You can change the field width in the Column Format Settings dialog box by padding the width or by defining a fixed-width value in bytes. By default, the field width equals the precision.

To output numeric data to a fixed-width flat file, you must configure the field width for the target field to accommodate the total length of the target field. If the data for a target field is too long for the field width, the Integration Service rejects the row and writes a message to the session log. When you configure the field width for flat file target definitions, you must accommodate characters the Integration Service writes to the target file, such as decimals and negative signs.

To adjust the field width, select Adjust Width and enter the number of bytes in the Padding field. When you adjust the field width, the Integration Service defines the field width as the field precision plus the padding you enter. For example, when the precision of a field is 10 and you enter 5 in the Padding field, the Integration Service reads 15 bytes from a file source, and it writes 15 bytes to a file target.

To fix the field width, select Fixed Width and enter the number of bytes in the Field Width field. The Designer lets you enter a field width greater than or equal to the precision. When you enter 20 in the Field Width field, the Integration Service reads 20 bytes from a file source, and it writes 20 bytes to a file target.

For example, you have a target field with a precision of four, scale of zero. You want to add two blank spaces to the target field to make the target file easier to view. Select Adjust Width and enter 2 in the Padding field. Or, select Fixed Width and enter 6 in the Field Width field.

When padding numeric data in flat file targets, the Integration Service adds blank spaces to the left side of the target column.