PerformancePoint web-parts cannot be connected (linked)

Few days back, I faced for a strange issue with PerformancePoint web-parts. It was a simple thing, all I had was, a web page created with SharePoint and couple of web-parts. Once the page is open in design mode and web-parts are placed, tried to link two web-parts (a report web-part and a filter) through a connection as below;

Funny thing was, though it allowed me to create the connection (link) and save, it did not get saved permanently. If I open the connection window again, the created connection is missing.

I could not find the issue immediately but it was a terrible thing. Thanks for my colleagues, they have found the issue. It is with Internet Explorer. If you try to do this with Internet Explorer 8.x, it is not going to work. For some of my colleagues, older versions of IE have been worked. For some, older version of FireFox has been worked. Finally what I did was, installed FireFox 3.6 and got it done. Note that it is not going to work with FireFox 4.x too.

Anyone faced this issue? Why SharePoint gives an issue with latest browsers? If you know anything on this, please share with me.

Installing and Configuring PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010

Microsoft PowerPivot is slowly becoming an essential technology for Business Users addressing Self-Service Business Intelligence. It is innovated by Microsoft SQL Server team as a part of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 release and comes in two flavors; PowerPivot for Excel and PowerPivot for SharePoint. I have already written a post on Excel add-in (Creating Self-Service Business Intelligence dashboard with PowerPivot – Part I) which discusses dashboard creation with Excel and PowerPivot. This post discusses about Installing PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010 with following sections;

• Excel and SharePoint
• Installing PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010
• Error: Could not load assembly
  ‘Microsoft.AnalysisServices.SharePoint.Integration.dll’
• SQL Server Analysis Services Installation – VertiPaq
• Deploying PowerPivot solution packages to Web Application
• Other Services required
• Creating PowerPivot Service Application
• PowerPivot Feature Integration for Site Collections
• Configuring PowerPivotUnAttendedAccount for Data Refresh

Excel and SharePoint
Why two technologies? We can consider that Excel is for authoring PowerPivot applications. It allows to create an application with one or many data sources and then facilitates data analysis in a multi-dimensional structure. It does not need a constant connection to used data sources, everything will be stored inside Excel Workbook and if want, data can be refreshed. SharePoint can be considered as a hosting environment for PowerPivot applications. We usually go for SharePoint if collaboration, sharing and reporting are required.

Installing PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010
There are two components need to be installed. PowerPivot System Service and Analysis Services in VertiPaq mode which is a local, in-process Analysis Services engine. Let’s start with Analysis Services.

Installing Analysis Services for PowerPivot is straight forward. I have already set up my SharePoint 2010 farm. It uses SQL Server 2008 R2 that exist in same box. Note that my installation contains full SQL Server product suite, including SQL Server Analysis Services, hence new instance of Analysis Services for PowerPivot will be a named instance. There is a known issue you might face if SQL Server installation is already exist. It is;

Could not load assembly ‘Microsoft.AnalysisServices.SharePoint.Integration.dll’
You get this error if you have a prior installation of SQL Server 2008 R2. Unfortunately it comes at the completion of the installation.

Solution for this is simple. Create a text file as below and save it as Setup100.exe.config.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>

<configuration>

  <runtime>

    <disableCachingBindingFailures enabled="1" />

  </runtime>

</configuration>

Then move the file into %ProgramFIles%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\SQLServer2008R2\x64. Once the file is placed, you need to start the installation again. For more information, see this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2261507 .

SQL Server Analysis Services Installation – VertiPaq
Before starting the installation, make sure that a domain account is created for new Analysis Services instance for running the service. In my case, newly created account for this is PowerPivotAnalysisServices.

Now run the SQL Server 2008 R2 setup. It would be better to run the setup as Administrator (Right click on Setup.exe and select “Run as Administrator”). If you have configured more than one server for the farm as Application Servers, the installation should be done for all servers (Generally we set up two servers one for WFE and another for applications. This installation should be done only on Application Servers).

Once the installation is started, select New installation or add shared features as per the screen below.

Continue with screens until you get a screen which allows you to select SQL Server PowerPivot for SharePoint. Select Existing Farm for Add PowerPivot for SharePoint to (Note that assumption here is Farm is already configured).

