Scope of a shared data source

  • I have a question regarding an SSRS shared data source.  What is the scope of the datasource?  Is it across the reporting server or is the scope limited to the folder in which it resides? 

    For example, I have a folder called Dev and a folder called Test.  Let's assume I create a shared data source in the Dev folder called MyDataSource.  This datasource points to my development database.  I create reports using this data source and publish them to the server.  When it comes time to test these reports, I create a shared data source in the Test folder called MyDateSource.  This datasource points to my testing database.  Then I publish my reports to the Test folder.  When I run the reports in the Test folder, will the reports pick up the datasource in the Dev folder or in the in Test folder. 

    I noticed when I scripted out the reports, the RDL shows the datasource name and ClassID.  I would assume this ClassID is the ID of the original datasource.

    I could test this I suppose, but I want to know what your thoughts are and what problems you might have ran into with this.

    Thanks!

  • The reports won't pick up the datasource local to them (ie in the same folder) unless you published the DS to that folder from te same project that contained the reports, but once published you can easily change the datasource they reference by using the properties pages.  We do this regularly, we also have a single datasources folder in which all datasourcres (test, dev and prod) exist.  The reports in their different folders get pointed to the appropriate datasource in this ds folder.

     

    Steve.

  • Steve, thanks for the reply.  Let me make sure I understand how you have this setup in your shop.  You have a single folder where all datasources are contained.  I suppose you have the datasources named App1Dev, App1Test, App1Prod.  Then in your report folders, you have the copies of the reports and each set of reports are pointing to their respective datasource.

    My first question is how do you deploy new versions of the reports to the respective folders?  Do you publish them from VS or do you script them out?  Do you touch each report by hand to change the datasource or do you have something that helps automate this?

    Right now we are in the planning stages for our SSRS deployment.  We will have 100's of reports and dozens of applications and therefore many folders (dev, test, prod).  What I'm trying to do is figure out a plan for how we publish the reports and then how our configuration management folks migrate the reports into the various regions.  We are writing reports daily for new apps we are building and I’m afraid if we don’t lay the proper groundwork, we will have a heck of a mess in 6 months.  We are looking to automate as much as we can and avoid lots of manual work and reduce errors.  Any advice given is greatly appreciated. Hopefully as SSRS matures, MS will implement some of this so companies aren't having to "home grow" solutions.

    Thanks again for any ideas, tips, suggestions...

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