Data-Processing Extensions

The first thing created during the report development process is, usually, a data set. With that, a developer would select a source of data, create a query, and evaluate the quality of the data returned by the data set.

Data quality is something you, as the developer, must evaluate; however, the open -ended nature of SSRS helps tremendously by not putting any hard limits on the type of data you can use.

SSRS comes with the ability to connect to SQL Server, Analysis Services, Integration Services, Oracle, ODBC, OLE DB, and XML.

If these choices are not enough, it is possible to extend SSRS by writing a custom data-processing extension to be used within a data source. Extensions are covered in Chapter 26, "Writing Custom Reporting Services Extensions."

Note

To connect to SQL Server 6.5, use OLEDB.