accessing a shared data source that is created in report server, by report designer

Question

Hello There,

I created a shared data source over SSRS report server web-portal;

1. I am wandering, if it can be used /accessed by report-designer while building a report? I got this concern, because, as I tried to find a way out to access a shared data source by

right click on shared data source > add > existing item > file location and I didn't find a a server option to connect to report server.

1. what is the scope of the shared data source being created in report-designer and published to report-server?
2. If a shared data-source that is created over report-designer, is published over report-server, such shared-data-source could only be accessed by report-builder tool directly. Am I Right?

would anyone please help me analyze /conclude on my understanding?

Thank you for giving your valuable time!

Please help me to analyze my understanding.

Answer 1

Hi @ArunRaaman ,
According to your description , seems that you want to download the shared data source from the ssrs web portal ,right? If so ,unfourtunely seems there is no default method to download the shared data source . Although you cannot download the shared data source (XML file) directly from the web portal, you can still get it through the following method:

1. Create a similar named Datasource in your project. Within the properties of the project make sure to set "Overwrite DataSources" to false. When you deploy you won't overwrite what is already on server.
2. Have the other party (one you are sharing with) send you the .rds file and import it. Again change the "Overwrite DataSources" to false.

If you have deployed the shared data source to the report server, you will find Shared data source is just a xml file in the web portal. In short, the shared data source is just a linked string for connecting to various data source types, the string contains: Name, Description, Connection type, Connection string and Credential type. For example: Data Source=ServerName;Initial Catalog=AdventureWorksDW2019

So If you want to use this shared data source, you only need to create the same string in the Report Designer. Or download a report containing an embedded data source with the same string. You could also download the XML file of the data source. Please following the steps:

• You could check the shared data source content in report server web services url which is like : http://<servername>/ReportServer,then copy the content to a new xml file.
• You could get all the data source information via url: http://<servername> /Reports/api/v2.0/DataSources/
  
• Then , get the correspond id ,filled in below url: http://<servername>/Reports/api/v2.0/catalogitems(correspond_id)/Content/$value

Regarding the second method mentioned, get the RDS file. This requires familiarity with PowerShell.
Hope this helps.

The above methods are not as convenient as creating a similar data source in the report designer.
Best Regards,
Joy

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