Sharepoint 2010 reporting from SQL Server 2008 R2 - sql-server-2008

I would like to know the easiest and fastest way to retrieve data from SQL Server 2008 R2 via Sharepoint 2010.
I am new to sharepoint but have been able to create an external content type using Sharepoint designer which connects to the database in SQL Server but I have not been able to use the business web chart to relay the data gotten from the database.
I want to relay information from a customer service database into sharepoint and want it to be consistent.
Is this the best way to go about it or is there a better way?
Many thanks for your usual cooperation and response.
Cheers,
Tunde

Your best bet is SQL Server Reporting Services, which will need to be installed in Sharepoint integrated mode. It does not have to be 2008 R2, it can be 2008, and the good news is that if you run reporting services on the same server as your SQL databases, you're already licenced for it.
Take a look at http://www.bidn.com/ for more answers, or ask questions using the #SQLHelp tag on twitter for SSRS, or #SPHelp for sharepoint

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SSIS/SSMS Connection to SAP Reports/Transactions

I am not familiar with SAP systems, but I have user access to an SAP instance that allows me to access, for example: transaction code FB03.
I have been reading on the internet on possible ways to connect via SQL Management Studio or SSIS to SAP Tables, which I know it is possible, but my question is, it possible to somehow extract these t-code data directly into management studio or ssis?
Can I query tcodes directly into SSIS OR SSMS ? If so, how is it done?
It might be quite a newbie question, but once again, not familiar with this system.
Thank you!
Can I query T-CODES directly into SSIS OR SSMS?
Nope. They are executed only via SAP client aka SAPLogon.
I have been reading on the internet on possible ways to connect via SQL Management Studio or SSIS to SAP Tables,
It is done directly via SQL Management Studio if you know SAP DB Instance host and have access credentials/permissions for it. Usually regular users do not have them, only BASIS staff.
is, it possible to somehow extract these t-code data directly into management studio or ssis?
Nope, this is raw data, which is then aggregated and showed in SAP transactions (tcodes) in some (business-)readable form, so access to SAP DB data and access to tcodes is not the same. You need to know how to interpret this data.

PerformancePoint services 2013 with SQL Server 2008

I am trying to use performancepoint 2013 services to create a report that simple displays a set of columns from SQL Server Table.
Apparently, PerformancePoint services can only display data from tables when used with analysis services (which i do not have on my SQL Server 2008).
I am looking for a way to make this work:
- Being able to display few columns from a SQL Server table as a report on Sharepoint 2013 using performancepoint services. Is it even possible?
If not, then what are my alternatives?
Please help.
Regards
The analytical reports in PPS only support Analysis Services as you mentioned. However what you can try is to connect to your data source using Excel and then build a PowerPivot model using that data. Upload the Excel spreadsheet containing the PowerPivot model to SharePoint and create a new Multidimensional data source that points to your spreadsheet, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff191197(v=office.15).aspx.
Another option would be to use Reporting Services or just simply Excel Services without PowePivot.

How to access the sharepoint list in sql server

I have installed sharepoint 2010 with backend sql server 2008 R2 database name(wss_content). Now in my sharepoint site I have createed a sharepoint list( eg,customer). Now I want to access that list in the database(wss_content).
How can I access it?, and where can I see that list in wss_content.
Because I'm not able to see the list in the sql database.
There is no direct equivalent of the SharePoint list in the SQL Database - even though it's there. BUT you should never ever go into the SharePoint database and query for information - you'll likley get things wrong or mess things up.
Tell us what you need instead and we'll sort you out with the correct way to do it.

Newbie Building Reports with Microsoft Reporting Services

I have an Access db file, and I need to slice and dice the data for various reports that my boss wants.
Is Microsoft Reporting Services a tool that is appropriate for this kind of activity?
If so, would I import the Access data in SQL Server, then the reporting services is a tool that works on SQL Server, allowing the report builder to build custom reports?
SSRS is great for what your trying to do if you wish to stick with Micrsoft tech.
SQL Server Express Adv edition comes with report server. There are plenty of guides out there for install / set up but once going you can use a little application called Report Builder that lets you design the layout of the reports themselves.
Reporting server esentially generates reports from templates you produce in report builder app.
The free edition of report server that comees with SQL Express Adv can export reports into three types, word files, excell or PDFs and does a very good job at it. It also exposes a webservice with a whole myrad of web methods thats very very usefull. ASP.Net also has a control which you can drop into your apps which will render a report.
So in short, yes :)
Hope this helps.

SQL Server reporting services..Best advise for integrating with other technologies?

I'm looking to implement SQL Server Reporting Services as our standard reporting platform in our company. We were trialing Crystal Reports, but alas it seems to be plagued by issues.
SQL Server Reporting Services looks to be a great product, but I have a concern or two.
I have some existing web apps in ColdFusion, and the backend is in MySQL. If I move forward with SQL Server Reporting Services, how should I set up my environment? Is there a JDBC connector or is ODBC the only way to talk to this?
How does it integrate for the user? Will I need to re-authenticate the user to view the reports? Will I need to put a link in ColdFusion to link to the Reporting Services system? Is there a way to make it seamless for the user?
Should I port all the backend to SQL Server to fully leverage the SQL Server platform? Should I convert my existing apps to ASP.NET, and make the entire platform SQL Server / ASP.NET?
It's not too bad in the fact that the existing apps / MySQL aren't of a size that is too big to port. So I guess just looking for some best practice advise to see if its okay to use the reporting services component on its own, or if I'm much better to consolidate everything into a Microsoft solution.
I think it'll be easier than you think!
Reporting Services will happily pull reports from any OLEDB or ODBC source, and MySQL has ODBC drivers, so there's no problem getting at your data through an SSRS report.
You can set up the authentication in a number of ways. If your users are already authenticated in your Windows domain, this will be easier:
SSRS needs to know who is viewing the report. It will allow anonymous viewing (if you enable it; it's off by default), but if you're using IE and are logged in to the same domain as the IIS server, it's completely transparent
SSRS can then use this identity to connect to the data source, or it can use another identity. This is configurable per report or per data source.
One thing you could do is embed your reports within iframes in your coldfusion pages. This would make the whole thing seamless. The reports are accessible by sending an appropriately formed URL to the server, so it's quite flexible.
As for changing everything to ASP.NET, you'll really only get benefits from that if you ever need to write (and integrate with) your own code to manage the reporting server, or write custom extensions (data providers, delivery extensions and the like), but in my experience this is so rare as to be not worth considering. Go with what you have for now.