Next screen is Feature Selection. It is a read-only screen, you will not be able to change anything on it. Continue with the wizard until you get Instance Configuration screen. You will notice that the instance has already been named ad POWERPIVOT. Do not change it, continue the wizard.

At the Server Configuration screen, set newly created domain account and its password for SQL Server Analysis Services. When you have Analysis Services Configuration screen, make sure that accounts that need to be administrators for Analysis Services are added.

Everything is set now, continue the wizard and complete the installation. Once it is done, go to SharePoint Central Administration –> System Settings –> Manage Servers in this Farm. It shows all the servers in the farm and services running. If you see SQL Server Analysis Services and SQL Server PowerPivot System Service, your installation is successful.

Deploying PowerPivot solution packages to Web Application
Next part is deploying PowerPivot solution packages to Web Applications (to WFE Servers). There are two solution packages. Installation we performed earlier deploys solution packages for Central Administration but not for our web application. Go to SharePoint Central Administration –> System Settings –> Farm Management –> Manage Farm Solutions. You should see two solutions;

• powerpivotfarm.wsp is deployed globally, no need to deploy again.
• powerpivotwebapp.wsp, you can see that it has been deployed to my default web application (http://w2008r2-sp:10000). This is the solution we need to deploy manually to Web Application which suppose to hold PowerPivot data.

Let’s deploy powerpivotwebapp.wsp to a web application. Click on powerpivotwebapp.wsp. It opens Solution Properties. Click on Deploy Solution. Select the web application from the drop-down you need to use under Deploy to? and click OK. Once the Solution Properties page is open, make sure that added web application is listed as below.

Other Services required
Next step is starting all other necessary services required by PowerPivot. Make sure following services are running;

• Excel Calculation Service
• Secure Store Service
• Claims to Windows token Service
• SQL Server Analysis Services
• SQL Server PowerPivot System Service

These services are listed under SharePoint Central Administration –> System Settings –> Manage Services on Servers.

Creating PowerPivot Service Application
This helps to establish the communication between WFE and PowerPivot service via PowerPivot Service Application Proxy. Let’s create it. Go to SharePoint Central Administration –> Application Management –> Manage Service Applications. Click on New and select SQL Server PowerPivot Service Application.

With Create New PowerPivot Service Application window, set the name as PowerPivotServiceApplication. Do not use any existing pool, create a new one and assign a domain account for it. Set the database server and database name then. Finally select the checkbox Add the proxy for this PowerPivot service application to the default proxy group. Click OK to create it.

PowerPivot Feature Integration for Site Collections
This is appeared under Site Collection Features and must be activated for each of the site collections. Go to your site collection and click on Site Actions –> Site Settings –> Site Collection Administration –> Site Collection Features. When the page open, find PowerPivot Services feature integration for Site Collections and activate it.

Configuring PowerPivotUnAttendedAccount for Data Refresh
PowerPivot unattended account is used for refreshing data in the workbook if user credentials are not exist with the workbook. This account is stored in SharePoint Secure Store Service. In order to continue, you need to make sure that Secure Store Service is up and running, and master key is created. I have already configured Secure Store Service for PerformancePoint. If you have not, see this post for configuring it: http://dinesql.blogspot.com/2010/07/configuring-performancepoint-2010.html.

Let’s open the Secure Store Service Application. Go to SharePoint Central Administration –> Application Management –> Manage Service Applications. Click on Secure Store Service (or select it and click on Manage) link;

Secure Store Service uses Target Applications for holding accounts. In my case, I have an application set up for PerformancePoint and that is what has been listed. If you have note, nothing will be listed. Once a Target Application is created for PowerPivot, it has to be associated with PowerPivot Service Application. Let’s start creating the Target Application. Click on New for opening Create New Secure Store Target Application. Set ID and name for the application. Appropriate ID and name would be PowerPivotDataRefresh and Power Pivot Data Refresh. Enter a valid email for Contact Email and select Individual for Target Application Type.

Next screen for specifying fields (columns) for the application. Accept the default as we need only user name and password and continue.

