When you want to output to a fixed-width file based on a relational target definition in the mapping, consider how the Integration Service handles spacing in the target file.

When the Integration Service writes to a fixed-width flat file based on a relational target definition in the mapping, it adds spaces to columns based on the transformation datatype connected to the target. This allows the Integration Service to write optional symbols necessary for the datatype, such as a negative sign or decimal point, without sending the row to the reject file.

For example, you connect a transformation Integer(10) port to a Number(10) column in a relational target definition. In the session properties, you override the relational target definition to use the File Writer and you specify to output a fixed-width flat file. In the target flat file, the Integration Service appends an additional byte to the Number(10) column to allow for negative signs that might be associated with Integer data.

The following table describes the number of bytes the Integration Service adds to the target column and optional characters it uses for each datatype: