TFS - SSRS

The last 2 posts have seen use use TFS to build and deploy database models and SSIS packages.  http://sqljoel.blogspot.com/2017/07/tfs-ssis.html

We are now going to turn our focus to SSRS.  Just like applications, database models and SSIS our reports should get the same attention to detail when it comes to version control.  Here we will build and deploy our SSRS reports through TFS.  For ease of deployment, I have build a seperate project for each folder I want to see on our SSRS Server.  Just as we had done with SSIS, when building our solution, we will need to use a command line task.  We will call the devenv.com with the switches to /rebuild our solution.

TFS - SSIS

In my last blog post we built the process to build and deploy database models to each of our environments using ms-build.  https://sqljoel.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/tfs-team-foundation-server/

In my experience, SSIS hasn't been treated as cleanly in many organizations.  Many actually believe we can not use TFS to build and deploy or SSIS packages, but I am going to show you how.

One of the reasons we many believe SSIS can not be built and deployed with TFS is that we can not use the built in tools.  In order to build, we will use a command line build step and have to call the devenv.com, be sure visual studio is installed on your build box.  In this example for our arguments we will use our solution the /rebuild and /project switches.

TFS - Team Foundation Server

I always see TFS being used for application code.  Rarely do I see TFS being used for databases, SSIS, or SSRS.  Many believe there is no need or TFS is unable to do so.  In the next few posts I am going to give examples of each.

Personally, I like to create a separate build for each databases, SSIS and SSRS.

Depending on how tightly coupled your databases are, you may want to build them together or keep them in separate builds.  Below I am building 2 database projects together.  I then copy the files to a location I will use for the release.