Adding Data Source to SSRS Report - sql-server

I am writing a report and instead of using connection to server, I was given data source to use. I want to know how to add the data source to the report.
Edited: I have tried to add through the shared data sets, but I have been asked to deploy the developed report first so, I am little confused

Related

How does varbinary datatype work to store image for a user to view in Access front end?

I did some research and the web has taken me all over the place and I still haven't found a suitable solution or guide to what I am trying to achieve.
I read up a similar post to what I am asking. Except that's #php
Retrieving Image in SQL Server (varbinary)
Update:
The "conventional" way is the create file directory and file path. This was my initial method to get the front end up and running for the user.
My sup actually advised that I use this hash method nonsense which he can't even explain properly to me.
A user must be able to insert an image on the form, generate a report displaying the image as well.
How does the varbinary work to link sql and Access for what I am trying to achieve? I am currently playing around with my development to resolve it.
Any clarification?
I have no other way of putting this question after my first edit.
This is the form
For each form entry a user should insert a picture to support the Findings.
A VARBINARY field in SQL server is a field that stores binary data, and is often used for storing files. You can fit entire files in this field.
If you have a VARBINARY field in SQL server, and create a linked table in Access to the table with that field, it gets interpreted as an OLE object, since OLE objects are binary data too.
You can use the Bound object frame control in Access to save images into OLE objects, both as an image (which is displayable), or as a package. This does not require any code. You can right click the field -> Insert Object -> Bitmap Image to insert bitmap images into an OLE field. However, this stores OLE object data along with the image data, which makes it very hard to work with using code, and nearly impossible in non-vba applications. Using this approach is only justifiable if you're sure you're going to stick with Access for the lifetime of the database, in my opinion.
I've shared an example on working with VBA code and the OLE object here, but that uses hacky code that executes GUI operations. It's nearly impossible to port to other applications. I recommend you use the next way instead.
Alternatively, you can directly store binary data in the OLE object/Varbinary field. This makes it a lot easier to deal with using VBA code or any future application, since it's just the file data stored in the field, there's no OLE object data stored with it. I've shared code to load binary data in a field and save it back to disk here.
The hard part of this puzzle, if you're just working with binary image data, is displaying the image to the user. I've shared 3 approaches here, with code for one one of them. However, that's quite complex VBA code.

I want to update the Shared DataSource of SSRS Report from c# code

I have a report deployed on my ReportServer. This Report is using a shared dataSource which is also deployed on the ReportServer.
I am using a ReportViewer in WPF application using WindowsFormsHost control. I am able to display the Report from the ReportServer within my application properly by configuring the ServerReport property of the ReportViewer.
My question is that is there anyway to change the connectionstring of the shared DataSource deployed on the ReportServer which is being used by my Report.
Actually I want to use the same Report for multiple copies of the same database for Testing and Migration.
Can anyone please tell me a solution to update the Shared Datasource in c# code?
There's no way to change the data sources of a report via the ReportViewer. You could change the data source using the web service, but that would actually change the data source on the server for all users - likely not what you want to do.
I think the closest you can get is to build your report with an embedded data source that uses a parameter value to control its connection string. You could build a shared dataset that provides connection strings by name ("Test","Migration",etc) and pass just that name as a parameter to the report.
You would need:
A shared data source that does not change.
A shared dataset that returns a list of connection names such as "Test" and "Migration". Let's call that NamedConnections. These could come from a table in the shared data source or could be hard-coded in the dataset's query.
A shared dataset that takes a #NamedConnection parameter and returns a single string value that is a complete connection string. Again, these could come from the database or be hard-coded. We'll call it SelectedConnection
A #NamedConnection parameter on the report. This should be visible and should use the NamedConnections dataset for its available values.
A #ConnectionString internal parameter on the report that uses the SelectedConnection dataset for its default value.
An embedded data source in the report that does not use the #ConnectionString parameter. This allows you to use the dataset designer to build your dataset(s). I'll call it StaticConnection.
An embedded data source in the report that does use the #ConnectionString parameter as its connection string. Once the report design is complete and ready to be deployed, switch your dataset(s) to use this data source. Let's call it DynamicConnection.
Now using the ReportViewer, for instance, you pass the value "Test" to the #NamedConnection parameter. Then the SelectedConnection dataset can run and provide the appropriate connection string to the #ConnectionString parameter which is then used by the DynamicConnection data source.
The actual data source reference never changes, but the connection string within it does.

