PREVIEW PUBLISHING OF REPORTS

• US 20120030277A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gallardo, John Edward, Wu, Yunxin, Pawlowski, Lukasz Wladyslaw
• Application Number:
  US12/910,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20120030277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

Described are embodiments directed to providing a preview feature in a report designer that allows modifications to report metadata to be made and previewed accurately. In embodiments, the feature allows a user to open a report to make changes to metadata of the report and have an accurate preview of how the report will look when published on a report publishing server. Embodiments provide for a report publishing server to allocate an in memory location that stores modified metadata of a report. The in memory location allows relative paths and references to sub-reports or data sources in the original report to be accurately reflected in a preview on the client.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of previewing reports in a reporting service application, the method comprising:

receiving at the client a selection to edit metadata of a report published in a server environment on a report publishing server;

in response to receiving the selection to edit metadata, sending a request to the report publishing server to create a memory location to store modified metadata of the report, wherein the memory location provides characteristics of the server environment that allows modified metadata to be tested;

receiving at the client edits to the metadata of the report to create the modified metadata;

in response to receiving the edits to the metadata, sending the modified metadata to the report publishing server for storing in the memory location;

displaying at the client a preview of a version of the report created using the modified metadata stored in the memory location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified metadata in the memory location does not interfere with a second client accessing the report.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the request comprises sending a request to establish an edit session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to the receiving at the client a selection to edit the metadata of the report;

receiving at the client a selection to publish the report;

sending a first request to the report publishing server to publish the report in the server environment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at the client a selection to test connection data used to connect to a data source referred to in the report, wherein at least a portion of the metadata includes the connection data.

6. The method of claim 5, in response to the receiving the selection to test connection data, sending a request to the report publishing server to test the connection data used to connect to the data source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the request includes credentials for connecting to the data source.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request includes a reference to data source connection information.

9. A computer implemented method of providing preview data for reports published from a reporting service application, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a report publishing server to create a memory location to store modified metadata of a report, wherein the report is published in a server environment on the report publishing server, and wherein the memory location provides characteristics of the server environment that allows modified metadata of the report to be tested; and

receiving at the report publishing server the modified metadata from a client; and

storing the modified metadata in the memory location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the modified metadata in the memory location does not interfere with a second client accessing the report.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the request comprises receiving a request to establish an edit session.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising prior to the receiving the request:

receiving a first request at the report publishing server to publish the report in the server environment.

13. The method of claim 9, receiving a request at the report publishing server to test connection data used to connect to a data source referred to in the report, wherein at least a portion of the metadata includes the connection data.

14. The method of claim 9, testing the connection data by sending a request to connect to the data source.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising, executing the report with the modified metadata to generate preview information.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising, sending the preview information to the client.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed perform a method of testing connection data referenced in a report, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client at a report publishing server, wherein the request provides data source information;

attempting to establish a connection with the data source; and

sending an indication to the client regarding whether a connection to the data source was established.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the request from the client includes credentials for establishing a connection with the data source.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the attempting comprises using credentials stored at the publishing server.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the attempting comprises using the credentials.