Automated Data Replication (Salesforce) with SQL SSIS and BIML
Tags: ssis, csharp, biml, sql
Published: 2019-11-19 13:32:56

This article demonstrates how to use Biml with custom SSIS components to dynamically build SSIS tasks (one for each Salesforce entity) to replicate Salesforce data to a Microsoft SQL Server database.

Using SQL Server as a backup for critical business data provides an essential safety net against loss. It enables business users to more easily connect that data with features like reporting, analytics, and more. Biml is an XML dialect that can be used to create Microsoft SQL Server BI objects, like SSIS packages. Pairing Custom SSIS Components with Biml empowers you to quickly build SSIS packages with access to data from sources outside of standard SSIS connectivity, like Salesforce. Key benefits include:

* **Built-in metadata discovery** — Many custom SSIS components expose metadata just like working with SQL Server, even dynamically generating schema for schema-less data sources
* **Dynamic SSIS task generation** — Use code nuggets in Biml to build SSIS tasks by iterating over discovered metadata
* **Read from and write to external sources** — Native source and destination components make external data look just like a database

This article demonstrates how to use Biml with custom SSIS components to dynamically build SSIS tasks (one for each Salesforce entity) to replicate Salesforce data to a Microsoft SQL Server database. We step through the Biml file one section at a time but have included the complete Biml file at the end of the article. While this article uses [CData SSIS Components](https://www.cdata.com/drivers/salesforce/ssis?utm_source=devto&utm_campaign=developer), the principles for task generation apply to any custom SSIS component.

##Getting Started

To use Biml in an SSIS Project in Visual Studio, install BimlExpress. Once you install BimlExpress, open Visual Studio, create a new Integration Services project and add a new Biml file.

![](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/c0ow7pbj482mw18ypjt7.png)

##Building the Biml File

With Biml, you can write scripting to generate SSIS projects, packages, and tasks dynamically. To see the Biml file for an existing project (and gain insights on using Biml with any custom SSIS tasks in your project), create your tasks, and then right-click the project and select Convert SSIS Packages to Biml.

###C# Code

1. Use directives `<#@ .. #>` to import necessary namespaces and the assembly for the CData SSIS Components for Salesforce.

    ```csharp
    <#@ template language="C#" hostspecific="true"#>
    <#@ import namespace="System.Data"#>
    <#@ import namespace="System.IO"#>
    <#@ import namespace="System.Collections"#>
    <#@ import namespace="System.Data.CData.Salesforce"#>
    <#@ assembly name="C:\Program Files\CData\CData SSIS Components for Salesforce 2019\lib\CData.SSIS2017.Salesforce.dll"#>
    ```

2. In a new control nugget `<# ... #>`, write code to retrieve the metadata for the external data source. When using Biml, it is often common practice to work with metadata stored in a database. In the case of CData components, you can write ADO.NET code to retrieve the metadata dynamically. First, create variables for values that will be used throughout the Biml script, including a connection string for Salesforce and structures to store the Salesforce metadata.

    ```csharp
    var salesforceConnectionString = "User=username;Password=password;SecurityToken=Your_Security_Token;";
    var replicationServer = "SERVER";
    var replicationCatalog = "CATALOG";
    var replicationUserID = "sqluser";
    var replicationPassword = "sqlpassword";
    List<string> allEntityNames = new List<string>();
    Hashtable entitySchema = new Hashtable();
    ```
3. In the same control nugget used to defined variables, use ADO.NET code to programmatically query the Salesforce entities (tables) and fields (columns).

    ```csharp
    using (SalesforceConnection connection = new SalesforceConnection(salesforceConnectionString)) {
      connection.Open();
      var entities = connection.GetSchema("Tables").Rows;
      foreach (DataRow entity in entities)
      {
        allEntityNames.Add(entity["TABLE_NAME"].ToString());
      }
      foreach (string entity in allEntityNames){
        var columns = connection.GetSchema("Columns", new string [] {entity}).Rows;
        entitySchema.Add(entity,columns);
      }
    }
    ```
    
###Class Nugget

In our Biml script to create the replication tasks, there are several places where repeated XML elements are created dynamically (mostly for columns in SSIS tasks). Instead of repeating the code, add a class nugget `<#+ ... #>` and create a helper class with methods to consolidate repeated code (full code at the end of the article).

