Biml for Beginners: Script and Automate SSIS development (SQLSaturday Finland)

Biml for Beginners:
Script and Automate
SSIS Development
Cathrine Wilhelmsen
SQLSaturday Finland · May 12th 2018

© 2018 Cathrine Wilhelmsen (contact@cathrinewilhelmsen.net)
Session Description
Are you tired of creating and updating the same SSIS packages again and again? Is your wrist hurting
from all that clicking, dragging, dropping, connecting and aligning? Do you want to take the next step and
really speed up your SSIS development?
Say goodbye to repetitive work and hello to Biml, the markup language for Business Intelligence projects.
In this session we will look at the basics of Biml. First learn how to use Biml to generate SSIS packages
from database metadata. Then see how you can reuse code to implement changes in multiple SSIS
packages and projects with just a few clicks. Finally, we will create an example project that you can
download and start with to speed up your SSIS development from day one.
Stop wasting your valuable time on doing the same things over and over and over again, and see how
you can complete in a day what once took more than a week!

Biml Basics Tools & Code
SQL and SSIS from Metadata
…the next 60 minutes…

Cathrine Wilhelmsen
@cathrinew cathrinew.net
Data Warehouse & Business Intelligence Consultant

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

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

job done!
new standards
…yay
Ever experienced this?

It's time for a change!

What is Biml?
Business Intelligence Markup Language
Easy to read and write XML language
Describes business intelligence objects:
• Databases, Schemas, Tables, Views, Columns
• SSIS Packages
• SSAS and Azure Data Factory *

Why use Biml?
SSIS: Plumbing Biml: Business Logic

SSIS: Plumbing
Spend time on dragging, dropping, connecting, aligning
Create the same package over and over again with minor changes
Standards, patterns and templates must be defined up-front
Changes must be done in every single package
Higher risk of manual errors
More packages, more time

Biml: Business Logic
Spend time on what is unique in a package
Create a pattern once and reuse for all similar packages
Handle scope and requirement changes quickly and easily
Changes can be applied to all packages at once
Lower risk of manual errors
Longer time to start, but then automate and reuse

Will Biml solve all your challenges?
Biml is a tool for generating SSIS packages
Biml is not a pre-defined Data Warehouse framework
Biml is not a tool for automating deployment

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

What if you don't have 100+ packages?
Source Control: Keep track of actual logic changes
Simplify: Untangle complex packages for quick edits
SQL Scripts: Use Biml instead of dynamic T-SQL

How does SSIS development work?

How does Biml development work?

What do you need?

BimlExpress
Free add-in for Visual Studio
Code editor with syntax highlighting and Biml Intellisense
More frequent updates than BIDS Helper
varigence.com/bimlexpress

BimlStudio
Licensed full-featured development environment for Biml
Visual designer and metadata modeling
Full-stack automation and transformers
varigence.com/bimlstudio

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

Biml syntax: Root Element
<Packages>
</Packages>
</Biml>

Biml syntax: Collections of Elements
<Packages>
</Packages>
</Biml>

Biml syntax: Elements
<Packages>
</Packages>
</Biml>

Biml syntax: Attributes
<Packages>
</Packages>
</Biml>

Biml syntax: Full vs. Shorthand Syntax
<Packages>
</Packages>
</Biml>

DEMO
Let's generate
some packages!

Add New Biml File from BimlExpress menu…

…or right-click on SSIS project to Add New Biml File

Biml files are placed under Miscellaneous

Check Biml For Errors from BimlExpress menu…

…or right-click on file to Check Biml For Errors

Generate SSIS Packages from BimlExpress menu…

…or right-click on file to Generate SSIS Packages

From Biml to SSIS: Control Flow
<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>

From Biml to SSIS: Data Flow
<Transformations>
<OleDbSource Name="Source" ConnectionName="Source">
<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>

Ok, so we can go from Biml to SSIS…

…can we go from SSIS to Biml?

DEMO
Let's convert some
SSIS to Biml!

Convert SSIS to Biml in BimlExpress 2018

Select Package or project…

…import, filter and add to project

The magic is in the…

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
Generate, control and manipulate Biml code

BimlScript Code Blocks
<# … #> Control Block (Variables and logic)
<#= … #> Text Block (Returns string)
<#@ … #> Directive (Compiler instructions)
<#+ … #> Class Block (C# classes and methods)
<#* … *#> Comment Block (Disable BimlScript)

BimlScript Syntax
<# var con = SchemaManager.CreateConnectionNode(...); #>
<# var metadata = con.GetDatabaseSchema(); #>
<Packages>
<# foreach (var table in metadata.TableNodes) { #>
<Package Name="Load_<#=table.Name#>"></Package>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

BimlScript Syntax: Import metadata
<Packages>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

BimlScript Syntax: Loop over tables
<Packages>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

BimlScript Syntax: Replace static values
<Packages>
<# } #>
</Packages>
</Biml>

Biml vs. BimlScript
Generate, control and
manipulate Biml with C#
XML Language
"Just plain text"

How does it work?

