can go from Biml to SSIS…

32. …can we go from SSIS to Biml?

33. Yes! 

34. Let's reverse-engineer
some packages!

35. Package Importer in BimlOnline

36. Choose a File

37. Convert from SSIS to Biml

38. Choose and filter assets

39. Copy the Biml…

40. …or Create /Add to BimlOnline Project

41. The magic is in the

42. 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

43. 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)

44. 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>

45. 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>

46. 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>

47. How does it work?

48. Yes, but how does it work?

49. 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>

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

51. Let's generate
a lot of packages!

52. Don't Repeat Yourself

53. 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

54. BIDS Helper vs. BimlOnline / Mist
"Black Box"
Only SSIS packages visible
Visual Editors
All in-memory objects visible

55. 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

56. Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files
Tier 1: Create database connections
Add connections to RootNode
Tier 2: Create loading packages
Use connections from RootNode
Add packages to RootNode
Tier 3: Create master package to execute packages
Use packages from RootNode
Add package to RootNode

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

67. Inside the Black Box: Tiered Biml Files

68. 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

69. 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

70. Include Files

71. Include Files

72. Include Files

73. 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

74. CallBimlScript with Parameters

75. CallBimlScript with Parameters

76. CallBimlScript with Parameters
logic based
on parameters

77. CallBimlScript with Parameters

78. CallBimlScript with Parameters

79. How does this actually work?

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

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

82. @cathrinew
cathrinewilhelmsen.net
no.linkedin.com/in/cathrinewilhelmsen
contact@cathrinewilhelmsen.net
slideshare.net/cathrinewilhelmsen
Biml resources and references:
cathrinewilhelmsen.net/biml