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

Mike, I had the same problem with SSIS in SQL Server 2005... Apparently, the DataFlowDestination object will always attempt to validate the data coming in, into Unicode. Go to that object, Advanced Editor, Component Properties pane, change the "ValidateExternalMetaData" property to False. Now, go to the Input and Output Properties pane, Destination Input, External Columns - set each column Data type and Length to match the database table it's going to. Now, when you close that editor, those column changes will be saved and not validated over, and it will work.