Report Subscription in SSRS

Report Subscription is a powerful option available in SSRS or SQL Reporting Services. Subscriptions allow users to create reports without interacting with Report Manager, BIDS, or Report Builder.

This article will show you how to apply for a Report subscription with an example. It includes both the SSRS Email and File Subscriptions.

Report Subscription in SSRS

Before we start applying Subscriptions, Let me open my SSRS Report Manager to show the existing reports on our server.

For this demonstration, we will use the previously created Report called List Reports. So please refer to the same to understand the Report data.

To create a report subscription in SSRS, Clicking the down arrow beside the Report will open the menu items. Please select the Manage option from the menu items.

Manage Option

Once you select the Manage option, the Report Manager will navigate you to a new page with the following tabs. You can use this page to manage the advanced setting of this.

Under the properties tab will show the Report Created user, created and modified dates, and the Report size.

Go to Properties Tab

Please navigate yourself to the Subscriptions tab and select the New Subscription option in SSRS.

Add New Report Subscription in SSRS

Once you choose the option, the report manager will navigate to the following page.

Schedule the SSRS Report Subscription

SSRS subscription supports two types of Delivery options: Windows File Share and Email. Currently, we haven’t configured the SMTP Email settings. That is the reason; it is displaying only one delivery option.

Choose the Delivery By

Windows File Share Subscription in SSRS

The SSRS Windows File share subscription allows saving the Report in the file system (Hard Drive) at regular intervals or specified timings. For example, Reports for Saturday Meetings, Monthly Progress, Temperature of the Last batch, etc.

Once you select the Windows File Share option, the Report Manager will display the following page. And the properties of this Windows File share subscription in SSRS are:

  • File Name: Please specify the file name
  • Path: Specify the Network path where you want to save the Report.
  • Render Format: Please select the format you want to save the Report—for example, PDF, XML, Excel etc.
  • User name: Please specify the user name required to access the folder in the Path section.
  • Password: Specify the Password for the above-specified user.
  • Overwrite an existing file with a newer version: This option will always keep a fresh copy of the subscribed Report.
  • Do not Overwrite the file if a previous version exists: This option will not overwrite the existing file.
  • Increment file names as newer versions are added: This option will add different names for a fresh copy of the subscribed one.
  • Subscription processing Options: This is the Schedule chosen.
SSRS Windows Live Share Report Delivery subscribtion

Let me show you the folder we will use for this SSRS Subscription. Remember, it should be on Network (Shared Folder). And the User name and Password you will provide in the Subscription must have access to this folder.

View charts in Local hard drive

Next, we select the render Format as PDF. The screenshot below shows you the list of available render options.

Report Render Format

Lastly, we have to schedule the time to save the report in the given path. For this, please click on the Select Schedule button.

SSRS Report Subscription Select Schedule

Once you click the Select Schedule button, the report manager will navigate you to a new page. You can use this page to schedule your subscriptions in SSRS.

  • Schedule Details: Use this section to schedule the report subscription Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Once in a lifetime. Don’t forget to mention the start time.
  • Start Date: Please specify when you want to start the Report subscription.
  • Stop this Schedule on: When you want to stop this subscription.
SSRS Report Subscription Daily, Weekly, hourly Schedules

Let me schedule this for 2 minutes. For the SSRS subscription demonstration, In real-time, it might be Daily, Every Monday, etc.

SSRS Report Subscription Hourly Schedule

Let me provide the User name and password to access the report folder.

Provide the Path, Render Format, User Name and password 13

Now you can see the newly created file subscription on the report page.

Report Subscription in SSRS 14

From the below screenshot, you can see that it is running successfully.

SSRS Report Subscription Execution

After a successful run, it will save the Report in PDF format. From the below, you can see the PDF that was generated by the Subscription.

View generated PDF File 16

Let me open PDF to check whether it is correct or not.

View Subscribed SSRS Report PDF Preview

SSRS Email Subscription

The SSRS Email subscription allows sending the Report through Email at regular intervals or specified timings. So, for example, You can create a subscription that will send you last week’s progress report to your Email, etc.

Before configuring the SSRS Email subscription, we have to configure the SMTP setting in SQL Configuration Manager. And to do this, navigate to the Email Settings tab and provide the Sender Address and SMTP server name. For now, we are entering the dummy details.

Go to Configuration Manager to View SMTP Email settings

Mail Information

Once you select the Email Delivery option, the Report Manager displays the following options on the SSRS subscriptions page. And the properties are:

  • To: Email Id or SMTP address of the receiver. (To whom do you want to send the chart)
  • Subject: Email subject.
  • Render Format: Please select the format you want to save the report—for example, PDF, XML, Excel, etc.
  • Priority: Please specify the Email priority. Normal will do the work for you. If not, go for High.
  • Processing Options: This is to schedule the report subscription.

Let me add some dummy details, and Click OK.

Fill To, CC, BCC, Subject, and. Priority for Email

Now you can see both the Email and File subscription in SSRS Reports.

Run SSRS Email Report Subscription 21

About Suresh

Suresh is the founder of TutorialGateway and a freelance software developer. He specialized in Designing and Developing Windows and Web applications. The experience he gained in Programming and BI integration, and reporting tools translates into this blog. You can find him on Facebook or Twitter.

Comments are closed.