From the Author
The inclusion of DTS makes SQL Server a more powerful platform for data warehousing and other uses as an enterprise database. DTS in SQL Server 2000 provides much more functionality and convenience than DTS in SQL Server 7.0.
The Transform Data task gives you a convenient, flexible, and fast method to move data. This task gives you control of each row of data. At the same time, the Transform Data task can use an extremely fast bulk insert to load batches of records at a time into SQL Server.
What do you have to know in order to begin using DTS?
Not much. You can use the DTS Import/Export Wizard and easily create a DTS package.
But to really be effective with DTS, you need to learn about DTS packages, connections, tasks, and steps. You need to be able to combine the set-oriented logic of SQL with the programmatic logic of a scripting language. You need to learn the wealth of possibilities provided by the 21 different built-in tasks.
My book tells you the purpose for each of the tasks and its properties. I have also provided numerous code samples to help you get started with your scripts and programming. You can do a lot with DTS without buying a book about it. But I hope my book can help you learn how to use this great tool more quickly and more effectively.
One note - the text of the book refers repeatedly to a CD, which was not included with the book. All the source code is available on the publisher's web site. The source code includes a version of the Local Cube Task, a custom DTS task that can be used to automate the creation of local cube files from an Analysis Services cube. You can find a current version of the task on the localcubetask web site. You can also sign up on the web site to receive code updates and new insights into using DTS.
From the Inside Flap
MASTER DTS CONCEPTS AND BUILD DTS APPLICATIONS:
Use Data Transformation Services (DTS) with a variety of data sources.
Write scripts to customize data transformations
Integrate DTS with XML.
Design data marts and load them with DTS.
Integrate DTS with VB applications.
Use the DTS wizards for rapid development of DTS packages.
Integrate DTS with the OLAP and data mining capabilities of Analysis Services.
Use the transformation tasks, data movement tasks, and control tasks.
Control the flow of events and set up looping in your DTS packages.
Use the multiple phases of the transformation tasks.
Manipulate hierarchical rowsets with the Parallel Data Pump task.
Manage packages with Visual Basic and Transact-SQL stored procedures.
Handle package and transformation errors.
Develop high-performance DTS packages.
Integrate DTS with Meta Data Services.
Create custom tasks in Visual Basic.
Create custom transformations in Visual C++.
