Getting started with SQL Reporting Services

Overview

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server based solution for building, managing and delivering reports, both traditional paper style reports and interactive web based ones. It supports many common data sources and output formats, including web browsers and Microsoft Office applications, and can connect to different SQL database versions.

SSRS is included in your Everleap plan, but it is not switched on until you enable it. Each Everleap account can enable one SSRS service.

Step 1: Enable Reporting Services

  1. Log in to the Everleap Control Panel at cp.everleap.com.
  2. From the top menu click Databases, then SQL Reporting Services.
  3. Under Select SSRS Version, choose SQL Reporting Services 2016 or SQL Reporting Services 2012.
  4. Click Enable Reporting Services.
The SQL Server Reporting Services page before enabling, showing the explanation, the Select SSRS Version list with SQL Reporting Services 2016 and 2012, and the Enable Reporting Services button

If SSRS is already enabled on your account you will not see this page. You will go straight to the Overview described below.

Step 2: Find your report server details

Once SSRS is enabled, Databases > SQL Reporting Services opens the SQL Reporting Services Overview page, which has two tabs: OVERVIEW and SSRS USERS.

The General Information panel gives you:

  • Version, the SQL Server version your report server runs.
  • Report Server URL, the address of your report server.
  • Root Path, the folder your reports live under.
  • Username, your primary SSRS user. It is in the format RS_1234_user and is created for you with Content Manager permissions.

The Visual Studio Deployment Information panel below it gives you the three values you need when deploying a report project from Visual Studio: TargetServerURL, TargetReportFolder and TargetDataSourceFolder.

The SQL Reporting Services Overview page showing the OVERVIEW and SSRS USERS tabs, the General Information panel with Version, Report Server URL, Root Path and Username, and the Visual Studio Deployment Information panel

SSRS users

Click the SSRS USERS tab to see every SSRS user on the account. The table has four columns: Username, Update Password, Update Permissions and Delete.

The primary user is marked (primary), and its Delete column reads cannot be deleted. You can change its password and its permissions, but the account keeps it.

The SQL Reporting Services Users page listing the primary user with Update Password and Update Permissions links and a Delete column reading cannot be deleted, plus a Create User button

Creating an additional user

  1. On the SSRS USERS tab, click Create User.
  2. On the Add SQL Reporting Services User page, enter a Username, a Password, and the same password again under Retype Password.
  3. Tick the permissions you want to grant.
  4. Click Create User. Cancel takes you back without creating anything.
The Add SQL Reporting Services User page showing the Username, Password and Retype Password fields and the five permission checkboxes Browser, Content Manager, My Reports, Publisher and Report Builder

Changing an existing user's permissions

Click the Update Permissions link next to the user on the SSRS USERS page.

The permissions

RoleWhat it allows
BrowserMay view folders, reports and subscribe to reports. Think of this as a read only user.
Content ManagerMay manage content in the Report Server. This includes folders, reports and resources. Think of this as an administrative user.
My ReportsMay publish reports and linked reports, and manage folders, reports and resources in a user's My Reports folder.
PublisherMay publish reports and linked reports to the Report Server.
Report BuilderMay view report definitions.

A new user gets Browse permissions by default. You can also change permissions later by logging in to the SQL Reporting Services web interface with the primary user.

Verify it worked

Open the Report Server URL from the Overview page in a browser and sign in with your SSRS username and password. You should reach your report server root.

Notes

  • One SSRS service per account, not per site.
  • The primary RS_..._user is created automatically with Content Manager permissions and cannot be deleted.
  • If you no longer need SSRS, the Overview page has a Disable Reporting Services button.

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