While preparing my slides e demos for the forthcoming SQL Server Conference 2012 in Italy, I’ve come across a nice addition to DTS Expression language which I never noticed before and that seems unknown also to the blogosphere: REPLACENULL.

REPLACENULL is the same of ISNULL in T-SQL. It’s *very* useful especially when loading a fact table of your BI solution when you need to replace unexisting reference to dimension with dummy values.

Here’s an example of how it can be used (please notice that in this example I’m NOT loading a fact table):

I’ve noticed that the feature was requested by fellow MVP John Welch

http://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/636057/ssis-add-a-replacenull-function-to-the-expression-language

So: Thanks John and Thanks SSIS Team !

Ah, btw, the Help online is here

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh479601(v=sql.110).aspx

Enjoy!