Hello all. We have a Transform Data Task (TDT) that pulls in data from one
source and inserts it into a table with the same #/type of columns in SQL
Server 2K. However, one field has extra spaces at start and we'd like to run
LTrim() on it. Our TDT is straightforward mapping of the columns from the
source to the destination. How would we accomplish the LTrim() without doing
a SQL query? Thanks.

1. Set up your DTS task normally, with default transformation mappings.
2. On the Transformations tab, delete the mapping (it's a "Copy Column"
by default) for the column that needs LTRIMming (click on that line and hit
the "delete" button).
3. If the two columns involved don't remain highlighted, click on each of
them to highlight them, then click the "new" button.
4. This brings up a menu of choices called "Create New Transformation".
You should probably pick "Trim String" and click "OK".
5. This brings up your "Transformation Options" for this transformation.
Click "Properties" and select the type of trimming you want ("trim leading
white space").
6. OK out of there.

You could also do this as an ActivX Script-type transformation but that's a
little messier and there's no need for it here.

"dw" <cougarmana_NOSPAM (AT) uncw (DOT) edu> wrote

Why don't you want to do the "LTRIM(<colname>) as <colname>" in a source
query?

Without doing a SQL Query?

You can accomplish this in a ActiveX transform. The only downside to
this is that it is Row * Row processing whereas being able to do it in
the SQL Query would be much better.


Allan Mitchell (Microsoft SQL Server MVP)
MCSE,MCDBA
www.SQLDTS.com
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Thanks, DHatheway and Allan Mitchell. The "Trim String" is so easy to set up
as a new transformation; never realized that was there. Thanks :-)

"DHatheway" <dlhatheway (AT) mmm (DOT) com.nospam> wrote