Report writing environment using SQL Server Data Tools

 

Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2015

This topic describes what’s needed to author Microsoft Dynamics CRM reports. For Microsoft Dynamics CRM (on-premises), this topic assumes you already have a functioning deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server. For information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM (on-premises) requirements for reporting, see Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 Reporting requirements_deleted.

You must have the required development tools and appropriate privileges in Microsoft Dynamics CRM to write and publish a report. Also, you should have familiarity with:

• Microsoft Visual Studio.

• Creating Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reports using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT).

• To write Fetch-based reports, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM FetchXML language.

• To write SQL-based reports, the Transact-SQL language for Microsoft SQL Server.

Required tools

The following are required to write a custom report for Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• ** Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services**. Microsoft Dynamics CRM uses Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services as the report engine.

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 or Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.

• SQL Server Data Tools. This is a report authoring environment that is used as a plug-in Microsoft Visual Studio.

  • For Microsoft Visual Studio 2012: You must download and install Download: Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2012.

  • For Microsoft Visual Studio 2010: You must select and install the SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) feature that is included with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express on the computer that is running Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. Download: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express 

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM Report Authoring Extension. This is required if you are writing custom Fetch-based reports. Notice that Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online only supports Fetch-based reports. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Report Authoring Extension must be installed on the computer where Microsoft Visual Studio and SQL Server Data Tools are installed. Download: CRM 2015 Report Authoring Extension. For installation instructions, see Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Report Authoring Extension.

Note

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Report Authoring Extension is available only in a 32-bit version.

Required privileges

To deploy custom reports to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you must have a Microsoft Dynamics CRM account and a security role assigned to you that includes the PublishReport privilege. By default, the System Customizer and System Administrator security roles include these privileges.

Report development process

The following lists the steps for developing custom Microsoft Dynamics CRM reports. You may have to repeat some steps while you develop a report:

1. Develop a report concept or specification based on what business information is to be displayed.

2. Decide on the type of report you want to create: Fetch-based or SQL-based. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online users can only create custom Fetch-based reports. More information: Report writing with CRM 2015 for online and on-premises

3. Create a custom report or use an existing report to modify using SQL Server Data Tools in Microsoft Visual Studio.

   • Create a new (custom) report. More information: Create a new report using SQL Server Data Tools

   • Download an existing Microsoft Dynamics CRM report definition language (.rdl) file. You can do this in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM web application. More information: Modify a report (RDL) file

     Alternatively, for Microsoft Dynamics CRM (on-premises), reports are located in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions\LangPacks\<lcid>\Reports\MSCRM\ folder where Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions is installed. More information: Modify an existing SQL-based report using SQL Server Data Tools

4. Create basic report parameters. More information: Use parameters in reports

5. Specify datasets and filtering criteria for retrieving data:

   • For SQL-based reports, create datasets that contain Microsoft Dynamics CRM data obtained from the filtered views. More information: Filtered views in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

   • Enable pre-filtering on the primary entities. More information: Improve report performance by using filters

6. Define the basic layout of the report, including headers and footers.

7. Add report items as required based on the report specification. More information: Add report navigation

8. Preview the report in Microsoft Visual Studio, and resolve any errors. More information: Test and troubleshoot reports

9. Deploy the report to the reporting server by using Microsoft Dynamics CRM. More information: Publish reports

10. Run the deployed report to verify.

See Also

Use SQL and filtered views to retrieve data for reports
Report writing with CRM 2015 for online and on-premises
Create a new report using SQL Server Data Tools
Getting Started with Custom Reports in the Cloud
Business Intelligence Development Studio
Report Designer and Business Intelligence Development Studio

© 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright