Module 5: Managing Content

Overview Publishing Content Executing Reports Creating Cached Instances Creating Snapshots and Report History Creating Subscriptions

Lesson: Publishing Content Publishing with Report Designer Publishing with Report Manager Updating Data Sources Updating Reports Configuring Report Properties

Publishing with Report Designer Options for deployment:  Single file deployment - report or data source  Project deployment - all elements of a project  Solution deployment - all projects in a solution Project deployment options:  Publish reports to a specific folder location  Specify the project’s target folder

Publishing with Report Manager Upload files Create additional folders Move content between folders Enable My Reports folder

Updating Data Sources Updating data source properties in Report Manager  Overwrites properties stored in report server database  Does not update.rds or.rdl files Redeploying updated.rds files in Report Designer  Choose whether to overwrite the data source stored in the report server database

Updating Reports Consequences of modifying and republishing reports:  Replaces report definitions stored in report server database  Does not overwrite parameter property changes made in Report Manager  Does not change execution, history, security, or subscription properties Use either Report Designer or Report Manager

Configuring Report Properties Property Options Data Sources Can be shared or custom Specify database login credentials Store credentials in report server database Execution Designate report execution frequency Create execution schedules (shared and custom) Determine report persistence History Determine how report history is retained Parameters Enable/disable parameter interactivity Identify default value Subscriptions Select report delivery, for example or file share Security Control how users interact with content

Demonstration: Publishing Reports In this demonstration you will see how to: Publish a report with Report Designer Update a report with Report Manager

Lesson: Executing Reports Execution Process Flow Executing Reports On-Demand Session Caching Using Linked Reports

Execution is the process of turning a published report into a rendered report Optimize the process flow by specifying when intermediate report is created  At time of user browsing  In advance of user browsing Execution Process Flow Rendered Report Published Report Intermediate Report.

Report Server Executing Reports On-Demand Every report request triggers the same execution process:  Retrieves up-to-date data and processes report  Creates intermediate report and temporarily stores result in the session cache in ReportServerTempDB  Renders using intermediate report Session Cache Rendered Report Intermediate Report. Published Report Report Request

Session Caching Session management  Maintains state between client and server over HTTP  Groups together HTTP requests from the same session Reports in session cache  Added to session cache upon browsing  Persisted in ReportServerTempdb  Require refresh to display report or data changes

Using Linked Reports Allow reuse of base report data source and report definition Alter linked report properties:  Execution  Parameters  Subscriptions  Security Created in Report Manager

Lesson: Creating Cached Instances Executing Cached Instances Using Query Parameters with Cached Instances Using Filters with Cached Instances Configuring Cached Instances

Executing Cached Instances Initial request triggers execution process (subsequent requests only use step 4) 1.Retrieves most up-to-date data and processes report 2.Creates intermediate report and stores intermediate result in the cache in ReportServerTempDB 3.Flags intermediate report as a cached instance 4.Renders report from cached instance First Report Request Other Report Request Report ServerCache Rendered Report Intermediate Report. Published Report

Using Query Parameters with Cached Instances Query parameters are applied when the cached instance is created Changing report parameter values creates a new cached instance if one does not already exist  Multiple cached instances can exist for the same report based on different parameters  Can result in many copies stored in the cache

Using Filters with Cached Instances Filters are applied to the cached instance during each viewing Filters use current report parameter values Changing report parameter values:  Does not create a new cached instance  Filters the cached instance

Configuring Cached Instances Cached instances are temporary and must expire  Defined interval  Report-specific schedule  Shared schedule  Forced expiration No limit to the number of cached instances Expirations are implemented using SQL Server Agent Cached instances must have stored data source credentials

Demonstration: Creating Cached Instances In this demonstration you will see how to: Configure reports for caching View cached reports

Lesson: Creating Snapshots and Report History Executing Snapshot Reports Using Query Parameters with Snapshots Using Filters with Snapshots Configuring Snapshots Using Report History Configuring Report History

Snapshot Creation Report Request Executing Snapshot Reports Data retrieval and processing occurs in advance of report browsing 1.Scheduled event occurs 2.Creates the intermediate report and stores result as a snapshot in the report server database 3.Requests are satisfied by retrieving and rendering the snapshot Report ServerSnapshot Cache Rendered Report Intermediate Report. Published Report

Using Query Parameters with Snapshots Query parameters are applied when the snapshot is created Query parameters use report parameter default values Report parameter values cannot be changed at time of browsing

Using Filters with Snapshots Filters are applied to the snapshot during browsing Filters use current report parameter values Changing report parameter values:  Does not create a new snapshot  Filters the current snapshot

Configuring Snapshots A snapshot must be explicitly executed  Manually  Report-specific schedule  Shared schedule Each new snapshot replaces the current snapshot Scheduled snapshots are implemented using SQL Server Agent Snapshots require stored data source credentials

Rendered Report Using Report History Report histories store snapshots for future reference History requests are satisfied by retrieving a specific historical snapshot Snapshot History History Request Snapshot Published Report

Configuring Report History Report history options:  Store all snapshots  Manually add snapshots  Use a schedule to add snapshots  Limit report history Producing report history requires stored credentials

Demonstration: Creating Snapshots and Report History In this demonstration you will see how to: Create a shared schedule Create a snapshot based on a schedule Configure and view report history

Lesson: Creating Report Subscriptions What Are Subscriptions? Creating Standard Subscriptions Creating Data-Driven Subscriptions Using Linked Reports

What are Subscriptions? Mechanisms to execute and deliver rendered reports Two types of subscriptions:  Standard – end-user driven  Data-driven – administrator driven Default delivery extensions:  (SMTP)  File share

Creating Standard Subscriptions Standard subscription features in Reporting Services:  Deliver one rendered report to one destination  Can be defined by an end-user or administrator Configuration options:  Delivery method  Delivery information  Render format  Processing conditions  Parameters

Creating Data-Driven Subscriptions Data-driven subscription features in Reporting Services:  Deliver many rendered reports to many destinations using dynamic values from a database table  Each delivery can be customized within the table Configuration steps: 1.Create and populate a subscriber table 2.Ensure that credentials are stored with the report 3.Choose a delivery method 4.Create a connection to the subscriber table 5.Define a query to retrieve subscribers 6.Set the subscription properties as for a standard subscription

Demonstration: Creating Standard Subscriptions In this demonstration you will see how to create a standard subscription

Review Publishing Content Executing Reports Creating Cached Instances Creating Snapshots and Report History Creating Subscriptions

Lab 5: Managing Content Exercise 1: Publishing Reports Exercise 2: Executing Reports Exercise 3: Creating Subscriptions

Course Evaluation