SQL Reporting Services in Configuration Manager 2007 R2 uses report models to help administrators select items from the database to include in model-based reports. For the user building the report, report models expose only specified views and items to choose from. To create model-based reports, at least one report model needs to be available.

Note
The information in this topic applies only to Configuration Manager 2007 R2 and Configuration Manager 2007 R3.

Report models have the following features:

Although sample report models are included in Configuration Manager 2007 R2, you can also define report models to meet your own business needs.

To design and build report models, you must install the SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio component of Microsoft SQL Server and then complete the steps outlined in the following table.

Step Description

Create a report model project

A report model project contains the definition of the data source (a .ds file), the definition of a data source view (a .dsv file), and the report model (an .smdl file).

Define a data source for a report model

After creating a report model project, you need to define one data source from which you will extract business data. This will typically be the Configuration Manager 2007 site database.

Define a data source view for a report model

After defining the data sources that you will use in your report model project, the next step is to define a data source view for the project. A data source view is a logical data model based on one or more data sources. Data source views encapsulate access to the physical objects, such as tables and views, contained in underlying data sources. SQL Reporting Services generates the report model from the data source view. Data source views facilitate the model design process by providing you with a useful representation of the data that you specified. Without changing the underlying data source, you can rename tables and fields, as well as add aggregate fields and derived tables, in a data source view. For an efficient model, add only those tables to the data source view that you intend to use.

Define a report model

A report model is a layer on top of a database that identifies business entities, fields, and roles. When published, these models enable Report Builder users to develop reports without having to be familiar with database structures or understand and write queries. Models are composed of sets of related report items that are grouped together under a friendly name, with predefined relationships between these business items and with predefined calculations. Models are defined using an XML language called Semantic Model Definition Language (SMDL). The file name extension for report model files is .smdl.

Publish a report model

To build a report using the model that you just created, you must publish it to a report server. The data source and data source view are included with the model when it is published.

Deploy the report model for use in the Configuration Manager console

Further steps must be taken before you can run reports from the Configuration Manager console. For a step-by-step example of deploying a report model for use in the Configuration Manager console, see Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying a Report Model to Configuration Manager.

For step-by-step examples of producing report models, see Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Report Model in SQL Reporting Services - Simple and Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Report Model in SQL Reporting Services - Advanced.

See Also