Adding a custom dataflow control to SSIS 2008 and 2012 (Visual Studio BIDS 2008 and 2010)

So recently i wanted to create a custom SSIS data source that could use an Azure Table storage as the data source. i found an excellent (possibly the only) implementation of this here:

http://www.software-architects.com/devblog/2010/11/12/Custom-SSIS-Data-Source-For-Loading-Azure-Tables-Into-SQL-Server

The biggest problem I ran in to, being a SSIS NOOB, was getting this custom source to BIDS (Business Intelligence Development Studio)

I was using both SSIS 2008 and 2012. which meands BIDS 2008 and 2010 respectively.

Here's a copy of the thread on this here for convenience (thread already covers all the keywords which i don't want to type :))


QUESTION:

I've created a custom data source using the instructions given in the following link:http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms136088.aspx

However once i build the project and try to add the new datasource to the toolbox, i get the following error:

There are no components in 'C:\Somepath\bin\Debug\CustomDataSource.dll' that can be placed on the toolbox

following are the tools i've used:

To create and build the custom datasource; Visual Studio 2010 & build in Framework 3.5

To create the SSIS package SSIS - SQL Server 2008 R2 & SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio (VS2008)

ANSWER:

i found the answer to my problem; here's the solution and hope it helps someone.

ref - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms403356.aspx

1. copy the dll to the following folder(s). the exact folder depends on whether your on x64 or x86 (doesn't hurt to have it on both):
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\PipelineComponents
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\PipelineComponents
2. Install the dll to your GAC. you will need to have it signed to do this.
3. In BI Dev Studio, go to Tools > Choose Toolbox Items. you will find your data source in the "SSIS Dataflow Items" tab

For steps 1 & 2 you might find it helpful to have a post build event like follows:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\gacutil.exe" -u $(TargetName) 
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\gacutil.exe" -iF $(TargetFileName) 
copy $(TargetPath) "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\PipelineComponents" 
copy $(TargetPath) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\PipelineComponents"

If you're using SSIS 2012 with BIDS 2010, the toolbox items get added automatically (i.e. u don't have to go to Tools > Choose Toolbox Items) you just need to copy it to the dll right places (ref - http://fendy-huang.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-add-ssis-custom-component-to.html):

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DTS\PipelineComponents   
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DTS\PipelineComponents   
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DTS\Tasks   
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DTS\Tasks