Reordering Subscriptions

  • Problem 1: Does anyone know how to reorder subscriptions names for a report? I've looked at all the tables and schema on the SSRS server but don't see anything indicating a sort order. It's clearly created by first inserted but there is no rowID as it is using a GUID for the primary key in Subscription table. 
    Example: Want these ordered sequentially.
    - Turner 30th Day
    - Lincoln 28th Day
    - Turner 30th Day

    Problem 2: How to populate all subscription comments with the same message. I have about 100 subscriptions that need to be populated with a default message inside of them but can't find the tables associated. I'm thinking they might be stored in an XML document on the server but that seems to be silly that MS would do that.

    Thanks for any suggestions or help!

  • Kyle Sherry - Thursday, October 12, 2017 3:56 PM

    Problem 1: Does anyone know how to reorder subscriptions names for a report? I've looked at all the tables and schema on the SSRS server but don't see anything indicating a sort order. It's clearly created by first inserted but there is no rowID as it is using a GUID for the primary key in Subscription table. 
    Example: Want these ordered sequentially.
    - Turner 30th Day
    - Lincoln 28th Day
    - Turner 30th Day

    Problem 2: How to populate all subscription comments with the same message. I have about 100 subscriptions that need to be populated with a default message inside of them but can't find the tables associated. I'm thinking they might be stored in an XML document on the server but that seems to be silly that MS would do that.

    Thanks for any suggestions or help!

    Before you get going too far, you should be aware that the only table or views that are supported for any access in the Reporting Services databases would be the ExecutionLog views. Updating the tables directly isn't supported and is likely to cause issues. The supported means of any changes would be through report manager or using the Web Service, SOAP API. You can use rs.exe to access those using what is basically VB script and execute the script against SSRS.
    And there a lot of things in the tables that are in XML as MS didn't design (nor document) any of that for general use.

    In regards to problem 2, the comments are stored in the Subscription table in the extension settings column. I would really, really not make modifications directly to the table.

    In regards to problem 1, I have no idea what you mean by name of the subscription. For the subscriptions, there are descriptions and there are report names. Not sure if you mean one of those. If you have your own report or using one from the TechNet Gallery or elsewhere, use an order by in the query.

    Sue

  • In the SQL Reporting Service Database you will find a table called Subscriptions, and in that table an ntext field called ExtensionSettings. This is where the messages are stored (as part of an XML document). As Sue_H mentioned, monkeying with this manually is risky. I've done it before, but I wouldn't recommend taking it lightly. Back up the database. Make a copy of the table, and copy the ExtensionSettings field into a new field of XML datatype. Try creating some update statements with SQLXML, Xpath, etc (whatever you're most comfortable with) and see if you can get it to do the update you want (safely). Once you're SURE it's correct, back up your database again, try updating the ExtensionSettings field in the live copy of the Subscriptions table, and get ready to restore your backup when it all breaks. 😉

    If it's only 100 subscriptions, I'd recommend manual copy/paste using the web front end as almost as quick and much safer.

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