1. Add public static variables to determine which type of XML element to create.

    ```csharp
    public static int OUTPUT_WITH_ERROR = 0;
    public static int EXTERNAL = 1;
    public static int OUTPUT = 2;
    public static int DATAOVERRIDE_COLUMN = 4;
    ```
    
2. Add a public method to build a SQL statement for use in the ExecuteSQL task used to drop existing tables and create a new table for the replicated data.

    ```csharp
    // Dynamically builds a DROP TABLE and CREATE statement
    // for each entity (table) in Salesforce using the table name and metadata.
    public static string GetDeleteAndCreateStatement(string tableName, DataRowCollection columns) {
      ...
    }
    ```
    
3. Add a public method to build the collection of column-based XML elements.

    ```csharp
    // Dynamically build various column-based XML elements
    // for each entity (table) in Salesforce based on the column 
    // metadata and the parent element
    public static string GetColumnDefs(DataRowCollection columns, int columnType){
      ...
    }
    ```
    
###Biml Script

Now that you have the table metadata and a Helper class to reduce repeated code, write the Biml script to create your replication packages dynamically.

1. Start by adding a `CustomSsisConnection` element for the custom SSIS tasks. Note that the `ObjectData` attribute must be XML encoded. A typical connecting string looks similar to the following (note the use of the `salesforceConnectionString` variable for the `ConnectionString` property:

    ```csharp
    <SalesforceConnectionManager>
      <Property Name="ConnectionString"><#=salesforceConnectionString#></Property>
    </SalesforceConnectionManager>
    ```
    
    After configuring the connection to the custom SSIS task, configure a connection to the replication database. The completed Connections element looks like the following (note the use of text nuggets <#= ... #> to add variables for connection string values):

    ```csharp
    <Connections>
      <CustomSsisConnection Name="CData Salesforce Connection Manager" CreationName = "CDATA_SALESFORCE" ObjectData = "<SalesforceConnectionManager> <Property Name="ConnectionString"> <#=salesforceConnectionString#></Property> </SalesforceConnectionManager>" />
      <Connection Name="Destination" ConnectionString="Data Source=<#=replicationServer#>;User ID=<#=replicationUserID#>;Password=<#=replicationPassword#>;Initial Catalog=<#=replicationCatalog#>;Provider=SQLNCLI11.1;"/>
    </Connections>
    ```
    
2. With the Connections element configured, you are ready to build our replication package. In the package, create an ExecuteSQL task and a Dataflow task for each table to be replicated. To build each set of tasks, use a while loop in a control nugget to iterate through the entity (table) names:

    ```csharp
    int entityCounter = 0; while(entityCounter < allEntityNames.Count){
    var tableName = allEntityNames[entityCounter].ToString();
    DataRowCollection columns = ((DataRowCollection)entitySchema[tableName]);
    ```
    
    ####ExecuteSQL Task

        In the ExecuteSQL task, execute a SQL query to drop any existing tables that have the same name as our Salesforce entity (table) and create a new table based on the metadata discovered using the CData SSIS Component. To create the query dynamically, use the Helper.GetDeleteAndCreateStatement() helper function.

    ####Dataflow Task
    
        Within the Dataflow task use a CustomComponent as the source component and an OleDbDestination as the destination.

    #####CustomComponent Element

        The CustomComponent element uses the CData SSIS Source component to retrieve Salesforce data. Start by configuring the component to use with the CData component.

    ```xml
    <CustomComponent Name="CData Salesforce Source" ComponentTypeName="CData.SSIS.Salesforce.SalesforceSource" Version="18" ContactInfo="support@cdata.com" UsesDispositions="true">
    ...
    </CustomComponent>
    ```
            
    #####DataflowOverrides and OutputPaths Elements

        The next step after configuring the connection is to add Columns elements to the OutputPath child element of the DataflowOverrides element. To do so, call the Helper.GetColumnDefs() helper function. Use the same Helper class to add columns to the OutputColumns and ExternalColumns child elements of the various OutputPaths elements. The definitions created provide information about the input, output, and error information for the SSIS component.

