Report data source choices

Hi all,
I'm new to Reporting Sevices, and we're currently in the early stages
of designing a Data Warehouse / Data Mart. Initially, the DW will
only be used as a data source for reports developed with Reporting
Services. My question is twofold: first, is it possible to use
Analysis Services OLAP cubes as the data source for all reports, and
if so, then what are the pros and cons for using a cube vs. a
star-schema SQL Server database that we populate ourselves? Is one
data source normally preferred over the other. The reports will
initially be focused in the financial area but could be almost
anything.
Thanks and regards,
-MarkThe current release of SQL Server Reporting Services 2000 allows you to
execute MDX queries against Analysis Services cubes. A very good MSDN
article with samples about the integration of RS 2000 and AS 2000 is
provided at:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsql2k/html/olapasandrs.asp
In addition you might want to check out an example of how to do
parameterized MDX queries with RS and AS:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f9b6e945-1f4c-4b7c-9c83-c6801f0576ff&DisplayLang=en
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"MarkH" <mark@.markhibberdandassociates.com> wrote in message
news:f58c5d29.0406291458.2b904284@.posting.google.com...
> Hi all,
> I'm new to Reporting Sevices, and we're currently in the early stages
> of designing a Data Warehouse / Data Mart. Initially, the DW will
> only be used as a data source for reports developed with Reporting
> Services. My question is twofold: first, is it possible to use
> Analysis Services OLAP cubes as the data source for all reports, and
> if so, then what are the pros and cons for using a cube vs. a
> star-schema SQL Server database that we populate ourselves? Is one
> data source normally preferred over the other. The reports will
> initially be focused in the financial area but could be almost
> anything.
> Thanks and regards,
> -Mark