Error at Data Flow Task 1 [Add FullName Column [291]]: The expression "[FirstName]+""+" on "output column "Derived Column 1" (442)" is not valid.

Question

Hello

I am trying to complete the SISS tutorial given on the Microsoft Server developer website. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms365300.aspx.

I am following the instructions according to the above link. I dragged the column 'FirstName' from the column folder in the Derived ColumnTransformation Editor to the area labelled 'Expression' as directed in the tutorial. I then edited the information within the 'Expression' tab to '[FirstName]+""+ ' as directed in the tutorial, but I keep getting the following errors:

Error at Data Flow Task 1[Add FullName Column [291]]: Cannot parse the expression "[FirstName]+""+". The expression was not valid, or there is an out-of-memory error.

Error at Data Flow Task 1 [Add FullName Column [291]]: Attempt to parse the expression "[FirstName]+""+" failed. The expression might contain an invalid token, an incomplete token, or an invalid element. It might not be well-formed, or might be missing part of a required element such as a parenthesis.

Error at Data Flow Task 1 [Add FullName Column [291]]: The expression "[FirstName]+""+" on "output column "Derived Column 1" (442)" is not valid.

Error at Data Flow Task 1 [Add FullName Column [291]]: Failed to set property "Expression" on "output column "Derived Column 1" (442)".

(Microsoft Visual Studio)

Some please help me to understand what my error is and how I can move on. Thanks

Answer 1

The instructions are to build an expression by concatenating several column values with some strings. Do not attempt to accept the expression until you have finished building it. Alternatively, you can just copy and paste the full expression as provided in the MSDN article.

FirstName + " " + (ISNULL([MiddleInitial]) ? "" : [MiddleInitial] + " ") + [LastName]

Please let us know if you are still having difficulty.

Welcome to the world of SSIS! It's not as easy as it first looks, and admittedly it can be a bit frustrating at times, but I love it! And (since changing jobs in December) I miss it. It's a great tool with great power. I hope you enjoy it.

Answer 2

As Tom mentioned, you need to complete the expression. The + sign signifies that you are trying to concatenate or join two strings together. In your posting you mentioned that you got as far as:

[FirstName]+""+

So what's happening is that the first + is appending the space enclosed in the quotes to the FirstName, the second + sign is saying now append something to the end of the FirstName and space, but there isn't anything following the + so the expression is incomplete. As you add the other strings and expressions to the expression you are building, the error should be fixed.

Error at Data Flow Task 1 [Add FullName Column [291]]: The expression "[FirstName]+""+" on "output column "Derived Column 1" (442)" is not valid.

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