    ```xml
    <DataflowOverrides>
         <OutputPath OutputPathName="CData Salesforce Source Output">
            <Columns>
        <#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.DATAOVERRIDE_COLUMN) #>
            </Columns>
          </OutputPath>
        </DataflowOverrides>
        ...
        <OutputPaths>
          <OutputPath Name="CData Salesforce Source Output">
            <OutputColumns>
        <#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.OUTPUT_WITH_ERROR) #>
            </OutputColumns>
            <ExternalColumns>
        <#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.EXTERNAL) #>
            </ExternalColumns>
          </OutputPath>
          <OutputPath Name="CData Salesforce Source Error Output" IsErrorOutput="true">
            <OutputColumns>
        <#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.OUTPUT) #      
            </OutputColumns>
          </OutputPath>
        </OutputPaths>
    ```
            
    #####CustomProperties Element

        Custom components typically have a custom configuration interface, with a series of required `CustomProperties`:

    ```xml
    <CustomProperties>
      <CustomProperty Name="SQLStatement" DataType="Null" UITypeEditor="Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls.ModalMultilineStringEditor, Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls, Version= 10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91" SupportsExpression="true"></CustomProperty>
      <CustomProperty Name="AccessMode" DataType="Int32" TypeConverter="CData.SSIS.Salesforce.AccessModeToStringConverter">0</CustomProperty>
      <CustomProperty Name="TableOrView" DataType="String" UITypeEditor="Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls.ModalMultilineStringEditor, Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls, Version= 10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91" SupportsExpression="true">[<#=tableName#>]</CustomProperty>
      <CustomProperty Name="ExecStoredProcedure" DataType="Boolean">false</CustomProperty>
    </CustomProperties>
    ```
            
    #####Connections Element

        The last element to add to the `CustomComponent` element is a `Connections` element, attaching the previously defined connection to the task:

    ```xml
    <Connections>
      <Connection Name="Salesforce 2018 Connection" ConnectionName="CData Salesforce Connection Manager" />
    </Connections>
    ```
            
    ####OleDbDestination Element

        The final piece of the Dataflow task is the `OleDbDestination` element. Attach the previously defined `OleDbConnection` to the element, set the `InputPath` and `ExternalTableOutput`:

    ```xml
    <OleDbDestination Name="OLE DB Destination" ConnectionName="Destination" CheckConstraints="false">
      <InputPath OutputPathName="CData Salesforce Source.CData Salesforce Source Output" />
      <ExternalTableOutput Table="[<#=tableName#>]" />
    </OleDbDestination>
    ```
            
3. Use a control nugget to increment the counter used to iterate over the collection of entity (table) names. Do this within the Tasks element, after the end of the Dataflow element:

    ```XML
    ...
              </Dataflow>          
    <# entityCounter++;}#>
            </Tasks>
        </Package>
      </Packages>
    </Biml>
    ```
        
##Build the SSIS Project

Once the Biml file is complete, right-click on the Biml file in Server Explorer and select Generate SSIS Packages. At this point, Visual Studio and BimlExpress will translate the Biml file into SSIS package(s), ready to be run.

![](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/fbj6ol3lun36ehbcrcgk.png)

Run the package to begin replicating your Salesforce data to a SQL Server database (or any other destination you choose).

