Create, modify, and delete schedules

Use this article to learn about how to create, modify, and delete Reporting Services shared schedules. To manage shared schedules for native mode, use the Schedules page in the web portal or the Shared Schedules folder in Management Studio. For SharePoint mode use, the management pages for the Reporting Services service application.

Use one of the following methods to determine if a shared schedule is actively used:

  • Web portal: On the Schedules tab of the Site Settings, review the values in the Last Run date, Next Run date, and Status fields. If a schedule no longer runs because it expired, the expiration date appears in the Status field. For more information, see Web portal (SSRS native mode).

  • SQL Server Management Studio: Viewing the Reports page of a given shared schedule. This page lists all reports and shared datasets that use the shared schedule. For more information, see Reporting Services in SQL Server Management Studio.

  • Logs: Viewing the report execution log files or trace logs to determine whether reports were run at the times specified by the schedule. For more information, see Reporting Services log files and sources.

When you delete a shared schedule

Shared schedules must be deleted manually using the Schedules page in the web portal or the Shared Schedules folder in Management Studio. If you delete a shared schedule that's in use, all references to it are replaced with report-specific schedules.

If you delete a shared schedule that is used by multiple reports and subscriptions, the report server creates individual schedules for each report and subscription that previously used the shared schedule. Each new individual schedule contains the date, time, and recurrence pattern that was specified in the shared schedule. Reporting Services doesn't provide central management of individual schedules. When you delete a shared schedule, you have to maintain the schedule information for each individual item.

Note: If you aren't sure if a shared schedule is used, consider deleting it in Management Studio instead of the Web portal. Management Studio provides the same shared schedule management features as Report Manager. But, it provides another Reports page that shows you the name of each report that uses the schedule.

Deleting a schedule and causing it to expire are different. An expiration date is used to stop a schedule but doesn't delete it. Because schedules are used to automate so many features, they're never deleted automatically. Expired schedules provide evidence to report server administrators as to why an automated process suddenly stopped. Without the presence of the expired schedule, a report server administrator can misdiagnose the problem or spend unnecessary time trying to troubleshoot a fully functional process.

When you delete a report specific schedule

Report and subscription-specific schedules are deleted when you delete the report or subscription, or when you choose a different approach to run the report or subscription. For example, choosing Always run this report with the most recent data deletes a report-specific schedule that you created to run a report as a report execution snapshot.

A report-specific schedule that expired remains attached to the report. You can determine if a schedule expired by checking its end date. An expired shared schedules remains in the Shared Schedules list. The Status field indicates whether the schedule expired. You can reinstate the schedule by extending the end date, or you can remove the schedule reference if you no longer need it.

Create, delete, or modify a shared schedule (web portal)

Creating and modifying a schedule consists of setting frequency options that determine when the schedule runs.

You can create or modify a schedule at any time. However, if a schedule starts to run before you complete your modifications, the earlier version of the schedule is used. The revised schedule doesn't take effect until you save it.

If you're modifying a shared schedule, you can pause it before you make changes. The changes take effect when you resume the schedule.

  1. In the web portal, select Settings in the toolbar.

    Note

    If Settings is not available, you do not have permission to access site settings.

  2. Select Site settings from the menu.

  3. Select the Schedules tab.

  4. Select + New schedule. To modify an existing schedule, select the name of the schedule.

  5. Type a descriptive name for the schedule.

  6. Select Hour, Day, Week, or Month. Select Once to create a schedule that runs one time only. Other options appear when you specify the basis of your schedule.

  7. Optionally select a date to start the schedule. The default is the current day. You can postpone the schedule start time by choosing a later date.

  8. Optionally, select a date to end the schedule. The schedule stops running on this date, but isn't deleted.

  9. Select a time for the schedule to run.

  10. Select OK.

Delete a shared schedule (web portal)

  1. In the web portal, select Settings in the toolbar.
  2. Select Site settings from the menu.
  3. Select the Schedules tab.
  4. Select the checkbox next to the shared schedule you want to delete, and then choose Delete.

