Will I be able to use SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) when Vista is in your cloud? How will I access them? Does SSRS work with SSO?

Author: Eric Vasbinder

Background

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a solution by Microsoft that many of our customers have been using to create dashboards and analytics to more effectively visualize and understand their financial and project metrics in Vista for years. When your Vista server moves into our cloud, we understand the criticality of preserving access to these SSRS reports.

Two SSRS Instances

As such, by default we install two SSRS instances in our cloud for your use:

• An SSRS instance using our custom authentication plug-in, designed to provide access to SSRS reports and dashboards using Vista's Remote Link (VRL) technology

• An SSRS instance without custom security, designed for use within our HFF SSRS Repository

SSRS reports must be loaded into each instance separately in order to provide access to SSRS reports via each mechanism: Vista VRL or the HFF SSRS Repository.

Options to Access SSRS Reports

In detail, here are the options are available for continuing access to SSRS reports in our cloud:

• 1. Viewpoint-hosted SSRS via HFF Portal: One of our preferred methods for accessing SSRS reports. This method allows you to add an SSRS report (RDL file) to the HFF SSRS instance, using the URL that our cloud support team can provide to you. Once loaded into the SSRS instance, you can use the HFF admin portal to add the report to your HFF SSRS Report Library. Mobile access via the HFF SSRS Repository is possible and is more compatible than direct access to SSRS. Data type security is NOT supported with this method.

  2. Viewpoint-hosted SSRS w/Vista Reports and Workcenters Delivery: this method has been used by Viewpoint's own Sales Engineering team to create dashboards for reporting and analytics in Vista workcenters, as well as distinct reports within Vista's RP Report Titles form. SSRS reports are created and then "embedded" within the Vista rich client using the Workcenters and/or reports capabilities in Vista.

  3. Viewpoint-hosted SSRS via web URL: This method uses the SSRS web UI natively through a direct URL. Please contact Trimble Viewpoint's Cloud Support team for more information, including your URL. Mobile access to SSRS via this URL is possible but will be limited due to current SSRS functionality. This method is NOT compatible with Trimble ID SSO.

AFTER SSO IS TURNED ON

IMPORTANT: Trimble ID / Viewpoint ID SSO is NOT currently compatible with accessing the SSRS Web UI itself or with portals that directly call the SSRS Reports. You WILL NEED to use a separate set of credentials to access SSRS's actual web UI in our cloud. However, if you wish to use SSRS reports wrapped within Vista or HFF, that will be compatible with SSO. IF you still wish to access SSRS reports through the ACTUAL SSRS Web UI or a third-party portal, please create a new pure SQL account using the instructions linked here and use that to authenticate to SSRS.

Post-SSO Workarounds to Access SSRS Reports Through SSRS Web UI or Third Party Portals

For viewing of SSRS reports for end users, there are three main methods left after SSO is turned on:

1. Wrapped in Vista Client: Merely add the report to Vista’s RP Report Titles and then use the Vista fat client to access the report.

   1. This uses user impersonation to allow for SSO users to access SSRS reports properly and preserves data type security.

2. Wrapped in the HFF SSRS Report Library: Merely add the report to the HFF (Keystyle) Report library in the portal.

   1. This also uses impersonation to allow access along with data type security for SSO users.

3. Create pure SQL accounts: For users who still need to access SSRS Reports and who cannot use either of the two methods above, you will need to use the method described at the following link to create pure SQL accounts for users to access these reports. https://sites.google.com/trimble.com/vista-cloud-faq/home/integration-technology/creating-sql-accounts

IMPORTANT: for SSRS Admin users who need to access the SSRS web UI to administer the actual SSRS instance(s), you will need to create pur SQL accounts (method 3 above). There is no other mechanism for your admin users.

TIMEFRAME NOTES

Please note that though we are working on solutions to enable SSO for SSRS's web UI, we cannot comment on any timeframes.

Alternatives to SSRS

In addition to these options, customers may also investigate alternative solutions to SSRS that can provide access to the same information, such as Viewpoint's own Viewpoint Analytics (VA), or strategic partners such as Prophix and Insight Spreadsheet Server, and other solutions such as Microsoft's PowerBI. Connectivity to these other solutions is eminently possible through our cloud and is available now.

NOTE: SSRS Emailing Functionality is not set up by default in our cloud but may be configured upon request. Please submit a cloud support ticket with your request. You will need to provide us with an SMTP account for this purpose (e.g. Office 365 account.

tl;dr: SSRS Reports can be set up to be hosted and viewed within the Trimble Viewpoint cloud. There are three methods for consuming SSRS reports in our cloud, including: the HFF SSRS repository, Vista work centers and reports, and the SSRS web UI directly. The SSRS Web UI option is not currently compatible with Trimble ID SSO. Using SSRS reports wrapped in Vista app forms and / or the HFF SSRS Report library IS compatible with SSO. Other options are also available, including self-hosting of SSRS, or the use of Viewpoint Analytics, Prophix, Insight Spreadsheet Server, or PowerBI among others.