Integrating SSRS with SharePoint

July 26, 201413 Tips for Integrating SQL Server Reporting Services

with SharePoint

The Baker’s Dozen Business Intelligence

13 SQL Server /Business Intelligence Productivity Tips

Kevin S. GoffMicrosoft SQL Server MVP

04/18/2023 13 topics for SSRS/SP Integration 2

Kevin S. Goff – Brief BIO

• Developer/architect since 1987 / Microsoft SQL Server MVP• Columnist for CoDe Magazine since 2004,

“The Baker’s Dozen” Productivity Series”, 13 tips on a SQL/BI topic• Wrote a book, collaborated on a 2nd book• Frequent speaker for SQL Server community events• Email: [email protected] • My site/blog: www.KevinSGoff.Net (includes SQL/BI webcasts)• Releasing some SQL/BI video courseware later in 2014

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.kevinsgoff.net/


Reporting Services with SharePoint• More organizations moving to SharePoint as a corporate portal• While majority of SSRS deployments are still to native (non-SharePoint) servers,

that’s starting to change• SharePoint 2010/2013 provides the following:

– a means for users to run SSRS reports inside a SharePoint portal– a means to have SSRS reports automatically delivered to SharePoint document areas– a means to create a web dashboard that contains not only SSRS reports but other corporate

information

• Goals – Deploy an SSRS report to SharePoint server– Run the report in the SharePoint area– Schedule reports for automatic delivery to a SharePoint Document library– Create a dashboard page that contains (among other things) SSRS reports

• Some challenges:– Integration between SSRS and SharePoint is different, depending on which version– Before SQL/SSRS 2012, SSRS performance in SharePoint could be sluggish– Linked Reports (feature in SSRS native deployment mode) is not available in SharePoint


Why is this topic important?• More organizations are moving to SharePoint as a corporate

portal standard• While majority of SSRS deployments are still to native (non-

SharePoint) servers, that’s starting to change• SharePoint 2010 provides the following:

– a means for users to run SSRS reports– a means to have SSRS reports automatically delivered to their SharePoint

document areas– a means to create a web dashboard that contains not only SSRS reports but other

corporate information

• Goals – Deploy an SSRS report to SharePoint server– Run the report in the SharePoint area– Schedule reports for automatic delivery to a SharePoint Document library– Create a dashboard page that contains (among other things) SSRS reports


The Agenda

1. Installing/Configuring SQL Server 2008R2/SSRS 2. Installing SharePoint 2010 – SSRS 2008R2 Integration3. Configuring SharePoint for SSRS 2008R2 Use4. SharePoint 2010 SP1/2013 with SSRS 2012 (alternative to steps 2-4)5. Setting up a SharePoint Site collection for SSRS reports6. Deploying an SSRS Report to a SharePoint site7. Viewing the Report Document Library after Deploying8. Viewing the report in SharePoint using the Report Viewer9. Automatic delivery of SSRS reports to SharePoint pages using SSRS data-driv

en subscriptions10. Integrating SSRS with PerformancePoint Services11. Creating reports against SharePoint 2010 Lists12. Data Alerts (SSRS 2012 Only)13. Power View (new Data Visualization Tool, SSRS 2012 Only)At the end, some notes on upcoming SSRS integration with Power BI


1) Installing/Configuring SSRS 2008

SQL Server 2008/2008R2 SQL Server 2012Currently, same in SQL 2014

SharePoint 2007 • Must install separate add-in, Reporting Services Integration with SharePoint


• Requires Service Pack 1 of SQL 2012• Can be installed as a Service

application • Slightly better performance than

SQL 2008 in SharePoint


• Can be installed as a Service Application

• Slightly better performance than SQL 2008 in SharePoint, though SharePoint 2013 requires more memory

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Overall version Matrix: key point, with SQL 2012 and beyond, can run as a SharePoint Service Application. Prior to SQL 2012, must install integration add-in



• In a nutshell, we need to tell SSRS 2008R2 that it will use SharePoint Integrated Mode– Report Server (provisioning) database– Report Server Web Service URL

• Then we need to tell SharePoint about the instance of SQL Server and the SSRS Web Service URL

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2) SharePoint Installation

1) SQL Server Reporting Services Installation (SSRS Configuration Manager)

Must set Report Server configuration (provisioning) database and define as SharePoint integrated

Must define SSRS Web Service URL

Needs to know about the instance of SQL Server

And also the SSRS Web Service URL

SSRS Integration add-on for SharePoint will make sure

that all SSRS activity in SharePoint “funnels

through” to SSRS Web Service URL



• Make sure to install SSRS as part of the database install• Make sure to install SSRS for Integrated Mode with SharePoint• This creates a database on the database server called ReportServer (or

whatever the DB winds up being called)• The SSRS Configuration Manager contains a Database tab that allows us

to view/change the Report Server database

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• In the SSRS Configuration Manager, also check the Web Service URL:• SSRS Web Service URL (used by SharePoint 2010) contains the web server,

the default ReportServer application name (ReportServer) and the database instance (my SQL database instance is SQL2008R2).

