Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

V.2.4. Maintaining Reports

Maintenance of reports consists mainly of updating the reports or report models to match the changing needs of users.

NOTE

When a report is run, data is retrieved from the data source. In other words, as data is updated in the database, the reports show the updated data. No additional maintenance on the data is required.

NOTE

Advanced implementations of SSRS allow you to create snapshots of reports and maintain a history of reports. It's also possible to cache reports so that they remain in memory for a specified time without the need to query the database again for the data. When using snapshots, history, and cached reports, the data isn't queried each time the report is retrieved. Instead, the report shows what the data was at a moment in time.

Reports can be updated by using the same tools used to create them. For example, if a report was created from a report model by using Report Builder, you can launch the Report Builder again, open the report, and then make any modifications desired. If you want to save the original report, simply save the report with a different name.