Modify the FoodMart
Sales Report
In
this section, we will copy the existing FoodMart Sales report, and then
open it in Reporting Services' Report Designer, where we will begin the
modifications that the information consumers have requested.
Set up
a Data Connection for the FoodMart Sales Report
Our next step is to set
up a Data Connection. As we have noted numerous times throughout our
series, Reporting Services can connect with, and create the DataSets it
needs from virtually any ODBC or OLE DB-compliant data source (in
addition to the obvious MSSQL Server and MSAS data stores). .NET-based API's
add the potential for other data sources, assuming that you have a legacy, or
otherwise "alternative," scenario on your hands.
Let's set up a Connection
to support the DataSet within our practice example.
1.
Right-click
the Shared Data Sources folder underneath the new RS012 project
tree in the Solution Explorer.
2.
Select Add
New Data Source from the context menu that appears, as depicted in Illustration
6.
Illustration 6: Select
Add New Data Source from the Context Menu
The Data
Link Properties dialog appears, defaulted to the Connection tab.
3.
Click the Provider
tab, to select it.
4.
Select Microsoft
OLE DB Provider for OLAP Services 8.0 from the Provider list box, as
shown in Illustration 7.
Illustration 7:
Selecting Microsoft OLE DB Provider
for OLAP Services 8.0 - Providers Tab
5.
Click Next,
to move to the Connection tab.
6.
In the Data
Source box, type the name of the server upon which MSAS resides (mine is MOTHER1
in the illustration that follows).
7.
Type in the
server name again in the Location box.
8.
Provide the
appropriate authentication information to access the MSAS environment on the
server you have selected.
I am
using Windows NT Integrated Security, as this is not a production
environment. For a production environment, selections here require careful
consideration.
9.
Select FoodMart
2000 in the list of data sources that appear when we click the down-arrow
selector button at the next box (and thus receive confirmation that our server
/ authentication information is adequate to display the sources) at the top of
the Data tab.
The completed Data Link Properties - Connection
tab appears as depicted in Illustration 8.
Illustration 8: Data
Link Properties - Connection Tab
10.
Click the Test
Connection button to confirm connectivity.
The Microsoft
Data Link message box appears, indicating a successful test, as shown in Illustration
9.
Illustration 9: Testing
Positive for Connectivity ...
11.
Click OK
to close the message box.
12.
Click OK
to accept the settings we have made, and to close the Data Link Properties
dialog.
Having
established the data source, we are now ready to create a copy of the FoodMart
Sales sample report, which we will then modify to meet the expressed
requirements of the information consumers.
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