SSRS, how to logicaly combine related reports

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SSRS, how to logicaly combine related reports

mario17

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September 9, 2013 at 8:58 pm

#276964

Hi,
I have to produce 4 reports pretty much from the same source, just different values, ranges, they all related, though have different columns.
I'm thinking how I can combine them into one .rdl. Can I use map to create 4 pages and use separate data source for each of them?
With separate title and tablix for each page.? Is it possible?
Or there is something else I can use.
I don't won't to deal with 4 separate rdl-setup-deploy-vss-etc....
Thanks
Mario

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Tee Time Hall of Fame Points: 3745 More actions · Answer 1

With differerent parameters for each dataset, I would guess? Yes, you could certainly create four tablix regions and assign a different datasource to each one.

Alan Burstein SSC Guru Points: 61136 More actions · Answer 2

The short answer is: Yes, absolutely - there are several different ways.

I have done this kind of thing many times but need to better understand your requirement to make a recommendation. What makes the reports different? Can you expand on "just different values, ranges, they all related, though have different columns". What are the parameters?

Here's a couple general suggestions:

You can create four different pages each with it's own Tablix and it's own data source (as you already proposed). Then you could make them visible based on what parameters are selected. This is the easy down-and-dirty approach. The downside is that you are executing all four datasets even though you are only returning one tablix of data which is not ideal.

A better approach would be to have just one dataset that fires off one of four stored procedures based on user input. For example: you have a @Report parameter with four options: Report1, Report2, Report3 and Report4. In the dataset you would select "stored procedure" and then set an expression that fires off only the stored proc that you need based on the value of @Report. Then just have one tablix with all the columns you need and set the column and/or group visibility based on the value of @Report.

--edit: typo

"I cant stress enough the importance of switching from a sequential files mindset to set-based thinking. After you make the switch, you can spend your time tuning and optimizing your queries instead of maintaining lengthy, poor-performing code."

-- Itzik Ben-Gan 2001

mario17 SSCertifiable Points: 6078 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks, Alan and Tee.

It's good enough for me to know that I can have 4 pages with diff datasets, they all just belong to each other logically but display diff dimensions, so name of columns, number of columns, grouping will be all different. And there are no common parameters.

Thanks again for your help.

Going to learn how to make pages now.

Best

M