Next screen for setting admins for the application. Make sure that you have added the account which is used for PowerPivot Service Application pool. In addition to that, any account need to be an admin can be added. Continue the wizard and complete. Finally you are back on Secure Store Service. You should see the newly created application listed now.

Next is setting credentials for PowerPivotDataRefresh application (or PowerPivot unattended account). Select the check box next to newly created application and click on Set Credentials button. It opens the Set Credentials for Secure Target Application (Individual). Settings for this screen will be;

• Credential Owner: This is the owner of the credential. It will be used by PowerPivot unattended account but this is not the account used as the unattended account.
• Windows user name and password: This is the actual account used as the unattended account.

Click OK. Now we need to associate the application with PowerPivot Service Application. Go to SharePoint Central Administration –> Application Management –> Manage Service Applications. Find PowerPivot Service Application and click the link (or select it and click on Manage button). This opens PowerPivot Management Dashboard. Click on Configure Service Application Settings in Actions frame. It opens PowerPivot Settings. Find PowerPivot Unattended Data Refresh Account input box under Data Refresh. Type the ID of the application created in Secure Store Service, in my case, it is PowerPivotDataRefresh.

Done. To complete the process, few setting have to be done in Excel Services.

Settings in Excel Services
Go to SharePoint Central Administration –> Application Management –> Manage Service Applications. Find Excel Services Application and open it. It opens Manage Excel Services Application. Click on Trusted File Locations.

You will see that SharePoint has been added as a Trusted Location (Address is http://). In order to access a workbook by both Excel and PowerPivot services, this is required.

Get the menu of http:// and select Edit. Change following items in Edit Trusted File Location.

• Workbook Properties: Maximum Workbook Size. Set as you want. Note that maximum file size accepted by SharePoint for both Excel and PowerPivot is 2GB.
• External Data: Select Trusted data connection libraries and embedded under Allow External Data.

Click OK to save settings. Now, You should be able to upload an Excel file that contains PowerPivot data into the web application and see.

Will discuss more on this in another post.

PPS Reports: Integrating Reporting Services Reports with PerformancePoint 2010 Dashboards

The success of Business Intelligence solution can be measured with Visualization of data, hence Visualization in proper manner is important. It is handled through many ways, providing easier access for information to business users. One of the key components in Microsoft Business Intelligence suite is PerformancePoint 2010 which supports visualizing data in number of ways. PPS allows business user to interact with data, organize as he wants and change the content as he wants with its reporting features. Some of reporting facilities available with PPS are Reporting Services reports, Analytic charts, grids, and Decomposition trees. This post focuses on Reporting Services reports, basically, how a Reporting Services report can be added to PPS dashboard.

Microsoft Report Viewer 2008
In order to use Reporting Services report with PPS Dashboard Designer, you need to make sure that Microsoft Report Viewer is installed in your machine. If not, you may face errors like “Unable to connect with Report Server” or “Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.ReportViewer.WinForms’…..”. It is available for 2005, 2008 and 2010 now. It looks like PPS Dashboard Designer works only with 2008 (I have 2008 SP1) but you can try 2010 too. Here are links for downloading it:
Microsoft Report Viewer Distributable 2008
Microsoft Report Viewer Distributable 2008 SP1
Microsoft Report Viewer Distributable 2010

Getting Started
As usual, you have to start with PPS Dashboard Designer. If you have configured Business Intelligence Web Application and site properly with SharePoint 2010, there will a link available for downloading this ClickOnce application (see Configuring PerformancePoint 2010 for more details). Click on Run Dashboard Designer for downloading the designer.

Once open, Save it with a meaningful name. Then select PerformancePoint Content folder in left-pane and go to Create tab in the ribbon. Click on Reporting Services.

Report Setting
You need to set few settings in order to have a Reporting Services report in your dashboard.

Server Mode: This allows you to set the mode of Reporting Server you are going to connect with. If it is hosted in SharePoint, select SharePoint Integrated, else select Report Centre. In my case, it is SharePoint Integrated mode.

Report Server URL: This is the URL of Report Server Web Service which you set of Reporting Services Configuration Manager.

Report URL: This is the exact URL of the report. If it is hosted in SharePoint, make sure that you have given the proper URL (including the extension). If you select Report Centre, you will be able to browse the report and set.

