You can define the field width after you define a format string. You can change the field width by padding the width or by defining a fixed-width value in bytes. By default, the field width equals the precision.

To adjust the field width after you enter a format string, 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 number of bytes required for the datetime format plus the padding you enter. For example, when the datetime format is MM/YYYY and you enter 5 in the Padding field for a flat file source, the Integration Service reads 12 bytes from the file. When the datetime format is MM/YYYY and you enter 5 in the Padding field for a flat file target, the Integration Service writes 12 bytes to the file.

When you use Adjust Width, the Integration Service adjusts the field width based on the format string. You can change the format string without manually adjusting the field width.

To fix the field width after you enter a format string, select Fixed Width and enter the number of bytes in the Field Width field. You must specify a fixed-width value greater than or equal to the number of bytes required for the datetime format or the Integration Service truncates the data. For example, when the datetime format is MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS.NS, specify a fixed-width value greater than or equal to 29. When you enter 21 in the Field Width field, the Integration Service reads 21 bytes from a file source, and it writes 21 bytes to a file target.

For example, you have a target field with a datetime format of MM/DD/YYYY, which requires 10 bytes. 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 12 in the Field Width field.