Adding Expressions to Precedence Constraints

A precedence constraint can use an expression to define the constraint between two executables: the precedence executable and the constrained executable. The executables can be tasks or containers. The expression can be used alone or in combination with the execution result of the precedence executable. The execution result of an executable is either success or failure. When you configure the execution result of a precedence constraint, you can set the execution result to Success, Failure, or Completion. Success requires that the precedence executable succeed, Failure requires that the precedence executable fail, and Completion indicates that the constrained executable should run regardless of whether the precedence task succeeds or fails. For more information, see Precedence Constraints.

The expression must evaluate to True or False and it must be a valid SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (SSIS) expression. The expression can use literals, system and custom variables, and the functions and operators that the SSIS expression grammar provides. For example, the expression @Count == SQRT(144) + 10 uses the variable Count, the SQRT function , and the equal (==) and add (+) operators. For more information, see Integration Services Expression Reference.

In the following illustration, task A and task B are linked by a precedence constraint that uses an execution result and an expression. The constraint value is set to Success and the expression is @X >== @Z. Task B, the constrained task, runs only if task A completes successfully and the value of variable X is greater than or equal to the value of variable Z.

Executables can also be linked by using multiple precedence constraints that contain different expressions. For example, in the following illustration, tasks B and C are linked to task A by precedence constraints that use execution results and expressions. Both of the constraint values are set to Success. One precedence constraint includes the expression @X >== @Z, and the other precedence constraint includes the expression @X < @Z. Depending on the values of variable X and variable Z, either task C or task B runs.

You can add or modify an expression by using the Precedence Constraint Editor in SSIS Designer and the Properties window that Business Intelligence Development Studio provides. However, the Properties window does not provide verification of the expression syntax.

If a precedence constraint includes an expression, an icon appears on the design surface of the Control Flow tab, next to the precedence constraint, and the ToolTip on the icon displays the expression.

Combining Execution Values and Expressions

The following table describes the effects of combining an execution value constraint and an expression in a precedence constraint.

Evaluation operation	Constraint evaluates to	Expression evaluates to	Constrained executable runs
Constraint	True	N/A	True
Constraint	False	N/A	False
Expression	N/A	True	True
Expression	N/A	False	False
Constraint and Expression	True	True	True
Constraint and Expression	True	False	False
Constraint and Expression	False	True	False
Constraint and Expression	False	False	False
Constraint or Expression	True	True	True
Constraint or Expression	True	False	True
Constraint or Expression	False	True	True
Constraint or Expression	False	False	False

To add an expression to a precedence constraint

• How to: Add an Expression to a Precedence Constraint

• How to: Set Precedence Constraint Properties in the Properties Window

See Also

Tasks

Setting Precedence Constraints on Tasks and Containers

Concepts

Applying Multiple Precedence Constraints

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance

Change History

Release	History
17 November 2008	Changed content: Updated the values in the last three rows of the table regarding whether the constrained executable runs.