Microsoft® SQL Server® Reporting Services is the primary reporting platform for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. The default, out-of-the-box reports that are provided with Microsoft Dynamics AX have been converted to run on the Reporting Services platform.
Reporting Services is a server-based reporting platform that provides comprehensive reporting functionality for a variety of data sources. Reporting Services includes a set of tools that you can use to create, manage, and deliver reports, and APIs that developers can use to integrate or extend data and report processing in custom applications. Reporting Services tools work within the Microsoft Visual Studio environment, and interoperate with Microsoft SQL Server tools and components.
Overview
Item Description
Required Yes
Feature areas affected All
Stakeholders Business decision makers
Technical decision makers Implementation team members ISVs/developers
Partners
New functionality
The default, out-of-the-box reports that are provided with Microsoft Dynamics AX have been
converted to run on the Reporting Services platform. The Microsoft Dynamics AX reporting framework has also been updated so that it is easier to develop new reports that run on the Reporting Services platform.
Special considerations
Reports will not be upgraded from Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 provides hundreds of default, out-of-the-box reports that you can deploy and customize.
SQL Server Reporting Services reports in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
When you upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, existing Reporting Services reports are copied to the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 system, but they are not upgraded. We recommend that you use a Reporting Services report (provided with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012) as a template and customize it to meet your needs.
X++ reports in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
The X++ reporting framework is being deprecated in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
When you upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, reports based on the X++ reporting framework are copied to the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 system, but they are not upgraded. We recommend that you use a Reporting Services report (provided with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012) as a template and customize it to meet your needs.
Comparison with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009
This feature has changed considerably since Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 includes changes to the following:
Installation
Report deployment
Reporting framework
Installation
What can you do? Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2009 Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Why is this important?
Validate that prerequisites are installed.
Prerequisite software had to be manually installed and verified.
A tool is available that installs some of the prerequisite software for you and verifies that all prerequisites have been met.
The installation process is simplified, and you can make sure that the business intelligence components can be installed successfully. Install SQL Server
Reporting Services and Enterprise Portal on separate servers without having to configure Kerberos authentication. Kerberos authentication was required when SQL Server Reporting Services and Enterprise Portal were installed on separate servers.
Kerberos authentication
is not required. The installation process is simplified.
Report deployment
What can you do? Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2009
Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2012
Why is this important?
Deploy reports with Microsoft Windows PowerShell™ 2.0.
The Microsoft Dynamics AX Reporting Project Deployment tool was used to deploy reports.
Windows PowerShell 2.0 is used to deploy reports.
The report deployment process is simplified.
Deploy reports in
multiple languages. When a single report was deployed, 42 copies of the report were deployed—one for each language supported by Microsoft Dynamics AX.
When a single report is deployed, only one version of the report is deployed, and that version automatically works with all
languages supported by Microsoft Dynamics AX.
The report deployment process is simplified and streamlined for
organizations that must support multiple languages.
Reporting framework What can you do? Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2009
Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2012
Why is this important?
Modify queries used by
the reports. You could not modify the queries used by SQL Server Reporting Services reports.
You can modify the queries used by SQL Server Reporting Services reports.
You can make sure that the Microsoft Dynamics AX reporting framework that is based on SQL Server Reporting Services meets your business needs. Create auto-reports. Auto-reports were
generated by using the legacy X++ reporting framework.
Auto-reports are generated by using the SQL Server Reporting Services framework.
You can make sure that the Microsoft Dynamics AX reporting framework that is based on SQL Server Reporting Services meets your business needs. Print reports as part of
a batch. Only reports based on the legacy X++ reporting framework could be printed as part of a batch.
SQL Server Reporting Services reports can be printed as part of a batch.
You can make sure that the Microsoft Dynamics AX reporting framework that is based on SQL Server Reporting Services meets your business needs.
Report development
What can you do? Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2009
Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2012
Why is this important?
Access data for a
report. AX Query, SQL DB, and OLAP were used for data access.
AX Query is used for display methods, field groups, and
dimensions.
Data access and performance are improved. Process business logic
for the data on a report. DataMethods and managed code were used.
The Report Data Provider (RDP) framework is used, which supports complex business logic in X++ code.
Data access and performance are improved.
Use .NET-enabled
functionality. .NET Business Connecter was used. You can create a custom service and access the service from a report.
Data access and performance are improved. Return large datasets
for reports faster. DataMethods was used to return DataTable. DataMethods and IEnumerable<DataRow > are used for large datasets.
Data access and performance are improved. Rely on the model for
automatic report functionality.
Security keys and .NET RESX files were used instead of the AX Label system.
Auto-formatting based on extended data types, AX labels in reports, RTL auto-flipping, and row-level security improvements are supported.
The creation of reports is simplified.
Experience an improved report development environment.
The X++ reporting framework and Visual Studio 2008 were used.
Visual Studio 2010 is used for enhancements to auto-design and Dundas charts.
It is easy to find developers who have .NET development experience to define or modify reports. The charting experience is richer, and reports are interactive.