SQL Server Books Online (BOL), which you can download, has
extensive information about using DTS, so you might consider
starting there. If you are using SQL Server as your database, I
consider having access to BOL as a very good idea.
DTS Import/Export Wizard
Of all the Data Transformation Services (DTS) tools, the DTS
Import/Export Wizard provides the simplest method of copying data
between OLE DB data sources.
After connecting to the source and destination, you can
select the data to import or export and apply transformations to
the data being copied (for example, by selecting columns or using
Microsoft® ActiveX® scripts). In many cases, you can
automatically copy primary and foreign key constraints along with
the source data.
Note You can copy data that results from an SQL query. SQL
queries can include joins of multiple tables from the same database
or distributed queries. As part of the process, the DTS
Import/Export Wizard creates the destination table for you
automatically if none exists.
Available Data Sources
With the DTS Import/Export Wizard, you can connect to the
following data sources:
Most OLE DB and ODBC data sources, as well as user-specified
OLE DB data sources.
Text files.
Other connections to one or more instances of Microsoft SQL
Serverâ„¢.
Oracle and Informix databases.
You must have the Oracle or Informix client software
installed.
Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Microsoft Access and Microsoft FoxPro® databases.
dBase or Paradox databases.
For more information, see DTS Connections.
Transforming Data
In addition to copying data, you can transform column-level
data with an ActiveX scripting language such as Microsoft Visual
Basic® Scripting Edition (VBScript) or Microsoft
JScript®. For more information, see DTS Transformations,
Transform Data Task, and Using ActiveX Scripts in DTS.
Copying Database Objects
With the DTS Import/Export Wizard, you can transfer database
objects such as indexes, views, roles, stored procedures, and
referential integrity constraints. For more information, see Copy
SQL Server Objects Task.
Saving DTS Packages
After you complete the DTS Import/Export Wizard, you can save
the connections, transformations, and scheduling information as a
DTS package. The package can be saved:
To the SQL Server msdb database.
To SQL Server 2000 Meta Data Services.
As a structured storage file (.dts file).
As a Visual Basic file.
You can run the package immediately or schedule it for later
execution.
For more information, see Saving a DTS Package and
Scheduling a DTS Package for Execution.
Editing Packages
If you create a package with the DTS Import/Export Wizard and
then save it, you can edit it in DTS Designer. Using DTS Designer,
you can customize the basic package you created in the DTS
Import/Export Wizard, adding steps, tasks, transformations,
event-driven logic, and configuring workflow. For more information,
see DTS Designer.
Phil