##Complete Biml File

```csharp
<#@ template language="C#" hostspecific="true"#>
<#@ import namespace="System.Data"#>
<#@ import namespace="System.IO"#>
<#@ import namespace="System.Collections"#>
<#@ import namespace="System.Data.CData.Salesforce"#>
<#@ assembly name="C:\Program Files\CData\CData SSIS Components for Salesforce 2018\lib\CData.SSIS2017.Salesforce.dll"#>
<#
var salesforceConnectionString = ""User=username;Password=password;SecurityToken=Your_Security_Token;";
var replicationServer = "JDG";
var replicationCatalog = "BIML";
var replicationUserID = "sqltest";
var replicationPassword = "sqltest";
List<string> allEntityNames = new List<string>();
Hashtable entitySchema = new Hashtable();
using (SalesforceConnection connection = new SalesforceConnection(salesforceConnectionString)) {
    connection.Open();
    var entities = connection.GetSchema("Tables").Rows;
    foreach (DataRow entity in entities)
    {
        allEntityNames.Add(entity["TABLE_NAME"].ToString());
    }
    foreach (string entity in allEntityNames){
        var columns = connection.GetSchema("Columns", new string [] {entity}).Rows;
        entitySchema.Add(entity,columns);
    }
}#>
<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
  <Connections>
    <CustomSsisConnection Name="CData Salesforce Connection Manager" CreationName="CDATA_SALESFORCE" ObjectData="<SalesforceConnectionManager><Property Name="ConnectionString"><#=salesforceConnectionString#></Property></SalesforceConnectionManager>"/>
    <Connection Name="Destination" ConnectionString="Data Source=<#=replicationServer#>;User ID=<#=replicationUserID#>;Password=<#=replicationPassword#>;Initial Catalog=<#=replicationCatalog#>;Provider=SQLNCLI11.1;"/>
  </Connections>
  <Packages>
    <Package Name="Replicate Salesforce Package" Language="None" ConstraintMode="LinearOnCompletion" ProtectionLevel="EncryptSensitiveWithUserKey">
      <Tasks>
<# int entityCounter = 0; while(entityCounter < allEntityNames.Count){
   var tableName = allEntityNames[entityCounter].ToString();
   if (tableName.Equals("IdpEventLog")) break;
   DataRowCollection columns = ((DataRowCollection)entitySchema[tableName]);#>
        <ExecuteSQL Name="Create <#=tableName#> Replication Table" ConnectionName="Destination">
          <DirectInput>
<#=HelperClass.GetDeleteAndCreateStatement(tableName,columns)#>
          </DirectInput>
        </ExecuteSQL>
        <Dataflow Name="Replicate <#=tableName#>">
          <Transformations>
            <CustomComponent Name="CData Salesforce Source" ComponentTypeName="CData.SSIS.Salesforce.SalesforceSource" Version="18" ContactInfo="support@cdata.com" UsesDispositions="true">
              <DataflowOverrides>
                <OutputPath OutputPathName="CData Salesforce Source Output">
                  <Columns>
<#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.DATAOVERRIDE_COLUMN) #>
                  </Columns>
                </OutputPath>
              </DataflowOverrides>
              <CustomProperties>
                <CustomProperty Name="SQLStatement" DataType="Null" UITypeEditor="Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls.ModalMultilineStringEditor, Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls, Version= 10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91" SupportsExpression="true"></CustomProperty>
                <CustomProperty Name="AccessMode" DataType="Int32" TypeConverter="CData.SSIS.Salesforce.AccessModeToStringConverter">0</CustomProperty>
                <CustomProperty Name="TableOrView" DataType="String" UITypeEditor="Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls.ModalMultilineStringEditor, Microsoft.DataTransformationServices.Controls, Version= 10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91" SupportsExpression="true">[<#=tableName#>]</CustomProperty>
                <CustomProperty Name="ExecStoredProcedure" DataType="Boolean">false</CustomProperty>
              </CustomProperties>
              <OutputPaths>
                <OutputPath Name="CData Salesforce Source Output">
                  <OutputColumns>
<#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.OUTPUT_WITH_ERROR) #>
                  </OutputColumns>
                  <ExternalColumns>
<#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.EXTERNAL) #>
                  </ExternalColumns>
                </OutputPath>
                <OutputPath Name="CData Salesforce Source Error Output" IsErrorOutput="true">
                  <OutputColumns>
<#=HelperClass.GetColumnDefs(columns,HelperClass.OUTPUT) #>                     
                  </OutputColumns>
                </OutputPath>
              </OutputPaths>
              <Connections>
