Creating Custom Dynamics AX 2012 Reports With MSSQL Report Builder

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CREATING CUSTOM DYNAMICS AX 2012

REPORTS WITH MSSQL REPORT BUILDER

Dynamics AX | SSRS| Report Builder 3.0

SQL Server 2008 R2 has a great in-built report writer that allows you to not only modify the pre-built reports delivered with Dynamics AX 2012, but also create your own reports.

In this walkthrough we will show how you can use the Report Builder 3.0 to create a simple dashboard using the cubes that are delivered with the standard Dynamics AX 2012 installation.


Access Report

Builder 3.0

The first step is to access the report builder. If you open up the reporting services portal, then there will be a link that will install and open the Report Builder 3.0 application.


Create A New Table

Report

When the Report Builder 3.0 starts up, it will start you off in the Report Wizard. In this example, we will start off by using the Table Wizard.


Define Your Data

Source

Now we need to specify our data source for the report.


Define Your Data

Source

If you have saved one in the past, then you can use it to save time, but in this case we will just create a new connection.


Define Your Data

Source

Rather than connect to the database, we will connect to the Microsoft Analysis Services cubes that are delivered with Dynamics AX.


Define Your Data

Source

Once you’ve selected the connection type, you can specify the connection details by clicking on the Build button.


Define Your Data

Source

Now we have the data source defined.


Define Your Data

Source

And the data source is now available for the report.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Now we can start creating our report…


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

For this report we want to use the Sales cube rather than the default AP cube. So from the data source selector, change the default cube.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Before we choose our report fields, we will add a filter to the report so that we just report off one company.

To do this select the Company dimension from the filter section of the report.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Then link it to the Company Hierarchy in the Sales cube.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Finally, select the report filter values.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Now we will select the data that we want to use in the report data source.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Select the Customer Group, State, and Customer fields from the cube.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

And also add in a date dimension.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

From the Measures section, we can now add in a reporting measure for the Invoice$ so that we have something to report off.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Continuing on, the Table Wizard will ask us to choose the fields that we want in the table.

Note: We are not going to use all of the fields that we selected in this initial view – they will be used later on in a sub report.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

Now we can choose if we want totals etc.


Create A Simple

Tabular Report

And also select the template for the report.

Tip: When I created this report, I chose the Generic format. Although it looks boring, it is easier to add formatting later on because we don’t have to strip out extra formatting beforehand.


Your Report

Now we have a report…


Your Report

And here is the report in action.


Add A Detail Map

Now we will add a little flair to our report by adding a map as a sub-report.

In order add a detail section we need to add somewhere for it to go. To do this we add a new row as an Inside Group Row.


Add A Detail Map

Now we have an extra cell.


Add A Detail Map

Now we will insert a Map component.


Add A Detail Map

Now just select the format for the map…


Add A Detail Map

And then position and zoom the map.


Add A Detail Map

Now select the color coding option for the map.


Add A Detail Map

The wizard will now ask where you want to get the data for the report – in this case we will use the data query from the main report.


Add A Detail Map

For the maps, we need to tell it what field is to be used to identify the map locations – the states in this example.

To do this, just select the State field from the data source selector.


Add A Detail Map

Now we can specify the color coding option for the map.


Add A Detail Map

And the map is done. One problem is that it is not a sub-report yet.


Add A Detail Map

Just drag the map into the detail cell that we created earlier on.


Add A Detail Map

The map is a little too busy at the moment, to we will get rid of a lot of the decorations that come by default.

Start off by removing the Distance and Color Scale from the map.


Add A Detail Map

Delete the legend…


Add A Detail Map

And remove the title.


Add A Detail Map

Now from the Map context menu, access the Viewport Properties.


Add A Detail Map

Remove the fill.


Add A Detail Map

Remove the Border…


Add A Detail Map

And finally remove the Shadow so that he map is clean.


Add A Detail Map

Now the map looks a little simpler… but maybe a little too big.


Add A Detail Map

To resize the map, just resize the columns and rows.


Your Report Has

Flair

Now we have a simple dashboard.


Format Report

To finish off the report we will reformat some of the fonts and layouts on the report.


Format Report

We can also change the title of the report and format the title font and color.


Format Report

To brand the report we can add a logo by adding an Image component to the report.


Format Report

With a little more formatting of the data, the report looks much better.


Report Finished

This looks much nicer for a report.


Format Report

(Alternate Ending)

If you are going to use this report as a widget, then you may want to rearrange the report a little.


Report Widget

Created

Now the report is ready to be added to a dashboard.


Publish Your Report

The final step is just to save the report to the Reporting Services server.


Report Available

For Everyone

The report is now available to everyone.


Standalone Report

Tip: Using the following URL, you can open up the report as a web page:

http://sharepoint/ReportServer/Pages/ReportViewer.aspx?%2fAnnualSalesDashboard&rs:Command=Render

About

Murray Fife

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Creating Custom Dynamics AX 2012 Reports With MSSQL Report Builder