We do a lot of TFS analysis and reporting in Excel, using PowerPivot to map to 'executive friendly' terms (like dates vs iterations) and they are quite please with all that. However, we also now have several TFS 'projects' (instances, versions, whathaveyou), and an Excel workbook cannot link to more than one project at a time. Also as the projects grow larger and larger, my machine struggles to process. I'd like to put the mapping tables AND the TFS data from several instances into an Access database.
Question 1
Is there any way to link Access to TFS? If not, I'm fine having TFS data in Excel and linking to Excel, but with the 'header' TFS insists on putting in your export, the linked table has issues (like not having headers in first row, and then always having two erroneous records upon every refresh).
Question 2
Any thoughts on how to get around the funky header?
There is no native way to link Ms Access to TFS or to easily get rid of the header row that's added in Excel when linking a table. I'm afraid that the direction you're seeking will not help you in the end. It will only put all the computational pressure on Access instead of Excel.
The way to go here would be to setup the TFS reporting features, which offloads a lot of the processing to SQL Server Analysis Services (which can be used as a source for Excel) and reporting is provided by SQL Server Report Server in that case.
Unfortunately, the Reporting part of TFS hasn't had a decent update since 2010 and can be a bit archaic to use. For VSTS (the cloud-based version of TFS) it's now possible to link the account to PowerBI, which does everything you're after. This feature is not available on-premise though, it may be a great reason to move to the cloud. PowerBI can handle large amounts of data, can be connected to one or more VSTS accounts and can slice and dice data from multiple accounts and projects with ease.
I am unable to determine if the following is possible:
Create queries in Access
Export as a list to a SharePoint 2010 list
Each time the list is accessed within SharePoint, it executes the query and brings back up to date information.
Any information would be appreciated, thanks.
This will not work, the list you produce as an export of your query is static and has no links to database tables that originated the data. To accomplish this task you will need to look at creating an external list in SharePoint by utilizing the business data catalog. This allows you to point SharePoint directly at database tables. I have linked the walkthrough for doing this below:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee231515.aspx
Generally speaking, you'd want to use SQL Server or another supported SQL engine that is network accessible to house this data. Access isn't ideal.
Afternoon,
My company makes use of Microsofts Sharepoint facility to organize documents and such; we also use Sharepoint to hold project specific resources used by multiple people.
Question
Is it possible to access Sharepoint from within MS Access? I don't mean open it, I mean actually writing to or reading from files that are stored on it? If it's possible is there a particular module I should read up on or am required to import into any projects? (Example code or related resource would be appreciated)
Potential Use Case
Employee A makes a change to a table in a database (adding a record) which may be required by Employee B in the future. Employee B should be-able to retrieve it directly from Sharepoint without having to open a browser, download the file and manually add the table.
Thanks for any information you can give me as I know this is an odd one...
SharePoint does have MS Access integration. You can setup access to use SharePoint lists as their datasource, allowing you to edit the data from Access or from the browser.
This link provides some video tutorials on how to publish an Access web database to SharePoint. Essentially you create and edit the database in Access and you publish to SharePoint. This works well for simple databases, but it doesn't work as well for more complex databases.
I'm a very new user to SSRS. I learned the basic things and am able to make reports using VS 2008 and BIDS. But I can't move further. I want to use the dynamic data source. My issues are:
First the user should input four credentials: a)Server name b) database name c) user id 4) password. It will help to make the connection with database and make the data source. The credential should be stored in session or cookie.
Now the user will be able to see all the reports without giving the credential because he/she has already given them.
I made a dynamic data source but the credentials are asked for every time I open a report.
Any demo project or an articles will be highly appreciated.
It sounds like SSRS alone will not accomplish what you want. SSRS will not provide a good interface for end users to create new datasources, or change existing datasources. There are some potential workarounds that get some of the functionality you desire, such as a method to change servers found at:
http://blog.softartisans.com/2011/04/19/how-to-create-a-dynamic-reporting-services-shared-data-source-using-linked-servers/
(requires the ability to use linked servers.)
But to manage the user session or cookies, you will need more than SSRS. The easiest way to get at this will be with a .NET web site to manage the credentials. It might be able to use a ReportViewer control, or other method of accessing SSRS, such as URL access, to get reporting functionality.
I'm after a tool to generate decent-looking documents from templates, that needs to:
be invoked through code (not interactively)
run on Windows, ideally invoked from code within a web-server
process standalone* report files that contain their own internal data definitions, query options, etc (i.e. ideally so that we can push simple report files to the server, and it simply work - where report/document maintenance is not necessarily a developer activity)
access data from a database (SQL Server 2005) based on parameters (ids etc) that we pass in
export (again, through code) to pdf or similar
*= where standalone simply means that the report is fully self-describing; it is fully expected that additional reporting runtime components will be required to execute the report. Contrast to rdlc which uses the data-sets from the local VS project.
I looked at the rdl/rdlc options (Visual Studio 2008), but rdlc seems to be coupled to the assembly (not standalone), and rdl seems to lack the code-based export ability. The version of Crystal Reports included in VS2008 seems very similar to rdlc - presumably the full Crystal Reports offering has more functionality, but has a non-trivial price tag too...
I'd welcome any suggestions for an appropriate, professional looking tool that might be suitable and recommended...
I think SQL Reporting Services fully support all of your requirements.
I have build some sophisticated solutions myself with SSRS.
(Example)
Fully manageable through code (via SSRS WS) (Upload, execute and export Reports)
Used SQL Server as database
Queries are defined in RDL (or Stored Proc) and based on parameters
There are other solutions like Telerik Reporting or Data Dynamics ActiveReport, but they are not free.
Let me know if you need more informations
SSRS WS: With that I mean the Web Service Interface (Report Server Web Service
). There is also a URL Access method, but I don't think it's a solution for you
I dont think you can satisfy all requirements. Number 3 especially is the killer.
On one reading, I see it as adhoc reporting generating it's on SQL. On another, it is giving users "empowerment" to do roll their own within some limits you define?
You may have looked already... but have you thought about using the ReportBuilder functionality to set up the basics and leave users to do the rest? You'll need a report monkey at some point anyway to set soemthing up.
Edit, after comment:
Reporting Services it is then.
It comprises a web service that renders RDL files uploaded from VS.
Report Builder is a template for users to hack and bash their own within the limits and environment you set.
Architecture of RS 2008
Our Data Dynamics Reports product sound like it is for you. It is a fully programmable reporting component for .NET / Visual Studio. View the documentation on the API here. You can export the reports to any of our various formats, including PDF, HTML, and Excel and it also includes an end user designer control that you can embed into your own applications to let end users modify or create their own reports.
The reports are stored in RDL - the same XML dialect that Reporting Services uses - in fact you can take any existing RDL files and open them in Data Dynamics Reports. In addition to compatibility with RDL, we add many more features, such as "themes" to consistently style your report, master reports (think ASP.NET master pages for reports), and several other built in controls such as a calendar, barcode, and dashboard controls to name a few.
Now lets look at your requirements one-by-one and see how Data Dynamics Reports might solve them:
be invoked through code (not interactively) - Data Dynamics Reports includes comprehensive API.
run on Windows, ideally invoked from code within a web-server - You can use Data Dynamics Reports in client-based, or ASP.NET applications, it even support medium trust ASP.NET applications (webservices are fine).
process standalone* report files that contain their own internal data definitions, query options, etc (i.e. ideally so that we can push simple report files to the server, and it simply work - where report/document maintenance is not necessarily a developer activity) - Data Dynamics Reports uses standard RDL (not rdlc) which includes all information bout how to retrieve data from your datasource. We also include an end user designer control to allow you to emebed a design environment for these standalone files into your own applications.
access data from a database (SQL Server 2005) based on parameters (ids etc) that we pass in - Data Dynamics Reports includes comprehensive support for parameters (even get the "valid values" from a query.
export (again, through code) to pdf or similar - Data Dynamics Reports supports exporting to PDF, HTML, Excel, Word, images, and XML.
I hope it works out for you, and let me know if you have any additional questions.
Scott Willeke
Data Dynamics / GrapeCity inc.
I think, based on all the criteria, you likely need to look at Crystal Reports, since you want the reports to be standalone, although, you could also create a report designer out of XtraReports or ActiveReports Pro and have much of the same functionality.
As for running it on the fly and having it generate, distribute, and archive the reports that run, check out our product at www.versareports.com. It should work with any .NET report designer you want to use and provides the enterprise-class report server framework you likely need.