                <Connection Name="Salesforce 2018 Connection" ConnectionName="CData Salesforce Connection Manager" />
              </Connections>
            </CustomComponent>
            <OleDbDestination Name="OLE DB Destination" ConnectionName="Destination" CheckConstraints="false">
              <InputPath OutputPathName="CData Salesforce Source.CData Salesforce Source Output" />
              <ExternalTableOutput Table="[<#=tableName#>]" />
            </OleDbDestination>
          </Transformations>
        </Dataflow>          
<# entityCounter++;}#>
      </Tasks>
    </Package>
  </Packages>
</Biml>
<#+
public static class HelperClass {
    
    public static int OUTPUT_WITH_ERROR = 0;
    public static int EXTERNAL = 1;
    public static int OUTPUT = 2;
    public static int DATAOVERRIDE_COLUMN = 4;
    
    public static string GetDeleteAndCreateStatement(string tableName, DataRowCollection columns) {
        var dropAndCreateStatement = 
            "IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[{0}]') AND type IN (N'U'))\r\n" + 
            "DROP TABLE [{0}];\r\n" + 
            "CREATE TABLE [{0}]\r\n" + 
            "(\r\n" + 
            "{1}\r\n" + 
            ")\r\n" + 
            "ON \"default\";";
        string columnDefs = "";
        foreach (DataRow column in columns){
            string columnDef = "    [{0}] {1}";
            string dataType = column["DATA_TYPE"].ToString();
            if (dataType.ToLower().StartsWith("bool")) {
                dataType = "bit";
            } else if (dataType.ToLower().Equals("real")) {
                dataType = "float";
            } else if (dataType.ToLower().Contains("varchar")) {
                var columnLength = column["CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH"];
                dataType = "nvarchar(" + ((int)columnLength > 4000 ? "MAX" : columnLength) + ")";         
            } 
            columnDefs += String.Format(columnDef,column["COLUMN_NAME"],dataType) + ",\r\n";
            
        }
        columnDefs = columnDefs.Remove(columnDefs.LastIndexOf(",\r\n"),",\r\n".Length);
        return String.Format(dropAndCreateStatement,tableName,columnDefs);
    }
    
    public static string GetColumnDefs(DataRowCollection columns, int columnType){
        var columnDefTemplate = "";
        var columnElements = "";
        
        if (columnType == DATAOVERRIDE_COLUMN) {
            columnDefTemplate = "                      <Column ErrorRowDisposition=\"FailComponent\" TruncationRowDisposition=\"FailComponent\" ColumnName=\"{0}\" />\r\n";
            foreach(DataRow column in columns) {
                var columnName = column["COLUMN_NAME"];
                columnElements += String.Format(columnDefTemplate,columnName);
            }
            return columnElements;
        } 
        if (columnType == OUTPUT_WITH_ERROR)
            columnDefTemplate = "                      <OutputColumn Name=\"{0}\" {1} ExternalMetadataColumnName=\"{0}\" ErrorRowDisposition=\"FailComponent\" TruncationRowDisposition=\"FailComponent\" />\r\n";
        else if (columnType == EXTERNAL)
            columnDefTemplate = "                      <ExternalColumn Name=\"{0}\" {1} />\r\n";
        else if (columnType == OUTPUT)
            columnDefTemplate = "                      <OutputColumn Name=\"{0}\" {1} />\r\n";
        
        foreach(DataRow column in columns){ 
            var columnName = column["COLUMN_NAME"];
            var dataTypeRaw = column["DATA_TYPE"].ToString().ToLower();
            var typeAndRelatedInfo = "";
            if (dataTypeRaw.Equals("bool")) {
                typeAndRelatedInfo = "DataType=\"Boolean\"";
            } else if (dataTypeRaw.Equals("date")) {
                typeAndRelatedInfo = "DataType=\"Date\" SsisDataTypeOverride=\"DT_DBDATE\"";
            } else if (dataTypeRaw.Equals("datetime")) {
                typeAndRelatedInfo = "DataType=\"DateTime\"";
            } else if (dataTypeRaw.Equals("real")) {
                typeAndRelatedInfo = ((int)column["NumericPrecision"] > 0 ? "Precision=\"18\" " : " ") + ((int)column["NumericScale"] > 0 ? "Scale=\"15\" " : " ") + "DataType=\"Decimal\"";
            } else if (dataTypeRaw.Equals("varchar")) {
                var columnLength = column["CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH"];
                if ((int)columnLength > 4000) {
                    typeAndRelatedInfo = "DataType=\"String\"";
                } else {
                    typeAndRelatedInfo = "Length=\"" + columnLength + "\" DataType=\"String\" CodePage=\"1252\"";
                }
            }
            columnElements += String.Format(columnDefTemplate,columnName,typeAndRelatedInfo);
        }
        return columnElements;
    }
}
#>
```