Can I access the SOAP web service API in SSRS 2008 Express Edition?

Other Questions API
1

I would like to know if setting up SSRS Express Edition allows me to utilize the web service for making requests and consuming data. Is this functionality supported?

2

Hi Alex,

To directly access SOAP web services using SSRS 2008 Express Edition isn't feasible as it lacks direct web service integration. However, like DancingBird suggested, you can work around this limitation by using a .NET solution to fetch data from the SOAP service.

Here's a succinct guide to do that:

  1. Create a console application in C# or VB.NET.
  2. Use a WebService client to call the SOAP API.
  3. Save the data into a format like SQL Server, which is accessible by SSRS.

Here's a quick template using C#:

using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Web.Services;

public class SoapClient
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        WebService service = new WebService {Url = "http://service.url"};
        service.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");

        var result = service.MethodCall();
        Console.WriteLine(result);
        // Code to insert 'result' into your database
    }
}

By storing the data in an SQL Server reachable by your SSRS, you effectively bypass the Express Edition's limitations, enabling you to incorporate this data effectively into your reports. Remember to handle credentials securely top ensure data protection.

3

Hey Alex,

Nope, SSRS 2008 Express Edition doesn't support configuring SOAP web services directly. You'll need a higher edition like Standard or Enterprise to access that functionality.

4

To expand on what ClimbingLion mentioned, although SSRS 2008 Express Edition has limited support, there are alternative approaches to access SOAP web services. You can create a web service client using .NET frameworks like C# or VB.NET to retrieve data from the SOAP service.

Here's a basic overview:

using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Web.Services;

public class SoapClient
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        WebService service = new WebService {Url = "http://service.url"};
        // Set any necessary credentials
        service.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");

        var result = service.MethodCall();
        Console.WriteLine(result);
    }
}

Once you receive the desired data, you can store it in a local database, which your SSRS Express Edition can then use for reporting purposes. This method enables you to work around the limitations of the Express Edition.

Remember that incorporating this external data fetch might require additional effort in setting up infrastructure and handling authentication securely.

5

No, you can't directly access SOAP web services with SSRS 2008 Express Edition. You'll need to use a workaround like a .NET app to get data from the SOAP API and store it in a database that SSRS can access.

Here's a quick C# template for fetching the data:

using System;
using System.Net;

public class SoapClient
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var service = new WebService {Url = "http://your-service.url"};
        service.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");

        var result = service.MethodCall();
        Console.WriteLine(result);
        // Add logic to store 'result' in your database
    }
}

Once in the database, you can use SSRS to generate reports from that data.

6

Accessing SOAP web services directly through SSRS 2008 Express Edition can indeed be challenging due to its limitations on web service integration. However, you can employ a workaround similar to what has been highlighted in the previous answers using .NET to bridge this gap.

The approach involves creating an intermediary .NET application that fetches data from the SOAP web service and then inserts this data into a database that SSRS can access. Here's a concise sample for this process:

using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Web.Services;

public class SoapClient
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        WebService service = new WebService { Url = "http://your-service.url" };
        service.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");

        var result = service.MethodCall();
        Console.WriteLine(result);
        // Implement database insertion logic for the 'result'
    }
}

Once the data is fetched and stored in a SQL database, your SSRS reports can pull from this source. This indirect integration method allows you to effectively use the Express Edition despite its limitations.

Be sure to manage credentials securely and factor in any additional infrastructure that might be required to implement this solution.