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cindyfillerFlag for United States of America

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Using multiple datasets in SSRS 2005

I'm trying to get a report to work with multiple datasets.  The datasets do not have a direct tie to each other and come from different databases.   But the totals from one dataset need to be used in a subsequent dataset.  One dataset with goals, a second dataset has gifts and 3rd dataset has income and expenses.  I need to take X % of the gift dataset and add it into the income and expense dataset.  Then I need to get a grand total and determine the % of goal using the first dataset.  Once I start adding different datasets and data regions the report only runs if I use first or sum on each of the fields.  Some of these can't be summed - the goals for example have to be listed separately by FY.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.  I know I can't use sub reports because I can't carry totals from them onto the other data regions.  Any input?
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lcohan
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I would create SQL Views if posible for each "data set" to be in SSRS and use queries in your SSRS to agregate data based on these views as you described above.
Hi

Multiple dataset are not designed to talk to each other. At least not in 2005 it is slightly better with 2008 and even better with R2.

I think you can peform "lookups" on different datasets in 2005 but you need to type (hard-code) filter critieria they cannot be based on another field from a different dataset (at least I haven't found a way to do that).

If you want better answer I suggest to break your tasks into smaller ones and post them one by one there are bigger chances of getting more precise and quicker replies.

Also ideally you wouldn't have to do that in SSRS as this kind of tasks (data integration) should be performed before you use SSRS but that is ideal solution which is not always possible.

Hope that helps
Emil

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Some of the datasets are based on views.  I'm not sure how easy it would be to try and make all of the data look the same so it can be one aggregated view.  If possible, I'd like to get the multiple datasets to work.  Is this possible??
Hi

Creating views would be much simpler than working with multiple datasets in SSRS 2005. You mentioned that your queries come from different databases; are they all on the same server?

Regards
Emil
Yes they are on the same server and they are all sql db's.  It does sound like I am going to have to go about this report a different way.  I'd always heard you could do the different datasets, but I guess the key is whether they will have data that has to be used in multiple data regions.  I've used different datasets for parameters many times, but had hoped 2005 would allow me to build out this report using this feature.   Thanks for confirming what I was fearing.  At least now I won't waste time trying to do something it won't do!
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itcouple
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I think I'll end up having to do unions for each of the different types of data I'm pulling in.  I've never done one, but I think the trick is to have the same exact fields in each section that I'm going to union.   Again, thanks!
I awarded points and closed this case - at least I tried to.  It obviously didn't work.  Can you allow me to do this?  The person definitely deserves the points.