• Article

Generating Models Using Report Management Tools

Using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 or SharePoint Server 2010 or Report Manager, report models can be generated from SQL Server databases, Analysis Services cubes, or Oracle databases running version 9.2.0.3 or later. Just like Model Designer, these models use a shared data source and Report Builder users interact with these models in the same way. However, there are some important differences: 

  • Unlike Model Designer, you cannot modify the rules used to generate models in report management tools. All the data in the database or cube is included in the model. Although you cannot constrain what is included in a model; you can set security on model items to prevent portions of the model from being used. For more information, see Securing Models.

  • After the SSAS-based model is generated, it cannot be opened and edited in Model Designer. Oracle and SQL Server database-based models can be downloaded and edited in Model Designer.

  • Models are generated and published simultaneously. No additional steps are necessary to publish a model to the report server.

Note

To generate a report model using SharePoint products and technologies, your report server must be running in SharePoint integrated mode. For more information, see Overview of Reporting Services and SharePoint Technology Integration.

Analysis Services Cube-Based Models

When used in Report Builder, models generated from AS cubes have minor behavioral differences in comparison to models generated from SQL Server databases.

  • Report Builder users who want to use a report model that was generated from an Analysis Services cube must select from one of the possible perspectives that are contained within the model. They must not select the top-level model itself. If a Report Builder report contains items that are not within the single perspective, an error can occur when attempting to run the report.

  • There is a limit to the number of entities and their relationships that can be explored in Report Builder. For example, Customer to Order to Order Detail. This is limited to paths that equate to navigating from a dimension to a related measure group, and then to a second related dimension.

For more information about Analysis Services cubes and how they are structured, see Designing Cubes.