Hi all I have just installed SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Advanced Services. This comes with BIDS 2008. I have also installed Adventureworks2008R2. I am trying to create my first report project in BIDS. When I come to create a datasource, I press Edit in the Connection String, but nothing appears in the 'Server name' dropdown list. Do I have to do something else to get my database instance to appear in this list? Also, when I run SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2 Express, I cannot connect to Reporting Services. Is this normal, and just one of the limitations of the Express version? Cheers Naz

Hi Naz, Are you able to connect to Database Engine from management studio? Did you installed both Database Engine & Reporting Services while your installation? Thanks KumarPlease do let us know your feedback. Thank You - KG, MCTS

Yes I can connect to Database engine fine, no problems. I installed everything from the installation process.

I have just re-checked what I installed, I ran the Setup file again, and then went to install extra features to my installed instance, Reporting Services was already ticked.

Hi, Can you connect to Reporting Services from the Management studio? If NO than check the reporting services is ON by checking into "services.msc" type into run-command. Thanks KumarPlease do let us know your feedback. Thank You - KG, MCTS

I CANNOT connect to Reporting Services from Mgmt Studio. It doesnt even appear as an option to connect to. I only have the option of connecting to Database Engine or SQL Server Compact. The status of SQL Server Reporting Services in Services.msc is Started. So it is running. Anything else I should check?

I have run the Discovery Report, and Reporting Services is showing there also

Hi Naz, I have a bad feeling that this might be happening because of you have installed "EXPRESS" version. I haven't worked with EXPRESS before so I cannot give you accurate answer. Sorry for that. You may want to get correct response from other experts of this forum. Thanks KumarPlease do let us know your feedback. Thank You - KG, MCTS

Hi Naz, Thanks for your question and _Kumar’s replies. Please try to type in the Server name drop-down list with the severname and instance name instead of select it. By default, SQL Server Express always installs a named instance of the SQL Server database engine. Therefore data source connection strings and Reporting Services URLs must include the instance name. The following examples illustrate the syntax you should use. Item Example syntax Connection string to the sample AdventureWorks2008R2 database hosted on a local SQL Server Express instance Data Source=localhost\SQLExpress; Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks URL to a report server and report server endpoint http://localhost/reportserver_SQLExpress URL to Report Manager http://localhost/reports_SQLExpress For more information, please refer to: Reporting Services in SQL Server Express with Advanced Services. Hope it helps you. If the issue still exists, please let me know. Thanks, Sharp Wang Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi Naz, Thanks for your question and _Kumar’s replies. Please try to type in the Server name drop-down list with the severname and instance name instead of select it. By default, SQL Server Express always installs a named instance of the SQL Server database engine. Therefore data source connection strings and Reporting Services URLs must include the instance name. The following examples illustrate the syntax you should use. Item Example syntax Connection string to the sample AdventureWorks2008R2 database hosted on a local SQL Server Express instance Data Source=localhost\SQLExpress; Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks URL to a report server and report server endpoint http://localhost/reportserver_SQLExpress URL to Report Manager http://localhost/reports_SQLExpress For more information, please refer to: Reporting Services in SQL Server Express with Advanced Services. Hope it helps you. If the issue still exists, please let me know. Thanks, Sharp Wang Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi Naz, Thanks for your question and _Kumar’s replies. Please try to type in the Server name drop-down list with the severname and instance name instead of select it. By default, SQL Server Express always installs a named instance of the SQL Server database engine. Therefore data source connection strings and Reporting Services URLs must include the instance name. The following examples illustrate the syntax you should use. Item Example syntax Connection string to the sample AdventureWorks2008R2 database hosted on a local SQL Server Express instance Data Source=localhost\SQLExpress; Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks URL to a report server and report server endpoint http://localhost/reportserver_SQLExpress URL to Report Manager http://localhost/reports_SQLExpress For more information, please refer to: Reporting Services in SQL Server Express with Advanced Services. Hope it helps you. If the issue still exists, please let me know. Thanks, Sharp Wang Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi all I have just installed SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Advanced Services. This comes with BIDS 2008. I have also installed Adventureworks2008R2. I am trying to create my first report project in BIDS. When I come to create a datasource, I press Edit in the Connection String, but nothing appears in the 'Server name' dropdown list. Do I have to do something else to get my database instance to appear in this list? Also, when I run SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2 Express, I cannot connect to Reporting Services. Is this normal, and just one of the limitations of the Express version? Cheers Naz try to copy/paste (or type it) the server name instead of trying to find it in the dropdown box.

Thanks to all, typing in the server name worked. Not sure why it doesnt just bring it in automatically though, my first install of SQL always brought it in when I clicked on the dropdown box. Anyone by any chance know why I cant connect to Reporting Services in SSMS?

Hi Naz, Thanks for your reply. The issue that the drop-down list of server name doesn’t display the local server name automatically may be caused by the network range. When you connect to the Reporting Services in SSMS, please select Reporting Services in the Drop-down list of Server type, in the drop-down list of Server name, you also need to type in with the severname and instance name, such as: localhost\SQLExpress. If the issue still exists, please let me know. Thanks, Sharp Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi Naz, Thanks for your reply. The issue that the drop-down list of server name doesn’t display the local server name automatically may be caused by the network range. When you connect to the Reporting Services in SSMS, please select Reporting Services in the Drop-down list of Server type, in the drop-down list of Server name, you also need to type in with the severname and instance name, such as: localhost\SQLExpress. If the issue still exists, please let me know. Thanks, Sharp Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help. Hi Sharp, I cannot see an option for Reporting Services in SSMS. Within the Server Type dropdown, I only have the option of Database Engine or SQL Server Compact - Reporting Services is not there. I definitely installed it though, its listed in installed components report. How do I get it to appear? Cheers Naz

Hi, I have checked this and the Report Service Status = Started, and Report Server Mode = Native Could it be anything else?

Hi, I have checked this and the Report Service Status = Started, and Report Server Mode = Native Could it be anything else?

Hi Naz, Thanks for your reply. After you installed the SQL Server, had you ever configured the Reporting Services then started it? Please follow below steps to check the status of your Reporting Services. 1. Click Start, All programs, SQL Server 2008 R2, Configuration Tools, Reporting Services Configuration Manager. 2. It will display the window of Reporting Services Configuration Connection. By default, if you installed the Reporting Services correctly, the server name and instance name will being shown in the textboxes, click Connect button, 3. In the left pane, click the server name and instance name. Please check the Report Server status in the right side. Thanks, Sharp Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi Naz, Thanks for your reply. After you installed the SQL Server, had you ever configured the Reporting Services then started it? Please follow below steps to check the status of your Reporting Services. 1. Click Start, All programs, SQL Server 2008 R2, Configuration Tools, Reporting Services Configuration Manager. 2. It will display the window of Reporting Services Configuration Connection. By default, if you installed the Reporting Services correctly, the server name and instance name will being shown in the textboxes, click Connect button, 3. In the left pane, click the server name and instance name. Please check the Report Server status in the right side. Thanks, Sharp Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Hi Naz, I should apology for the incomplete research. Actually, SQL Server Management Studio Express doesn’t support Reporting Services. There is one relational thread: Reporting Services not appearing in Management Studio drop-down list. For more information, please refer to: Overview of SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition. Hope them help you. Thanks, Sharp Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

Thanks for that