Working with Models
A report model is a metadata description of a data source and its relationships. In order to create reports using Report Builder, you must first build a report model based on your SQL Server database, SQL Server 2005 or later Analysis Services cube, or Oracle databases running version 9.2.0.3 or later. Models can be created using Model Designer, Report Manager, or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. Model Designer provides the most flexibility for designing models based on SQL Server or Oracle databases. By using Model Designer, you can select which rules are applied during the model generation process, and you can modify the model and its underlying data source view. Using Report Manager or Office SharePoint Server , you can generate models based on SQL Server databases, Oracle databases, or Analysis Services cubes, but only models based on Oracle and SQL Server can be further edited in Model Designer.
Note
If your model is generated from a Analysis Services cube and the cube has been changed, you should regenerate the model. To make the Analysis Services cube-based model more efficient, it is recommended that you make your changes within the cube. For more information about the rules of model generation for AS cubes, see Designing Cube-Based Report Models.
Tool Comparison
The following table presents a visual comparison between the tools available to create a report model. Models based on SQL Server databases and Oracle databases can be edited in Model Designer, regardless of which tool is used to generate the model.
Tool |
SQL Server Database |
Analysis Services Cube |
Oracle Database |
Teradata Database |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Model Designer |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Report Manager |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
SharePoint Server |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
In This Section
Working with Model Designer
Discusses using Model Designer to create report models based on SQL Server databases.Generating Models Using Report Management Tools
Discusses using Report Manager to create report models based on SQL Server databases or Analysis Services cubes.Designing Cube-Based Report Models
Discusses creating report models from Analysis Services cubes.Creating and Using Oracle-Based Report Models
Discusses creating report models from Oracle databases.Creating and Using Teradata-Based Report Models
Discusses creating report models from Teradata databases.