Show toolbar, Show Parameters, Show DocMap: You can set the visibility of these items. Note that Document map will not be available for all reports. It has to be created with either Report Builder or BIDS.

Zoom: Allows you to set the viewing size.

Format: Default is HTML 4.0. You can select other types such as Excel or PDF. Based on the type you select, report will be either shown in the web page or will be downloading to client machine.

Section: This allows you to set the page to be displayed. If you set 3 for this, 3rd page will be open as the default page.

DocMap ID: It is supposed to show the element set with this as the default page. I could not figure it out the way of setting it, for me, it did not work.

Report Parameters: This allows to set parameters default values.

Once settings are done, add a dashboard and place the report, and publish to SharePoint site. SharePoint site can be set with File Button –> Designer Options –> Server –> SharePoint URL. Make sure it is set before publishing.

Here is the published dashboard.

Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part III

Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated mode is straight forward and simple. If you have read my post Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part I and Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part , then you know the way of configuring it. You will not face much issues after configuring if it is done with Standalone SharePoint 2010 architecture. If it is a SharePoint farm which components are distributed, few things should be considered. Here are some of points you need to consider when Reporting Services is configured in SharePoint 2010 Farm. Note that this was tested with a Web Application which Authentication is set as Classic and NTLM is set for Authentication Provider.

Domain accounts created
Reporting Services Account: Domain account, no admin privileges. Usually name it as a Domain\ReportingServices. Set this with Reporting Service Configuration Manager.

Application Pool Account: Domain account, no admin privileges. Usually name as Domain\SP_SSRSApp. Use this when the Web Application is created with SharePoint.

Site Collection (or Site) account: Domain account, need local admin rights. Usually name as Domain\SP_Admin.

** All accounts are maintained as Managed Accounts in SharePoint.

Reporting Services Windows Service Account
This should be a domain account. Once it is set with Reporting Services Configuration Manager, you need add the same account to SharePoint too. First, have it as a Managed Account (Central Administration –> Security –> General Security –> Configure Managed Accounts). Then add the account to the Site where you have configured Reporting Services Libraries. You can add this account to Home Members group. Errors you may get if it is not added are “The permissions granted to user ‘Domain\User’ (what ever account you used for logged in) are insufficient for performing this operation.” and “rsAccessDenied”. Note that error has no link with the service account but it is related to it. You may get this error with Report Builder or BIDS when deploying reports, or viewing reports.

In addition to that, you need to make sure that the account is added to Web Application content database which is created for Web Application. If not, you may get and error “Report Server has encountered a SharePoint error”.

Other than that, this account is in ReportServer database too. It is automatically added, but make sure that it is there.

Allow Anonymous Setting
Make sure that Allow Anonymous is set as false when the Web Application is created. I faced an issue related deployment from BIDS if this is not set to false (read my post on it). Once the application is created, double-check with IIS (Site –> Authentication) and see whether it is disabled. As per the Authentication and Authentication Provider we set, Only ASP.NET Authentication and Windows Authentication should be enabled.

SharePoint Integrated Reporting Services: BIDS pops up Login Dialog box indefinitely

Annoying…. This is all about SharePoint integrated Reporting Services deployment via BIDS. Web application for Reporting Services has been created with SharePoint 2010 and all necessary libraries are added (if you need to see the way of configuring SSRS 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010, please see my posts Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part I and Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part II).

Now the problem is, popping up login dialog box indefinitely in BIDS when try to deploy reports, regardless of what account is supplied. As usual, went through the internet, found many solution but none of them worked for me. One of picked solutions by me is, disabling anonymous user. But it did not work too.

Solution
After all unsuccessful attempts, I created a new web application and set the Anonymous Access to No when creating the Web Application. Then I pointed the project’s target URL to newly created site, Wow, no login dialog box. I tried the same with old site too (by disabling Anonymous Authentication in IIS) but did not work. So, not sure about this solution but it worked with the new site. If you face the same, try a new site and see.