Create, delete, or modify a shared schedule (Management Studio)

A shared schedule contains schedule and recurrence information. Any number of published reports and subscriptions that run on a Reporting Services report server can use that information. If you have many reports and subscriptions that run at the same time, you can create a shared schedule for those jobs. If you want to change the recurrence pattern or the end date, you can make the change in one place.

Shared schedules are easier to maintain and give you more flexibility in managing scheduled operations. For example, you can pause and resume shared schedules. Also, if you find that too many scheduled operations are running at the same time, you can create multiple shared schedules. These schedules can run at different times. Then, you can adjust the schedule information until the processing load evens out across the report server.

Create or modify a shared schedule (Management Studio)

  1. Start SQL Server Management Studio and connect to a report server instance.

  2. In Object Explorer, expand a report server node.

  3. Right-click the Shared Schedules folder, and then select New Schedule. The General page of the New Shared Schedule dialog box is displayed.

    To modify an existing shared schedule, expand the Shared Schedules folder, right-click the schedule you want to modify, and then select Properties.

  4. Type a descriptive name for the schedule.

  5. Optionally select a date to start the schedule. The default is the current day.

  6. Optionally select a date to end the schedule. The schedule stops running on this date, but isn't deleted.

  7. To configure a recurring schedule, select Hour, Day, Week, or Month. Other options are displayed. Use these other options to configure schedule frequency, based on your preferred hour, day, week, or month.

    Or, to specify a one-time (nonrecurring) schedule, select Once, and then specify a Start time.

  8. Select OK.

To delete a shared schedule (Management Studio)
  1. In Object Explorer, expand a report server node.
  2. To verify the shared schedule isn't currently used by reports, Expand the Shared Schedules folder, right-click the schedule and select Properties.
  3. Select the Reports tab to view the list of reports currently using the schedule. Select Cancel.
  4. Expand the Shared Schedules folder, right-click the schedule you want to delete, and then select Delete. The Delete Catalog Items dialog box appears.
  5. Select OK.

If you delete a shared schedule that is used by multiple reports and subscriptions, the report server creates individual schedules for each report and subscription that previously used the shared schedule. Each new individual schedule contains the date, time, and recurrence pattern that was specified in the shared schedule.

Create and manage shared schedules (SharePoint mode)

You must be a site administrator to create, modify, or delete shared schedules on a SharePoint site.

You can identify a specific schedule by its descriptive name. If a name isn't specified, a default name is created based on facts about the schedule, such as its recurrence pattern or dates and times when it runs.

Note

Creating shared schedules requires SQL Server Agent service.

Create shared schedules (SharePoint mode)

  1. Select Site Actions.
  2. Select Site Settings.
  3. In the Reporting Services section, select Manage Shared Schedules.
  4. Select Add Schedule to open the Schedule Properties page.
  5. Enter a descriptive name for the schedule. On the application pages used to work with Reporting Services reports, this name appears in drop-down lists in schedule definition pages throughout the site. Avoid long names that are hard to read. Do follow a naming convention that puts the most description information at the beginning of the name.
  6. Choose a frequency. Depending on the frequency you choose, the schedule options that appear on the page might change to support that frequency (for example, if you choose Month, the name of each month appears on the page).
  7. Define the schedule. Not all schedule combinations can be supported in a single schedule.
  8. Set a start and end date.
  9. Select OK.

Delete shared schedules (SharePoint mode)

All schedules, whether shared or report specific, must be deleted manually. When you delete a shared schedule that's in use, all references to it are replaced with unspecified custom schedules. An unspecified custom schedule is a custom schedule that doesn't have date or time information.

  1. Select Site Actions.
  2. Select Site Settings.
  3. In the Reporting Services section, select Manage Shared Schedules.
  4. Select the schedule, and select Delete.