Yes, but how does it work?

Yes, but how does it actually work?
<# foreach (var table in RootNode.Tables) { #>
<Package Name="Load_<#=table.Name#>" />
<# } #>
<Package Name="Load_Customer" />
<Package Name="Load_Product" />
<Package Name="Load_Sales" />

PreviewPane
The power is in the…

BimlExpress Preview Pane

DEMO
Let's generate
many packages!

Of course I can create
200 SSIS Packages!
…what do you need
me to do after lunch?

Don't Repeat Yourself
Centralize and reuse code
Update once in one file
1. Tiered Biml Files
2. Include Files
3. CallBimlScript

Tiered Biml Files
Multiple Biml Files Working Together

What are Tiered Biml Files?
Think of tiers as stacked layers or sequential steps
Tier (Layer) 1
Tier 0
Tier (Layer) 2
Tier (Step) 1 Tier (Step) 2

Tiered Biml Files
Split Biml code in multiple files to:
• Solve logical dependencies
• Build solutions in multiple steps behind the scenes
Specify the tier per file by using the template directive:
<#@ template tier="2" #>

Tiered Biml Files
Biml is compiled step-by-step from lowest to highest tier
• Biml files are implicitly tier 0
• BimlScript files are implicitly tier 1
In each tier, objects are added in-memory to RootNode
Higher tiers can call RootNode to use objects from lower tiers

Tiered Biml Files: Behind the Scenes
Connections
Load Packages
Master Package
Connections
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages

Connections
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages
Connections
Load Packages
Master Package

Connections
Admin
Source
Destination
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages
Connections
Load Packages
Master Package

Connections
Admin
Source
Destination
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages
Load_Customer
Load_Product
Load_Sales
Connections
Load Packages
Master Package

Connections
Admin
Source
Destination
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages
Load_Customer
Load_Product
Load_Sales
Master Connections
Load Packages
Master Package

Connections
Admin
Source
Destination
Databases
Schemas
Tables
Packages
Load_Customer
Load_Product
Load_Sales
Master

How do you use Tiered Biml Files?
1. Create Biml files with specified tiers
2. Select all the tiered Biml files
3. Right-click and click Generate SSIS Packages
1
2
3

Annotations
Store and Pass Metadata Between Biml Files

Annotations
Store custom metadata by attaching tags to Biml objects:
<Annotation Tag="TagName">Custom Value</Annotation>
Higher tier files can get tags from lower tier files

Annotations
Create annotations:
<OleDbConnection Name="Dest">
<Annotations>
<Annotation Tag="Schema">stg</Annotation>
</Annotations>
</OleDbConnection>
Use annotations:
RootNode.OleDbConnections["Dest"].GetTag("Schema");

Include Files
Automated Copy & Paste

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
Works like an automated Copy & Paste

Include Files

CallBimlScript
Parameterized Control over Returned Code

CallBimlScript
Control and limit the code returned
Works like a parameterized include (or stored procedure)
CallBimlScript file specifies accepted parameters:
<#@ property name="Parameter" type="String" #>
Main file calls and passes parameters:
<#=CallBimlScript("CommonCode.biml", Parameter)#>

CallBimlScript

Wait! When do you use what?
In larger projects, you often see a combination of
Tiered Biml Files, Include Files, and CallBimlScript
Rule of Thumb:
If you reuse code more than 3 times,
refactor so you Don't Repeat Yourself

Include Files
Automated Copy & Paste
Code Included As-Is
CallBimlScript
Parameterized
Control Returned Code
Tiered Biml Files
Solve Dependencies
Multi-Step Builds

DEMO
Let's put it
all together!

Biml Basics Tools & Code
SQL and SSIS from Metadata
…the past 60 minutes…

Where can you learn more?
Free online training
bimlscript.com

Where can you learn even more?
cathrinew.net/BimlBook

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

Biml on Monday…
…BimlBreak the rest
of the week!

@cathrinew
cathrinew.net
hi@cathrinew.net
Biml resources and demo files:
cathrinew.net/biml

Biml for Beginners: Script and Automate SSIS development (SQLSaturday Finland)

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