How to save time with Report Sources

[Thomas_Davis]

We all have those customers, you know, the ones with 10 reports that have a very small difference, but at its core is the same data. Maybe that customer is you, and you are tired of re-creating the same data over and over. Maybe you have a group of reports that have 4, 6, 8 or so filters that are the same and you have forgotten to edit one or two when making a change and those reports render data differently. Is there a better way...?
	Report Sources can increase productivity and maximize your time as it relates to report building.  Save time and effort by making a Report Source that you can use repeatedly.  A Report Source consists of a table and any number of conditions along with a user-friendly name.
What is the benefit of using a Report Source?
Reduce Maintenance - Use report sources for reports containing the same conditions, so you do not have to define the conditions more than once. If a condition changes, you would only have to change the data source, not all of the reports. Drive Consistency - You can also use report sources to implement the same definitions across your organization. Share with your Group!!! Ensures everyone is reporting on the correct set of conditions.  No more meetings where everyone is looking at different data, based on different conditions in reports. "Don't waste time in Meetings" Easy to Use - When you create a new report, select Data Source, rather than Table. Search for your Report Source and now you have your default, concise data source. No more wondering if the right conditions are being used. Any report builder will have the same base data, no more "chasing down the SME", to confirm if you used the correct conditions.
Creature of Habit?
But wait, I am “Rocking through, these reports”!!! I am utilizing Insert and Stay: Do I need Report Sources, isn’t this the same?  I am getting the same results…
Insert and Stay is a very powerful feature in ServiceNow, however, it may not always be the right solution in situations like this.  Having one source “Report Source”, to make modifications to, will save you time and accuracy of all the Reports.  Instead of several copies of the same thing, we have one that we reuse and edit.    Do it once and it will change your perspective and save you tons of time.
Report Source example:
Is there one, two, three, or four things that are the same in every report? Maybe it has to do with the top of your Organization.  How often are reports created and the same filters are added to them all, “VP is John Donahoe”.  What happens when Jane takes over for John?  Having a Report Source that has that alone, will save you time and accuracy.  Go and edit one source, when that VP changes, rather than 10 reports.  Remember, if it is consistent in every report, save yourself time and effort, by creating a Report Source.  "One location to edit consistency!"
Below is an example of a Report Source that may have some base conditions that could be used many times:
Converting Existing Reports to Use Report Sources.
	If you have created an existing Report and say to yourself, this would make a great Report Source, no worries, you can convert it to a Report Source. While in the report, click the drop-down arrow next to Save and select “Save as data source”.
Below is the screen that you will see when you create a Report Source from an existing report.
Can I find existing Report Sources?
	If you want to see the Report Sources that have already been created, type in Reports in the Filter Navigator, then go to Administration > Report Sources. This will also give you the ability to filter the Report Sources by Table.  You can also see what reports are using a Report Source by going to Related Links > Reports using this report Source on an actual Report Source.
Have questions about Report Sources, add a comment below and we can help you utilize your time more wisely through the implementation of Report Sources.  Report Source Documentation

[mikkojuola]

Hi Thomas,

This post is already few years old, but I suppose it's still valid. I have one question related to data sources.

Does using data sources have any impact on performance? Is it better to use data sources than tables directly when it comes to complex queries, dot-walking etc. or is it the same? Just a "template" for conditions.

Best regards,

--Mikko

[rajeevj]

Hi @Thomas_Davis ,

Can you please assist with the above query as I am looking for a similar clarification?

Many thanks

Rajeev