Use the Data Sources properties page to define how the current report connects to an external data source. You can override the data source connection information that was originally published with the report.
If multiple data sources are used with a report, each data source has its own section in the properties page. Data sources are listed in the order in which they are defined in the report.
When specifying a data source to use with the report, you can use a shared data source that is created and managed separately from the reports that use it. If you do not want to use a shared data source item, you can define a data source connection to use with the report manually.
To open this page, select a report, click the Properties tab at the top of the page, and then click the Data Sources tab at the side of the page.
A shared data source
Specify a shared data source to use with the report. For more information about creating a new data source, see New Data Source Page.
Browse
Click Browse to open the Data Source Selection page, which is used to select a shared data source. For more information, see Data Source Selection Page.
A custom data source
Specify how the report connects to the data source.
The following options are used to specify a custom data source connection:
Connection Type
Specify the data processing extension that is used to process data from the data source. Report server includes data processing extensions for SQL Server, SQL Server Analysis Services, Oracle, OLE DB, and ODBC. Additional data processing extensions may be available from third-party vendors.
Connection String
Specify the connection string that the report server uses to connect to the data source. The following example illustrates a connection string used to connect to the SQL Server AdventureWorks database:
data source=<a SQL Server instance>;initial catalog=AdventureWorks2000
Connect Using
Specifies options that determine how credentials are obtained.
Important If credentials are provided in the connection string, the options and values provided in this section are ignored. Note that if you specify credentials on the connection string, the values are displayed in clear text to all users who view this page.
The credentials supplied by the user running the report
Each user must type in a user name and password to access the data source.
You can define the prompt text that requests user credentials. The default text string is "Enter a user name and password to access the data source."
Select Use as Windows credentials when connecting to the data source if the credentials that the user provides are Windows Authentication credentials. Do not select this check box if you are using database authentication (for example, SQL Server Authentication).
Credentials stored securely in the report server
Store an encrypted user name and password in the report server database. Choose this option to run a report unattended (for example, reports that are initiated by schedules or events instead of user action).
Choose Use as Windows credentials when connecting to the data source if the credentials are Windows Authentication credentials. Do not select this check box if you are using database authentication (for example, SQL Server Authentication).
Choose Impersonate the authenticated user after a connection has been made to the data source to allow delegation of credentials, but only if a data source supports impersonation. For SQL Server databases, this option sets the SETUSER function.
Windows NT Integrated Security
Use the Windows credentials of the current user to access the data source. Choose this option when the credentials that are used to access a data source are the same as those used to logon to the network domain.
This option works best when Kerberos is enabled for your domain, or when the data source is on the same computer as the report server. If Kerberos is not enabled, Windows credentials can be passed to one other computer. If additional computer connections are required, you will get an error instead of the data you expect.
Do not use this option to run unattended reports or reports that are available for subscription. The report server initiates the running of unattended reports. The credentials of the report server that are used to access the report server database cannot be used to access external data sources.
Credentials are not required
Specify that credentials are not required to access the data source. Note that if a data source requires a user login, choosing this option will have no affect. You should only choose this option if the data source connection does not require user credentials.
When you configure a data source to use no credentials, you must perform additional steps if the report that uses the data source is to support subscriptions, scheduled report history, or scheduled report execution. Specifically, you must create a low privileged account that the report server uses when running the report. This account is used in place of the service account that the report server normally runs under. For more information about this account, see "
Apply
Click Apply to save your changes.
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