FIX: Changing the Number of Columns in a DTS File Connection May Cause Error (244273)

SYMPTOMS

When changing the number of columns defined for a fixed field text file connection in a Data Transformation Services (DTS) package, the package may fail with the following error:

Package Error
Error Source: Microsoft Data Transformation Services Flat File Rowset Provider
Error Description: Number of column in the COLUMNLENGTHS property does not match with the NUMBEROFCOLUMN property.

The validation test can be disabled by setting the NUMBEROFCOLUMN property for the text file connection to 0 (zero). To modify this property, do the following:

Use the ScriptPkg utility to script out the code for the affected package.
Change the NUMBEROFCOLUMN property for the file connection to be 0 (zero).
Run the code from Visual Basic to re-create the package.

For details on the ScriptPkg utility, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

239454 INF: ScriptPkg Tool Generates DTS Object Model Code

CAUSE

DTS cross checks the NUMBEROFCOLUMN and COLUMNLENGTHS properties of a text file for consistency. The NUMBEROFCOLUMN property for the connection is not updated when the text file properties are modified. Thus, the validation test fails.

NOTE: This problem only occurs if the file connection was originally created by the DTS Wizard.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 7.0. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

254561 INF: How to Obtain Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0