Partilhar via


Creating, Modifying, and Deleting Snapshots in Report History

Report history is a collection of report snapshots. You can maintain report history by adding and deleting snapshots, or by modifying properties that affect report history storage. You can create report history manually or on a schedule.

To create report history, your role assignment must include the "Manage report history" task. To view report history, your role assignment must include the "View reports" task. Report history is available to all users who have access to the report. You cannot selectively enable or disable report history for a subset of users.

Snapshots in report history are identified by the date and time they were created. The date and time is based on when the query executed.

Creating Snapshots in Report History

Snapshots can be created manually or at scheduled intervals for any report that can run unattended. To run unattended, the report must use stored credentials or no credentials at all. Furthermore, if the report uses parameters, you must specify default values to use when the report runs. You can specify stored credentials and parameter values in the property pages for the report. For more information, see Data Sources Properties Page (Report Manager) and Parameters Properties Page (Report Manager).

When you create a report snapshot, the following elements are stored along with the report snapshot in the report server database:

  • The result set (that is, the data in the report, retrieved through the credentials specified in the Data Sources properties page of the report).
  • The underlying report definition, as it exists at the time the snapshot was created. If the report definition is subsequently modified after the snapshot is generated, those changes are not reflected in the snapshot.
  • Parameter values that are used to obtain or filter the result set.
  • Embedded resources, such as images. External resources that are linked to a report are not stored with the report snapshot.

The ways in which report history can be created and the number of report snapshots that can be stored are determined by settings. For more information, see Configuring Report History Properties.

If a report produces an error, a snapshot is not created. Reports that produce warnings, yet still run, can be used to generate snapshots.

Modifying Properties and Deleting Report History

Once a report snapshot exists, you cannot modify it. However, you can modify properties in a way that deletes report history.

Report history can be deleted in the following ways:

  • Manually delete snapshots singly or in groups.
    You can delete snapshots from the History page in Report Manager. Navigate to the report, click History, select the check box next to the snapshots that you want to delete, and then click Delete. In Management Studio, navigate to the History folder of a specific report, right-click a snapshot, and then click Delete.
  • Lower the report history limit to reduce the number of snapshots that are stored. The report history limit can be set for the report server or for specific reports. Lowering the limit causes the oldest snapshots to be deleted from history. Lowering report-specific report history reduces excess report history for that report.

You cannot delete all report history stored on a report server in a bulk operation.

Report history is also deleted when you delete a report. For example, if you delete a monthly sales report because you are replacing it with a newer version, all report history that is associated with the report is also deleted. However, if you move a report, all report history moves with it.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Create Report History (SharePoint Integrated Mode)
How to: Add a Snapshot to Report History (Report Manager)
How to: Add a Snapshot to Report History (Management Studio)
How to: View and Configure Report History (Report Manager)
How to: View and Configure Report History (Management Studio)
How to: Schedule a Report Snapshot (Report Manager)
How to: Schedule a Report Snapshot (Management Studio)

Concepts

Managing Report History
Report Snapshots
Report Manager
Configuring Report History Properties

Other Resources

Managing Report Server Content

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance