SSRS report with web service

The web service provides real-time or dynamic data to the SSRS report.

When to Use a DLL Instead of a Web Service

• Complex Logic: If you need to perform complex transformations or calculations, a custom DLL might be more appropriate.
• Offline Data: If the data does not need to be fetched dynamically, consider using a database or preprocessed dataset.
• Security Concerns: If exposing sensitive data via a web service is a concern, a DLL can provide better control over data access.

Steps to Use a Web Service in SSRS

1. Understand the Web Service:

   • A web service provides data through endpoints (e.g., RESTful APIs or SOAP-based services).
   • Ensure that the web service returns data in a format that SSRS can consume, such as JSON or XML.
   • If the web service requires authentication (e.g., API keys, OAuth tokens), ensure you have the necessary credentials.

2. Create a Data Source for the Web Service:

   • In SSRS, you can use a Web Service Data Source to connect to the web service.
   • Follow these steps:
     1. Open your SSRS project in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) or Report Builder.
     2. Add a new Data Source to your report.
     3. Select the type as XML (for RESTful APIs) or SOAP (for SOAP-based services).
     4. Provide the URL of the web service endpoint.

3. Define a Dataset:

   • After setting up the data source, create a Dataset to query the web service.
   • For RESTful APIs:
     • Use the GET method to fetch data.
     • If the API requires parameters, include them in the query string or headers.
   • For SOAP-based services:
     • Define the SOAP action and request payload in the dataset query.

4. Transform the Data (if needed):

   • If the web service returns data in JSON format, SSRS cannot directly interpret it. You may need to:
     • Use a middleware layer (e.g., an ETL process or a custom script) to convert JSON to XML.
     • Alternatively, use a custom assembly (DLL) to parse the JSON response and make it available to SSRS.

5. Bind Data to the Report:

   • Once the dataset is created, bind the fields returned by the web service to the report elements (e.g., tables, charts, matrices).

6. Test the Report:

   • Preview the report to ensure that the data from the web service is displayed correctly.
   • Debug any issues related to data formatting, connectivity, or authentication.

Yes, it is possible to use a web service instead of a DLL in an SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) report. SSRS supports integrating data from various sources, including web services, databases, and custom assemblies (DLLs). Using a web service can be particularly useful when you want to fetch dynamic or real-time data from an external API or service.

You can't directly call a web service from the report itself.

You can define a dataset that pulls data from a web service endpoint:

• Use XML or JSON as the data source.

• Supported in SSRS 2016+ (for JSON).

• Use Query Designer to configure HTTP calls if supported.

https://yourapi.com/api/getdata