Add Multiple Data Sets/Sources to BIRT Report

I'm currently working with BIRT and I am having problems trying to create a report with multiple data sources and data sets.
For example, let's say I have a wizard. This wizard allows the user to graphically select data sources in a list. After selecting a few data sources and finishing the wizard, I would like the report to be rendered with the selected data sources.
I have tried a few thing such as adding data sources/sets to an ElementFactory object, but that does not seem to work.
Does anyone know of where I can find documentation on this sort of thing? Possibly some pointers?
Thanks.

How to create an RDL using the report class generated from the RDL schema

I have a project where we are creating a custom report generator for SSRS 2008R2. This project allows the user to select fields from a database and then create and store the RDL on the report server.
For some of the initial proof of concept attempts we have been using XMLText writer to generate the XML file. While this works this seems to be very cumbersome and I don't have a lot of confidence in how the schema is being generated as being 100% bulletproof. A second attempt is actually using the generated class from the RDL as my object model. Where I am stuck here is there is almost zero documentation on how to use this object. MSDN has a tutorial on updating the model but it very basic in concept.
I'm looking for some guidance on the preferred approach.
1) continue with the XML generation
2) use the RDL object to create the reports
3) I have also considered using the SSRS endpoint where a dummy report is created and stored on the server then using the RDL object model to update the report with the necessary fields, groups etc.
I haven't tested the third option but it seems as this would minimize the amount of coding for the creation of the document.
Thanks for any suggestions or ideas
I just built a program that creates an SSRS report from a report template and a stored procedure.
I am using the RDLObjectModel to create the report. And RDLSerializer to allow saving the report to a file or the report server. I first load a report template from our report server through the SSRS web service to deserialize the server report into and RDLObjectModel. I then derive parameters for the report fields, and derive fields from the stored procedure to make a report dataset.
The problem that I ran into is that I wasn't able to serialize the report object to be able to save it to the server or to a file because in RDL2008 RDLSerializer is private. Then I came across an article that saved me a lot of headaches. http://ucodia.fr/2011/10/advanced-reporting-services-part2-rdl-serializer/
This is a much better approach that using XMLTextWriter. This should provide you enough to get things rolling.
I ran into the same problem where I was using RdlObjectModel to create my report object but I was unable to serialize it. There is a way to overcome that issue where you can still get instance of the RdlSerializer and call serialize method using reflection
You can find the implementation at the following link

Using Excel with Silverlight app not writing new columns

I have a project as follows:
User uploads Excel file to server, server will return back with 2 new columns. User wants us to check prices being charged and we have file that holds average standard pricing.
In the desktop application just done, I use Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel
for manipulating the Excel file.
But this is not available in Silverlight. Reading is not the issue.
The issue is adding 2 new columns. Program reads excel file using oledb, and oledb is very light and is available in web.
But for creating 2 new columns, I use Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel that Microsoft provides.
This is not available in web.
I will be need to check how can we do this.
One possibility is to have the program on the server, waiting for a file, process the file, and email back to the user.
I just want to see if there is another way. I don't like this approach it doesn't seem best.
You have a few options for doing this with Silverlight. First, you can use the Excel XML format for the files which means adding a column is just an XML exercise. Second, if that doesn't work, you can upload the file to the server and run the same code you have in your desktop app to update the file. Once it is updated you can prompt the user to save the file back to their hard drive.
If you go the Excel XML route then you would need to create a web service to get the price data from your database out to the Silverlight on the client. Oledb won't work since you don't want to expose your database via oledb on the Internet.

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