BIML Package Generator

Note: Varigence has stopped providing Biml for BI Developer Extensions so these features are deprecated. Instead install BimlExpress.

The Biml Package Generator provides the ability to create packages from Business Intelligence Markup Language (Biml). Biml is an XML-based language that allows you to describe your BI solution in a declarative fashion, similarly to using HTML to describe how a web page should appear. In addition, you can embed BimlScript (C# or VB.NET code) into Biml, in the same way that ASP.NET works with HTML. This allows for large numbers of packages to be created with a minimal amount of code.

For examples of using Biml, please see the samples and tutorials page.

To add a Biml file to the project, right-click on the project, or on the Data Sources, Data Source Views, or SSIS Packages folders. The context menu will have an Add New Biml File menu opton. This will add a Biml file to the Miscellaneous folder in the project.

Opening the Biml file will launch Visual Studio’s XML editor, with Intellisense for the Biml language. If Intellisense is not working, see Manually Configuring Biml Package Generator. To learn more about the Biml language, right-click on the .biml file and choose Learn More About Biml from the context menu.

Here’s a simple example of Biml code to create a package that contains a data flow:

<Biml xmlns="http://schemas.varigence.com/biml.xsd">
    <Packages>
        <Package Name="MyTestPackage" ConstraintMode="Linear" AutoCreateConfigurationsType="None">
            <Tasks>
                <Dataflow Name="My Data Flow">
                </Dataflow>
            </Tasks>
        </Package>
    </Packages>
</Biml>

After adding Biml code to a file, it can be checked for errors by choosing the Check Biml for Errors option from the context menu.

A Biml file can be expanded into one or more SSIS packages by choosing Expand Biml File from the menu. Expanding a file will automatically run an error check.

If the Biml file was expanded successfully, it will be added to the SSIS Packages folder in the project.

The Biml Package Generator is a plugin that leverages the Biml compiler from Varigence. For more information on exactly what the free version of Biml in BI Developer Extensions supports, see the Biml FAQ.