Tools available in SQL Server Reporting Services
SQL Server Reporting Services contains a set of graphical and scripting tools that support the development and use of rich reports in a managed environment. The tool set includes development tools, configuration and administration tools, and report viewing tools. This article gives a brief overview of each tool in SSRS and how you can access it.
To learn how to use a tool right away, see Tutorial: How to locate and start Reporting Services tools (SSRS).
Tools for report authoring
The following table lists the available tools for report authoring in SSRS.
Tool | Description | How to access |
---|---|---|
SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher | With Mobile Report Publisher, you can create mobile reports that dynamically adjust the content to fit your screen or browser window and scale well to any screen size. Create mobile reports on a design surface with adjustable grid rows and columns, and flexible mobile report elements. For more information, see Create mobile reports with SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher. |
Download the SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher. |
Report Designer | Use this tool to design reports. It includes the following features: Deploy to a native mode or SharePoint mode report server. Host in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). Report Data pane to organize data used in your report. Tabbed views for Design and Preview for interactive report design. Query designers to help specify which data to retrieve from data sources and that are associated with data source types in the RSReportDesigner configuration file. Expression editor with IntelliSense to build Visual Basic expressions that customize report content and appearance. Supports custom report items and custom query designers. For more information, see Reporting Services in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). |
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) |
Report Builder | Use this tool to design reports. It includes the following features: Deploy to a native mode or SharePoint mode report server. Microsoft Office-like authoring environment. SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher. Save report items as report parts. A wizard for creating maps. Aggregates of aggregates. Enhanced support for expressions. Query designers to help specify which data to retrieve from a selection of built-in data sources types. For more information, see Microsoft Report Builder in SQL Server. |
Download the standalone version of Report Builder. Or you can open it from the web portal/SharePoint. |
Note
SQL Server Mobile Report Publisher is deprecated for all releases of SQL Server Reporting Services after SQL Server Reporting Services 2019. It's discontinued starting in SQL Server Reporting Services 2022 and Power BI Report Server.
Report parts are deprecated for all releases of SQL Server Reporting Services after SQL Server Reporting Services 2019.
Tools for report server administration
A set of graphical and scripting tools are available for administering the report server in SSRS. The tools that you use depend on the deployment mode of your report server.
Native mode
The following table lists the available tools for administering a report server deployed in native mode.
Tool | Description | How to access |
---|---|---|
Report Server Configuration Manager | Use this tool to configure a Reporting Services installation. Available tasks include: Configure the Report Server service account. Create and configuring one or more Web service URLs. Configure the web portal URL. Create and configure the report server database. Configure a scale-out deployment. Back up, restore, or replace a symmetric key used to encrypt stored connection strings and credentials. Configure the unattended execution account. Configure Subscription settings. Configure an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server for e-mail delivery. Configure the Power BI Service (cloud). Note: The Report Server Configuration Manager doesn't help you manage report server content, enable other features, or grant access to the server. For more information, see Report Server Configuration Manager (native mode). |
Start menu |
SQL Server Management Studio | Use this tool to manage one or more report server instances in a single environment, for example: Manage both local and remote report server instances. Set report server properties. Modify role definitions. Turn off report server features you aren't using. Manage jobs. Manage shared schedules. |
Start menu |
Rsconfig Utility | Use this tool to configure and manage a report server connection to the report server database. You can also use it to specify a user account to use for unattended report processing. For more information, see Report server common prompt utilities (SSRS). |
Command prompt |
Rskeymgmt Utility | Use this tool to: Extract, restore, create, and delete the symmetric key used to encrypt report server data. Join report server instances in a scale-out deployment. For more information, see Report server command prompt utilities (SSRS). |
Command prompt |
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Classes | Use these classes to automate the configuration tasks in Report Server Configuration Manager without needing to use the graphical user interface. For more information, see Access the WMI Provider programmatically. |
Visual Basic script |
SharePoint integrated mode
In SharePoint mode, the Reporting Services is a service application in the SharePoint architecture, and you administer directly through SharePoint.
Tool | Description | How to access |
---|---|---|
SharePoint Central Administration | Use SharePoint Central Administration to create, query, and manage the shared service applications for SSRS. For more information, see Configuration and administration of a SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) report server. |
Browser to the SharePoint site URL for Central Administration |
PowerShell Cmdlets | Use PowerShell cmdlets to create, query, and manage the shared service applications for SSRS. For more information, see PowerShell cmdlets for Reporting Services SharePoint mode. |
SharePoint 2010 Management Shell |
Tools for report content management
A set of graphical and scripting tools are available for managing content in SSRS. The tools that you use depend on the deployment mode of your report server.
Tool | Description | How to access |
---|---|---|
Report Server Web service URL | Use this tool to browse content in the report catalog in a generic item navigation page. For more information, see Report Server web service. |
Browser |
Web Portal | (Native mode only) Use this tool to administer a single report server instance from a remote location over an HTTP connection. Available actions: View, search, print, and subscribe to reports. Organize, create, secure, and maintain the folder hierarchy. Configure role-based security that determines access to items and operations. Configure report execution properties, report history, and report parameters. Create report models that connect to and retrieve data from a Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services data source or from a SQL Server relational data source. Set model item security to allow access to specific entities in the model, or map entities to predefined clickthrough reports that you create in advance. To make schedules and data source connections more manageable, create shared schedules and shared data sources. Create data-driven subscriptions that roll out reports to a large recipient list. Create linked reports to reuse and repurpose an existing report in different ways. Launch Report Builder to create reports that you can save and run on the report server. For more information, see The web portal of a report server (SSRS native mode). |
Browser |
RS Utility | This tool is a script host that you use to perform scripted operations. Use this tool to run Visual Basic scripts that copy data between report server databases, publish reports, create items in a report server database, and more. For more information, see Report server command prompt utilities (SSRS). | Command prompt |