Small Pleasures

As well as adding new components and performance improvements to SQL Server Integration Services 2008, the team made some UI changes to the existing components to help increase developer productivity. It's the small things that can really make a difference when you're building your packages!

Here are a few examples of the additions:

Script Transformation

• The "Script" menu is now the first/default menu that opens up when you select Edit. So rather than pushing two buttons to actually get to the meat, you only have to push one.
• Gone are the days of having to remember the exact name, spelling, case, and namespace of your variables. Now there is a window that allows you to select which variables you want to lock for reading or writing.

Row Count Transformation

• Another variable drop-down!

OLE DB Source

• When using the Data Access mode: "SQL Command from variable", the value of the variable is now displayed beneath the variable name. No more digging in the Variable window to find your source query.

I know RC0 just came out, but I haven't the time yet to download and play with it. I promise not to post anything more based on CTP6 after this post!

Version: SQL Server 2008 CTP6