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2) Installing Sharepoint 2010 & SSRS Integration• Part of SharePoint 2010 Installation process is a set of

installer prerequisites• Reporting Services Integration with SharePoint is part of

the installer prerequisites–installs automatically if using Windows Server (or download manually from web)– http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff686706.aspx

• If installing SharePoint 2010 using Windows 7 (for development), must install manually:– http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=192588– Nice for testing, but must be running 64 bit– http://www.codeproject.com/KB/sharepoint/Install_SP2010_on_Win_7.aspx

• Option for Windows 7/8 gone in SharePoint 2013

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http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff686706.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff686706.aspx

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=192588

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=192588

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/sharepoint/Install_SP2010_on_Win_7.aspx

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/sharepoint/Install_SP2010_on_Win_7.aspx


3) Configuring SharePoint 2010 for SSRS 2008 Use• In SharePoint Central Administration, go to General

Application Settings and then into Reporting Services....this got created from the prerequisite install

Only appears if Reporting services pre-requisite installed

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3) Configuring SharePoint 2010 for SSRS 2008 Use• Go to Reporting Services Integration

– Specify the Web Service URL (from the SSRS configuration), plus credentials from an Administrator Group

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3) Configuring SharePoint 2010 for SSRS 2008 Use• Go to “Add a report Server to the Integration”

– Specify your server name, database instance, and Admin or other service account for the server – must be a Domain Account

– SharePoint 2010 and SSRS 2008 are now talking to each other!

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3) Configuring SharePoint 2010 for SSRS Use

• In SharePoint 2010, if we want to generate report output to HTML pages on a schedule and allow users to view them in the browser….

• Must set this option in Web Application General settings (Strict is the default, must change to Permissive)

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4) Using SSRS 2012 as a SharePoint Service App• Can install SSRS 2012 as a SharePoint Service Application• Requires SQL Server 2012 (recommend Service Pack 1)• Also requires SharePoint 2010 SP1 or SharePoint 2013• Benefit – slightly faster SSRS performance, fewer integration

points to worry about• Good link that covers the steps: http://

msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj219068.aspx• Run following PowerShell commands:

– Install-SPRSService – Install-SPRSServiceProxy – get-spserviceinstance -all |where {$_.TypeName -like "SQL Server Reporting*"} | Start-

SPServiceInstance • Then go into Manage Service Applications and create a new SSRS Service App

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http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj219068.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj219068.aspx


5) Setting up a SharePoint Site collection for SSRS • Create a Site Collection (TestSSRSSite)

– Go to Central Administration– Go to Create Site Collection, call it TestSSRSSite

• Go to the site collection• Create a new document library (as a report library for

deployed reports)• Create a second document library (for Generated

Reports) – will set up a report schedule to deliver output to this folder

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6) Deploying SSRS Reports to a SharePoint site• In the SSRS project properties, set deployment URLs

At minimum, need to provide:

• TargetDataSourceFolder • TargetReportFolder• TargetServerURL

TargetDataSetFolder and TargetReportPartFolder are optional – only if you’re using Shared Datasets and Report Parts

Sadly, this dialog doesn’t expand. Makes it a bit difficult for long URLs

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7) Viewing List of Deployed Reports

• Deployed reports in SharePoint, in Report Doc Library• Data Sources document library contains data sources

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8) Viewing Deployed reports

• Viewing report…can even click on state to launch new report

Toolbar similar to Toolbar in native SSRS mode, but w/additional option for Alerts

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8) Viewing Deployed reports• Shows vendors by state based on prior report

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8) Viewing Deployed reports• Demonstrates sparklines and performance gauges

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9) Automatic delivery of reports• Can run report schedules - send output to user Document

Libraries• Uses SQL Server Agent – make sure Agent is running• Create report shared schedule

– Site Actions/Site Settings/Reporting Services-Manage Shared Schedules– Add a new schedule (actually writes a job entry in SQL Server Agent)

• Modify report data source to store credentials securely on the server (for unattended execution)

• Create a new subscription for the report– Go to Report/Manage Subscriptions/Add subscription – Deliver to SharePoint Document Library (Generated reports)– Set output format– Associate with the report schedule– Assign any parameters (can’t used Linked Reports)– You may want to schedule an execution snapshot as well

