DTS is a set of tools you can use to import, export, and transform heterogeneous data between one or more data sources, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Excel, or Microsoft Access. Connectivity is provided through OLE DB, an open-standard for data access. ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) data sources are supported through the OLE DB Provider for ODBC.
You create a DTS solution as one or more packages. Each package may contain an organized set of tasks that define work to be performed, transformations on data and objects, workflow constraints that define task execution, and connections to data sources and destinations. DTS packages also provide services, such as logging package execution details, controlling transactions, and handling global variables.
These tools are available for creating and executing DTS packages:
The Import/Export Wizard is for building relatively simple DTS packages, and supports data migration and simple transformations.
The DTS Designer graphically implements the DTS object model, allowing you to create DTS packages with a wide range of functionality.
DTSRun is a command-prompt utility used to execute existing DTS packages.
DTSRunUI is a graphical interface to DTSRun, which also allows the passing of global variables and the generation of command lines.
SQLAgent is not a DTS application; however, it is used by DTS to schedule package execution.
Using the DTS object model, you also can create and run packages programmatically, build custom tasks, and build custom transformations.