Article ID: 245795 - Last Review: March 14, 2006 - Revision: 2.1

FIX: Objects Created and Stored in DTS Global Variables Released Prematurely

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q245795

BUG #: 55241 (SQLBUG_70)

SYMPTOMS

When using a Data Transformation Services (DTS) package global variable to reference an object created in an ActiveX Script task or transformation, the object may be released at the end of the ActiveX Script that creates the object. This makes the object unavailable to subsequent tasks that attempt to access it through the global variable reference.

The problem is only seen when the object is added to the global variables collection using the AddGlobalVariable method of the collection.

In the following example the file system object created in the code would be released at the end of the ActiveX Script task, even though a global variable is referencing the object.

Function Main()
dim fso
	'The global variable is empty after this task completes.
	set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
	DTSGlobalVariables.AddGlobalVariable "fileobject, fso
	Main = DTSTaskExecResult_Success
End Function

Instead, use the following code, which works:

Function Main()
dim fso
        'The global variable still contains a File System Object 
        'after this task completes.
	set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
	set DTSGlobalVariables("fileobject").value = fso
	Main = DTSTaskExecResult_Success
End Function

Back to the top

CAUSE

This is caused by a problem with the reference count not being properly incremented for the object when it is stored as a global variable.

Back to the top

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 7.0. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

254561 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254561/ ) INF: How to Obtain Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0

For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Back to the top