Cannot login to SharePoint 2010 site when the Host Header is set

Everybody prefers a good URL for sites rather than server name with ports. Same for SharePoint Web Applications (SharePoint sites). When a Web Application is created, it allows us to set the URL for the site as we want through Host Header as well as the port. For example, when a Web Application is created as http://SPServerName:3000 , URL can be set as http://MyTestWeb.com with Host Header input box. Once created you need to make sure that a DNS record is created and pointed to SharePoint server.

My environment is set up with two Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise Editions. Once server is configured as the Domain Controller and other has SharePoint 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2.

Here is the way I set;

Add URL I need for the Web Application:

Set DNS record in DNS Server, in my case it is DC:

Done. I should be able to navigate my site (after creating a Site Collection for the Web Application) using the URL set with Host Header (in my case, it is http://bi.andromeda.com) without using http://W2008R2-SP:30000 . But I am unable….

My Problem
When I open the browser for http://bi.andromeda.com , browser prompts me the authentication dialog box and asks for an user id and a password. It prompts three times even with correct user id and password and then opens a blank page. Could not figure out the reason for a while, finally Prabath sent me an URL that contains a solution for this. The solution is given by Tech Battle Field and post is http://spiderwool.blogspot.com/2010/09/access-denied-host-header-sharepoint.html.

In summary, solution is adding a new Multi-String registry key named BackConnectionHostNames in SharePoint server at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\MSV1_0 and set the host names with values (Read the post for more details). This is what I did:

Finally it worked. Thanks for Tech Battle Field for sharing this and thanks for Prabath for guiding me onto it.

Ready-made Virtual Machine for SharePoint 2010

Are you looking for pre-built virtual machine that includes SharePoint 2010? If yes, here it is… it is available for downloading.

Not only SharePoint 2010, it contains:

• Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 R2
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
• Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise Edition
• Microsoft Office Web Applications
• Microsoft FAST Search for SharePoint 2010
• Microsoft Project Server 2010
• Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010
• Microsoft Visio 2010
• Microsoft Project 2010
• Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2

For more details and downloading: 2010 Information Worker Demonstration and Evaluation Virtual Machine.

SharePoint Videos: SharePoint 2010 Developer Training Course

Looking for resources to learn SharePoint 2010 development? So many books, articles, and blog posts? Here is an easy way to learn it;

Site: SharePoint 2010 Developer Training Course
Download link: SharePoint 2010 Developer Training Kit

This training kit provides videos and hands on labs which are very useful to understand how SharePoint 2010 works and how it can be used.

We must thank Chris Mayo, Donovan Follette, Girish Raja, Paul Stubbs, and Steve Fox for preparing something like this for developers.

Configuring PerformancePoint 2010

We have been creating reports or dashboards with different types of technologies including PerformancePoint 2007 for seeing the insight of the business. Those who have used PerformancePoint 2007 know how it supports creating dashboards with various components like scorecards and reports. Now it has been further enhanced and fully integrated with SharePoint 2010. The PerformancePoint 2010 allows us to create rich, context-driven dashboards that show the business in every angle.

This post discusses the way of configuring the PeformancePoint 2010. Let’s try to discuss the way in step by step with relevant images but limiting, as it makes the post lengthy. This post does not discuss about configuring SharePoint 2010. If need, have a look on below posts;
http://dinesql.blogspot.com/2010/03/configuring-windows-2008-r2-for.html
http://dinesql.blogspot.com/2010/04/complete-farm-sharepoint-2010.html

Web Applications
The first step is creating a web application for publishing dashboards. Open Central Administration of SharePoint 2010 and click on Manage web application under Application Management. Once it is open, click on the New button which is the first button of ribbon. New button opens the form: Create New Web Application. Set the properties as you want. I use Classic Mode Authentication because windows authentication is fine with me. If you need form-based authentication, you can select Claims Based Authentication. I name the web site as BI – 1007 and set the port as 1007. Have a new application pool for your site, I name it as BI – 2007. Point the Database Server to you SQL Server and name the database as WSS_Content_BI_2007. Set the relevant authentication for it. Leave other settings default.

Click OK to create the site. Let’s start the second step.

The second step is creating a site collection in newly created web application. Open the Central Administration and click on Application Management in the left pane. This fills right pane with set of links with groups. Click on the Create site collections link under Site Collections group.

