SSIS Error DTS_E_PRIMEOUTPUTFAILED : component in a data flow task failed to produce the expected output

 The error code DTS_E_PRIMEOUTPUTFAILED in SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) indicates that a component in a data flow task failed to produce the expected output. This error can be caused by various issues, such as data type mismatches, null values in non-nullable columns, or unexpected data format.

Here are steps to diagnose and resolve the DTS_E_PRIMEOUTPUTFAILED error:

1. Review Error Details:

   • Check the detailed error message in the SSIS log or error output. This can provide more context about which component failed and why.

2. Identify the Failing Component:

   • Determine which component in the data flow task is causing the error. The error message should indicate the name or type of the component that failed.

3. Examine Data Flow Path:

   • Look at the data flow path leading to the failing component. Check for any transformations, data conversions, or data sources that might be causing issues.

4. Check Data Types and Metadata:

   • Ensure that data types are consistent across components. Mismatched data types can cause prime output failures.
   • Verify that the metadata for the columns matches the expected data format.

5. Handle Null Values:

   • Ensure that null values are properly handled. If a non-nullable column receives a null value, it will cause an error.

6. Inspect Data Quality:

   • Check the source data for any anomalies or unexpected values that might cause the component to fail.
   • Cleanse and validate data before processing it in the SSIS package.

7. Review Component Configuration:

   • Check the configuration settings of the failing component. Ensure that all required properties and settings are correctly configured.

8. Enable Debugging and Logging:

   • Enable SSIS logging to capture detailed information about the data flow execution. This can help pinpoint the exact cause of the failure.
   • Use data viewers to inspect data at various points in the data flow to see where the issue arises.

Example Scenario and Solution

Scenario: A Data Conversion transformation is failing because it encounters a string value that cannot be converted to an integer.

Steps to Resolve:

1. Inspect the Source Data:

   • Check the source data to identify any non-integer values in the column being converted.

2. Update Data Conversion Settings:

   • Configure the Data Conversion transformation to handle invalid data gracefully, such as by redirecting rows with conversion errors to an error output.

3. Add Error Handling Logic:

   • Add a Derived Column transformation before the Data Conversion to clean or filter the data. For example, you can use a conditional expression to replace invalid values with a default integer.

Example Error Handling in SSIS

-- Derived Column Expression to handle non-integer values

ISNULL([SourceColumn]) ? 0 : 

    (DT_I4)TRY_CAST([SourceColumn] AS INT)