Overview of Reporting Services

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is now the primary reporting platform for Microsoft Dynamics AX. The default, preconfigured reports that are included with Microsoft Dynamics AX run on the Reporting Services platform.

Before you integrate Microsoft Dynamics AX and Reporting Services, review this topic to better understand the concepts and components of Reporting Services.

Reporting Services modes

When you install Reporting Services, you must select a mode in which to run Reporting Services. Two modes are available: native mode and SharePoint integrated mode.

Native mode

In native mode, a report server is a stand-alone application server. Native mode is the default mode for Reporting Services.

If the report server is running in native mode, the reports that are included with Microsoft Dynamics AX are deployed to the Report Manager website. You can manage and view the reports from this website. The following picture shows the Report Manager website that contains Microsoft Dynamics AX reports.

For instructions about how to configure Reporting Services in native mode, see Before you install the Reporting Services extensions.

SharePoint integrated mode

In SharePoint integrated mode, a report server runs in a SharePoint server farm.

If the report server is running in SharePoint integrated mode, the reports that are included with Microsoft Dynamics AX are deployed to a document library on a SharePoint website. You can manage and view the reports from this document library. The following picture shows a document library that contains Microsoft Dynamics AX reports.

For instructions about how to configure Reporting Services in SharePoint integrated mode, see Before you install the Reporting Services extensions.

Reporting Services Configuration Manager

After you install a Reporting Services instance, you can use Reporting Services Configuration Manager. This tool helps you configure settings and specify which accounts are used by the Reporting Services instance. For more information about how to use Reporting Services Configuration Manager, see Before you install the Reporting Services extensions.

The following picture shows the Reporting Services Configuration Manager that is included with Reporting Services 2012.

Report Manager

When you configure a Reporting Services instance that is running in native mode, a website that is named Report Manager is created. As the Microsoft Dynamics AX administrator, you deploy the reports that are included with Microsoft Dynamics AX to this site.

By default, the URL of the Report Manager site is http://[SSRSServerName]:80/Reports. The following picture shows the Report Manager website.

Reporting Services web service

When you configure a Reporting Services instance, a web service is created. Users cannot access reports unless this service is running.

The URL of the web service is typically http://[SSRSServerName]:80/ReportServer. However, if you are using Reporting Services 2012 or 2014 in SharePoint integrated mode, the URL is typically http://[SharePointServerName]/_vti_bin/ReportServer or http:[SharePointServerName]/sites/[SiteName]/_vti_bin/ReportServer.

The following picture shows the web service for an instance of Reporting Services that is running in native mode.

Report Builder

Report Builder is an ad hoc reporting tool that lets users create their own reports. For more information about how to use Report Builder to create a report that accesses Microsoft Dynamics AX data, see Create a report by using SQL Server Report Builder to connect to a cube.

The following picture shows Report Builder in design mode.