Now you have Create Site Collection page. Make sure that newly created web application has been selected in Web Application drop-down. In my case, it is http://dp03:1007/. Set the title as BI – Home. Next is the site address. You can have the site in the root or you can have it under manage path:sites. Let’s go ahead with the default one which the root. Since we are going to create a Business Intelligence site, it would be better to select Business Intelligence Center template under Enterprise. This template contains necessary content types for PerformancePoint object so we do not need to manually add them but if you wish, you can select a different template and add PerformancePoint content types manually too. We will use the easy way, so select the template Business Intelligence Center. Have relevant accounts for Primary Site Collection Administrator and Secondary Site Collection Administrator. 

Click OK to create the site collection.

Now the site is ready. If you visit (http://{yourserver}:1007) the site you will the home page of site as below;

Service Applications
The next step is making sure that required services are running for PerformancePoint and the site is associated with the services. These services are set of binaries that are installed on the farm. Note that the architecture of the SharePoint 2010 is based on SSA (SharePoint Service Application), not based on SSP (Shared Service Provider) which SharePoint 2007 based on. These services can be configured to the farm as instances. Once configured, they are called as Service Application. Some of Service Applications such as User and Profile Services and Secure Store Services can be shared between farms. Service Applications such as Excel Calculation Services, Visio Web Services, and PerformancePoint Services cannot be shared between farms.

First of all we need to make sure that two services that are required for our Business Intelligence site are running. The services are: PerformancePoint Service and Secure Store Service. Open Central Administration and click on Manage services on server under System Settings.

Once the pages is open, make sure the services are running. If not, start them.

In order to use the started services, we need to create instances; services applications with proxies that are pointers for services applications. Go back to the Central Administration and click on Manage services applications (see above image showing manage services on server). Once the page is open, click on New button and select PerformancePoint Service Application.

Set the name of the Service Application as PPS Service Application. The service application’s proxy can be added to the default proxy group of the farm by checking the given checkbox. You can have custom proxy groups too. Only one proxy group can be associated with a web application.

You will notice the warning sign given with the form regarding Secure Store and Unattended Service Account. This is used to store the unattended service account which will be using for authenticating the data source. Once PerformancePoint is configured, we have to configure an unattended service account. For this configuration, we need Secure Store Service Application running with its proxy.

Select Create new application pool radio button for creating new application pool for the application. Name it as PPSServiceApplication. Set an account for the pool too.

Click the Create button for creating the service application. Once created, you should see the application and application’s proxy with status of started.

Next is creating the Secure Store Service. Follow the same steps used for creating the PerformancePoint Service Application. Name it as SS Service Application. This service application needs a database. Set the database server and name the database (or accept the default name). Select Create new application pool and enter it as SSSServerApplication. Set an account to the pool and click OK to create it. When you open Manage service application from Central Administration, you should see the applications you created and proxies.

Now we need to configure Secure Store application for PerformancePoint application. To configure, click on SS Service Application (or you can select it and click on Manage button). Then click on Generate New Key for generating a key for the application.

Enter the Pass Phrase and click OK. Now we need to create an unattended account for PerformancePoint application. Go back to Manage service application and click on PPS Service Application. Once the window is open, click on the PerformancePoint Service Application Settings.

In Settings window, set an account under Unattended Service Account (which can be used for connecting your data sources) and click OK. Since PerformancePoint application always uses Secure Store in the default proxy, it will automatically connect with it. If you go back to PerformancePoint Service Application Settings, you wil see that SS Service Application appears in Secure Store Service Application input box.

If you need to see the web application created in the IIS, open IIS and see SharePoint Web Services. Unfortunately, we cannot immediately identify the service because services are named with GUIDs. If need, right click on the service and click on Explore. By looking at the content of the service, you can determine the service application.

Service Application Associations
Before using PerformancePoint components, we need to make sure one more thing, which is Service Application Associations. We need our web application to be associated with application proxies. Go back to Manage service application and click on Application Management which is in left pane. You get a new set of links. Click on Configure service application associations under Service Applications.

Once it is open, make sure BI – 1007 web application is associated with default proxy group that has PPS Service Application proxy and SS Service Application proxy.

