Variables Window
Use the Variables window to create and modify user-defined variables and view system variables.
By default, the Variables window is located below the Connection Managers area in the SSIS Designer, in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). If you don't see the Variables window, click Variables on the SSIS menu to display the window.
You can optionally display the Variables window by mapping the View.Variables command to a key combination of your choosing on the Keyboard page of the Options dialog box.
Note
The values of the Name and Namespace properties must begin with an alphabetic character letter as defined by the Unicode Standard 2.0, or an underscore (_). Subsequent characters can be letters or numbers as defined in the Unicode Standard 2.0, or the underscore (_).
Options
Add Variable
Add a user-defined variable.
Move Variable
Click a variable in the list, and then click Move Variable to change the variable scope. In the Select New Scope dialog box, select the package or a container, task, or event handler in the package, to change the variable scope.
For more information about variable scope, see Integration Services (SSIS) Variables.
Delete Variable
Select a variable from the list, and then click Delete Variable.
Grid Options
Click to open the Variable Grid Options dialog box where you can change the column selection and apply filters to the Variables window. For more information, see Variable Grid Options.
Name
View the variable name. You can update the name for user-defined variables.
Scope
View the scope of the variable. A variable has either the scope of the entire package, or the scope of a container or task. The scope of the variable must be sufficient so that the variable is visible to any other tasks or components that need to read or set its value.
You can change the scope by clicking the variable and then clicking Move Variable in the Variables window.
Data Type
View the data type of the variable. You can select a data type from the list for user-defined variables.
Note
If you assign an expression to the variable, you cannot change the data type.
Value
View the variable value. You can update the value for user-defined variables. This value can be a literal or an expression, and the value can be a multi-line string. To assign an expression to the variable, click the ellipse button that is next to the Expression column in the Variables window.
Namespace
View the namespace name. User-defined variables are initially created in the User namespace, but you can change the namespace name in the Namespace field. To display this column, click Grid Options.
Raise Change Event
Indicate whether to raise the OnVariableValueChanged event when a value changes. You can update the value for user-defined and system variables. By default, the Variables window does not list this column. To display this column, click Grid Options.
Description
View the variable description. You can change the description for user-defined variables. By default, the Variables window does not list this column. To display this column, click Grid Options.
Expression
View the expression assigned to the variable. To assign an expression, click the ellipse button.
If you assign an expression to a variable, a special icon marker displays next to the variable. This special icon marker also displays next to connection managers and tasks that have expressions set on them.
See Also
Integration Services (SSIS) Variables
Use Variables in Packages
Integration Services (SSIS) Expressions
Generating Dump Files for Package Execution