Adding a report list to a dashboard

The easiest way to add a report list to a dashboard is to include the list's URL as a dashboard or content module. However, this method requires you to re-log into the system when you access a report from the list. In addition, URLs are not easy to maintain.

For example, if Reporting Services is moved to a different server, any report URLs that you have built will be broken and you will have to update each URL manually.

You can also add the server from which you are running Reporting Services as a service within Framework Services. Accessing a report from a list that uses a service does not require you to re-log onto the system because Framework Services automatically appends a session key to the list's URL. Report lists that use a service are easy to maintain.

For example, if Reporting Services is moved to a different server, you change the Framework Services service for the new server and all report links are automatically valid. In addition, using services makes dashboards containing the report list portable.

For example, you can set up a report list on a dashboard, export the dashboard, import the dashboard on another system, create the same Framework Services service in the new location, and you are then able to access all reports from the report list.