How to Add a Data Source to Report Builder 3.0

Report Builder is a small report design tool that is installed on your report server as part of Microsoft SQL Server. Similar in look and feel to Microsoft Word, it is a comfortable environment for users of other Microsoft Office tools. You can create simple or complex reports very quickly through wizards and an intuitive interface. If you have SQL and scripting skills you can customize SQL queries within Report Builder, but it is often just as quick to follow the UI and use the wizards.

A data source is a database and the credentials to access it. The Report Manager server is preloaded with two data sources:

  • Reports/config—Less often used, this data source contains templates, and information used by branding and scheduling.
  • Reports/warehouse—This data source allows direct access to the data warehouse and to access data. You need to use SQL queries, and you cannot use the Query Design Wizard.

When you open a Template in Report Builder, the data source connection is automatically connected. In the case of a blank report, you will need to make that connection manually:

  1. Add a data source in Report Builder.
  2. Select the connection.Use a shared connection or report model.
  3. Select your <reportserver> data source. This is the warehouse that provides a graphical representation of the raw data, and allows you to use the Query Designer in order to drag and drop data from the database into the report designer.

The new data source with the name you created appears in the Report Data pane under Data Sources.