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9) Delivery through Data Driven subscriptions• Instead of creating subscriptions manually, we can

populate a relational control table with entries we’d otherwise provide manually

• SharePoint interface will prompt us for necessary fields• Once again, the source of data (as well as the data source

for the relational control table that contains the subscription information) must have credentials securely on the server (for unattended execution)

• This can be a time saver – if you have a large # of recipients

• Also dynamic – will pick up changes when we insert new rows to the relational control table

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9) Data Driven subscriptions

T-SQL code to create tblSubscriptionFileShare, to store data-driven subscription information

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Key value that Parameter expects: gets difficult when dealing with

OLAP parameters


10) SSRS reports inside PerformancePoint Server• If you’re using PPS to create SharePoint dashboards

against analytic databases (using SSAS OLAP or SSAS Tabular), you can devote specific dashboard pages to SSRS reports

• Can seamlessly integrate deployed SSRS reports, and take advantage of hierarchical PPS dropdown filters

• We can place them in specific PPS page zones – arguably works cleaner than web parts

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10) SSRS reports inside PerformancePoint Server

• By default, the dropdown list doesn’t allow expand or collapse

• We could use web parts and SSAS filters, but they have flexibility issues, and require modifications to the source report

• Instead, we can bring the report into a PPS dashboard page (which can be deployed back to SharePoint) and use much better dropdowns

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• End result: we can bring in an SSRS report to a PPS Dashboard page• We can link it to year in the KPI scorecard, and from a hierarchical dropdown filter

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• Must create a PPS report as an SSRS report type

• Must specify the report server URL, and the location of the report

• (No help with discovery – have to provide the URLs ourselves)

• Might need to _vti_bin as part of the Report Server URL (sometimes requires some trial and error)

SharePoint 2013 has ability to browse for the report

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• Must create a PPS filter against an OLAP source

• Uses MDX Descendants function to get everything from the top level in the geography, down to the City level, and everything in between

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11) SSRS reports against SharePoint 2010 Lists• SSRS 2008R2 now offers a direct data source type for

SharePoint 2010 Lists• No need to specify ASMX, only need to specify site

collection• Much easier to specify the specific list

Core Site Collection

Select custom list

Make sure to set

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12) Data Alerts in SharePoint 2010 with SQL 2012• Data Alerts – can set up rules for report executions, to notify

users of data changes• Alerts can go to email addresses• Only available when using SSRS 2012 (or higher) and

SharePoint 2010 (or higher). Not available for “native mode” SSRS environments without SharePoint

• Relies on SQL Server Agent – must have agent running

• SMTP4Dev – simple Email server from CodePlex• Won’t send email anywhere – great for

development/testing• Configured for local Server• Must specify server in:

• http://win-f44mi1754cm:17225/_admin/globalemailconfig.aspx

• Also specify mail settings in SSRS Service app or configuration settings

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http://win-f44mi1754cm:17225/_admin/globalemailconfig.aspx




13) Power View-new SSRS 2012 tool w/Sharepoint

• New Data Visualization Tool in SharePoint for SQL 2012• Works against SSAS 2012 Tabular Models, Deployed

PowerPivot models – Support for traditional SSAS Multi-dimensional OLAP

databases added in SQL Server Cumulative Update 4 for SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1

• End-user reporting tool, visual subset of SSRS• Nice capability for storyboarding capability

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Power View visualization against the Power Pivot

Data Model

User can filter on Country – State

Province

Scatter chart plotting city

observations of Sales revenue and

# of orders

Can use year as “Play axis” to show that while Beaverton is top city in

Oregon across all years, it wasn’t top city

in 2007


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We can even select a single city and plot the progression of

annual sales for a city over time

While this has nice interactive features, advanced users might want to show a linear regression line, and also the correlation coefficient (impact of order count on

sales)

Here is where tools like SSRS or even Excel Pivot Charts are a better option – Power View does not have these

features


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Cross filtering – I can click on the pie slice for Australia, and the bar chart above shades the monthly sales just for Australia


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Coming soon!!! SSRS with Power BI

• Power BI sites (in the cloud)• Next release (later in 2014) will be able to “connect

back” to on-premises data sources• SSRS reports deployed to Power BI site can use on-

premises data sources through a Data Gateway


Coming soon!!! SSRS with Power BI

Power BI Site “in the

cloud”

Local SSRS project

Deploy project to Power BI site

Company on-premises database

Secured Data Gateway, so cloud reports can access on-premises data

Users access reports in Power BI

Dashboards

Follow the blog of Chris Webb for detailshttp://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/

http://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/

http://cwebbbi.wordpress.com/

Integrating SSRS with SharePoint

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