M-Files Reporting: Building the correct Report URL

Overview

This article explains how to find the correct details for building the report URL that is required for displaying reports in M-Files Desktop when using the Reporting module.

Solution

Reporting Services Configuration Manager shows two URLs for connecting to the reporting service:

1. Report Manager URL
2. Web Service URL

 

• Though the Report Manager URL works with web browsers, it does not work M-Files Report objects, which rely on Microsoft's Report Viewer to render the report.
• The Web Service URL is the option that you need to use as the base URL for the Report objects in M-Files.
• Pick up the Web Service URL from Reporting Services Configuration Manager.
• Use Report Manager to determine the correct folder path and report name.
• Append the path and report name to the Web Service URL to get the full Report URL to be used with Report objects in M-Files.
• The correct syntax for the Report URL is:
  http://[SQL-server name]/[ReportServer name]?/[folder path]/[ReportName].
• Note the question mark after the report service name.
   

Examples:
Reporting Services installed as the default instance in SQL:
http://mfilessql.company.com/ReportServer?/MFilesReports/M-FilesReport

Reporting Services installed as a named instance in SQL:
http://mfilessql.company.com/ReportServer_[instancename]?/MFilesReports/M-FilesReport
You need to include the instance name in the URL before the question mark.

Lastly, note that the client computers need to have direct connection to the reporting server. The reports are not routed to the clients through the M-Files application server.