The Gerasus Software Blog

The DTS support in SQL Server 2005 and 2008 is excellent (almost). Typically the packages and jobs do not need any modification in order to run on SQL Server 2005 or 2008. Unfortunately, I have read far too many news group posts that indicate a complete conversion to SSIS MUST take place during a SQL Server 2000 upgrade. It is not mandatory. I am not saying to avoid SSIS. The existing DTS packages can be reviewed for candidates to convert to SSIS during the upgrade. The old DTS packages could also be converted as time permits after the upgrade.

DTS Packages can be run and edited in SSMS as long as the Backwards Compatibility and DTS Designer components from the Sql Server 2005 Feature Pack have been installed. It is available for SQL Server 2005 SP2 here, SQL Server 2005 SP3 here and SQL Server 2008 SP1 here.

The two features that are missing from SSMS are the ability to create a new package from scratch and the detailed list of DTS packages which are available in Enterprise Manager. The lack of these two features in SSMS requires a copy of Enterprise Manager to be available and the continued use of Windows XP since Sql Server 2000 is not compatible with Vista and later versions of Windows.

In order to address these missing features, I have created a new utility and two custom reports for SSMS.

The utility is Create DTS Package. It will create an empty DTS package in a structure storage file or SQL Server.

Create DTS Package creates a blank DTS package and saves it in as a structured storage file or in a SQL Server.

Enter the name of the new package in the Package name text box.

If the package storage destination is a structured storage file, enter the full path in the File Name text box and click on the Save To File button.

If the package storage destination is a sql server, choose the authentication, enter the server name in the Server text box, provide the credentials and click on the Save To Sql Server button.

Create DTS Package is an HTA application.

Create DTS Package has eliminated the need for the Enterprise Manager installation in a SQL Server 2005/2008 environment that still needs to support DTS packages.

Create DTS Package will run on both 32(x86) and 64(x64) bit installations.

Create DTS Package could also be modified to add a standard group of objects for your organization to create a package template.

The source code for Create DTS Package is available for download here (right click the link and click Save Target As…\Save Link As..) or here for a listing of the source code (trying to save an hta is causing security violations for some people).

The Package Summary custom report recreates the Local Packages view from Enterprise Manager in SSMS.

In order to support mixed DTS/SSIS environments, the report shows both types of packages.

Since this custom report does not require any object inputs, it can be run from anywhere in the SSMS Object Explorer.

The SQL Server 2005 version is available here (right click the link and click Save Target As…\Save Link As..).

The SQL Server 2008 version is available here (right click the link and click Save Target As…\Save Link As..).

The download page for SSIS-DTS Package search presents three choices:

• SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2000 on Windows x86
• SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2005 on Windows x86
• SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2008 on Windows x86

Although there are really only two different versions of the executable, I wanted to give a SQL Server 2000 choice to make it clear that DTS is still supported. Actually both versions support DTS packages. The reason for the two versions is to match the SQL Server client tools installed for the newer SQL Server releases, 2005 and 2008 respectively.

SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2000 on Windows x86 is the version that supports SQL Server 2000 DTS packages. There is not a version that only supports DTS packages. This choice will download SSIS-DTS Pacakge Search for SQL Server 2005. It will install and run with out issue on a computer that only has the SQL Server 2000 client tools installed.

SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2005 on Windows x86 is the version that supports SQL Server 2000 DTS packages and SQL Server 2005 SSIS packages. This version can be installed on a computer that has both the SQL Server 2000 client tools and the SQL Server 2005 client tools. It can also be installed on a computer with only the SQL Server 2005 client tools and support DTS as long as the Backward Compatibility components are installed.

SSIS-DTS Package Search for SQL Server 2008 on Windows x86 is the version that supports SQL Server 2000 DTS packages, SQL Server 2005 SSIS packages and SQL Server 2008 SSIS packages. This version can be installed on a computer that has both the SQL Server 2000 client tools and the SQL Server 2008 client tools. It can also be installed on a computer with only the SQL Server 2008 client tools and support DTS as long as the SQL Server 2005 Backward Compatibility components are installed.

IS DTS dead?

No.

The reasons:

The huge installed base of Sql Server 2000, some of which may never be upgraded.
The huge number of DTS packages that have already been written, some of which will never be converted to Integration Services.
The continued support for DTS in Sql Server 2005 and 2008.
The Execute DTS 2000 Package Task in Integration Services.
The ability to upgrade to Sql Server 2005 and leave the DTS infrastructure untouched.
The popularity of DTS Package Search.

How is DTS living in your organization?