If not, click on BI – 1007 site and make the association with given window.

Done. Now we can create and publish PerformancePoint components which is our next step. Let’s see it with another post.

Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part II

If you need to create an extremely user-friendly environment for Reporting Services 2008 R2, SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode is the best solution. Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part 1 explains the initial configuration up to SharePoint integration. This post discusses creating a web site for Reporting Services with relevant libraries and content types, finally publishing reporting from BIDS.

Let’s start creating a Web Application. Go to SharePoint Central Administration and click Manage Web Applications under Application Management. Once Application Management is open, click on New to create a new web application.

Some of the attributed in New Web Application Form as as follows;

• Authentication
  Select Classic Mode Authentication
  
• IIS Web Site settings
  Select Create a new IIS web site option. I have named it as Report Server – 10005 and set the port as 10005.
  
• Security Configuration
  Leave default values
  
• Public URL
  In my case, URL is http://DP03:10005
  
• Application Pool
  Make sure Create new application pool is selected. I have named it as ReportServer – 10005.
  
• Database Name and Authentication
  Set the SQL Server name for Database Server. I have named the database as WSS_Content_ReportServer_10005.

Click OK to save setting. Once the process is completed, Application Created windows is appeared. Click OK to continue. New web application will be listed in Web Application window.
 
Next step is creating a site collection. Go back to Central Administration and click create site collections under Application Management. This opens Create Site Collection window. Let’s ceate one;

• Make sure that correct web application is selected (In my case, it is http://DP03:10005/.
• Add Title as Report Server.
• Let’s use the root for the Web Site Address. Do not select sites from the drop-down. Leave it blank.
• Select the Template as Team Site.
• Set both Primary Site Collection Administrator and Secondary Site Collection Administrator. Since I have everything in one machine, I set both as DP03\Administrator;.
• Click OK to create the site.
  

Once done, a message will be appeared saying Top-Level Site Successfully Created. Click on the link to go the site (In my case, link is http://dp03:10005). This is what I see;

Site needs libraries for holding reports and connections. Let’s create two libraries for the site.

• Click on Libraries link in left pane. It lists all document libraries available.
• Click the button Create for creating a new library.
• Select Document Library and Set the name as Reports.
  
• Click Create for creating the library. Once the library is open, click on Library Settings for adding content types.
   
• When Library Settings is open, library related things such as General Settings, Columns, and Views are shown. By default, it does not show Content Type. In order to enable content type, click Advanced Settings under General Settings. Once the window is open, select Yes for Allow management of content types.
  
• Click OK to save settings. Note that now the Content Type is shown under Library Settings. Click Add from existing site content types link under Content Type. This opens Add Content Types page.
• Select Report Server Content Type from Content Types From drop-down. Then move Report Builder Report from left listbox to right listbox.
  Note that if you are not seeing “Report Server Content Types”, that indicates that Add-In has not been properly installed”.
  
• Click OK to save settings. Report Builder Report content type is now appeared under Content Types of Reports library.
  
• We have to create another library for data connection. Follow same steps for creating the library. Name it as Data Connections. Then enable Allow management of content types as did for Reports library. Then add Report Data Source content type for it.
  

Now SharePoint 2010 is ready for holding reports from Reporting Services 2008 R2. Let’s try to publish some reports to this. Open Business Intelligence Management Studio and create a Reporting Services project. If you have AdventureWorks 2008 Sample Report Project, you can use it for testing. Once the project is open, get the properties of the project. Set following properties;

• TargetDataSourceFolder: http://dp03:10005/Data Connection
• TargetReportFolder: http://dp03:10005/Reports
• TargetServerURL: http://dp03:10005/

Now deploy reports and see. Reports will be published to SharePoint site we created. Once published, open the home page of the site (http://dp03:10005) and click on Reports link in left pane. It lists all the reports published.

Click one of reports and see whether it works fine. Here is the output of Company Sales 2008 report.

All done. Reporting Services 2008 R2 is integrated with SharePoint 2010. I will be exploring more on this, specially SharePoint related things. Once they are explored, I will publish them.

Update: Configuring Reporting Services 2008 R2 in SharePoint 2010 Integrated Mode – Part III