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If you're wondering whether to upgrade to Integration Services 2012, or just want to know what differences there are between SSIS 2008 R2 and 2012, this blog should help you!
- Differences between Integration Services 2008 R2 and 2012
- Difference 1 - SSIS 2012 Looks Different! (this blog)
- Difference 2 - How Variables are Treated in SSIS 2012
- Difference 3 - Choosing Tasks from the SSIS Toolbox
- Difference 4 - Shared Connections at Project Level
- Difference 5 - Expression Tasks in 2012
- Difference 6 - Undoing and Redoing Commands
- Difference 7 - Easier to use Data Viewers
- Difference 8 - Deploying Packages in 2012
- Difference 9 - Parameters and Environments
- Differences 10 - Other Miscellaneous Changes
Posted by Andy Brown on 27 November 2014
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Difference 1 - SSIS 2012 Looks Different!
I've created two functionally identical packages in SSIS 2008 R2 and SSIS 2012. Here's what they look like when you run them (the last task is in progress in each case):
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SSIS 2008 R2 | SSIS 2012 |
Although it make absolutely no difference to what packages do, SSIS 2012 looks better and for some reason is much more rewarding when packages work successfully!
In addition to the cosmetic differences above, SSIS 2012 also allows you to zoom in and out:

This feature isn't available in the earlier version of Integration Services.
Staying with cosmetic differences, let's now take a look at variables in SSIS 2008 and 2012.
- Differences between Integration Services 2008 R2 and 2012
- Difference 1 - SSIS 2012 Looks Different! (this blog)
- Difference 2 - How Variables are Treated in SSIS 2012
- Difference 3 - Choosing Tasks from the SSIS Toolbox
- Difference 4 - Shared Connections at Project Level
- Difference 5 - Expression Tasks in 2012
- Difference 6 - Undoing and Redoing Commands
- Difference 7 - Easier to use Data Viewers
- Difference 8 - Deploying Packages in 2012
- Difference 9 - Parameters and Environments
- Differences 10 - Other Miscellaneous Changes