Import Package Error - Cannot Convert between Unicode and Non Unicode String Data Type

Question

I have made a dtsx package on my computer using SQL Server 2008. It imports data from a semicolon delimited csv file into a table where all of the field types are NVARCHAR MAX.

Answer 1

The problem of converting from any non-unicode source to a unicode SQL Server table can be solved by:

• add a Data Conversion transformation step to your Data Flow
• open the Data Conversion and select Unicode for each data type that applies
• take note of the Output Alias of each applicable column (they are named Copy Of [original column name] by default)
• now, in the Destination step, click on Mappings
• change all of your input mappings to come from the aliased columns in the previous step (this is the step that is easily overlooked and will leave you wondering why you are still getting the same errors)