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What is Microsoft Reporting Services?

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a comprehensive, server-based reporting solution that can author, manage, and deliver both paper-oriented and interactive, Web–based reports and services. SSRS supports a wide range of common data sources, such as OLE DB and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), as well as multiple output formats such as familiar Web browsers and Microsoft Office System applications.  It is flexible enough to be used in small business right through to large enterprises, and installs onto any Windows-based server able to support the .NET Framework.  The SSRS architecture allows third party developers to integrate with its data acquisition components to facilitate report production based on a wide range of back-end datasources such as DB2, Oracle and SQL Server.

The professional’s starting point for SSRS is the Report Designer, a complete IDE utilizing the functionality provided by Visual Studio.  In fact, all of its functionality is supplied in VS 2005 Professional and above so for those not inclined to purchase Visual Studio, a Reporting Services ‘only’ version of Visual Studio is bundled with SQL Server 2005 for Report Designer.  For the professional, therefore, reports can be developed and deployed and the BlueFinity RSDC employed to access all the major MultiValue databases.  RSDC provides a simple to use wizard interface for the specification of the database connection, query and selection commands. 

The Report Designer can be used to define a report layout, preview a report, and publish a report to a test or production server.  Report Designer includes query builders, an expression editor, and wizards so that simple step-by-step instructions can be followed to create a report.  Report Designer also supports advanced reporting features for professional report designers who understand query languages and expression languages. 

In typical Microsoft fashion,  the IT team has been provided with several tools ranging from the web-based Report Manger through to the full SQL Server Manager Studio to manage and manipulate the reports deployed from Report Designer in a single, consistent manner.  The ability to configure role-based security and to manage report server content by setting properties on data sources, reports, folders, resources, and report models is also available.  Report management also goes as far as being able to configure report execution and report history, to set limits on processing time, to monitor and cancel pending or in-process reports, and to create and manage data source connections and schedules independently of the reports that they are associated with. 

Reporting Services is also aimed at empowering the end user.  A new Report Builder tool (WinForm based) is aimed at the user who wishes to create ad hoc reports using templates and pre-organized data, saving them directly to a report server. Reports that are created in Report Builder can be accessed, distributed, and managed just as easily as any other report.  The templates mentioned above can be generated by someone in the organization who understands the business and the applications, who need not necessarily be someone in the IT team.  They could use the Report Builder Model Designer to build the templates whereas developers can use the full Report Designer.

Reporting Services Feature List

Report Layouts.  Tabular, matrix, chart, and free-form report layouts.

Ad hoc reports. Create and save reports directly to a report server using Report Builder. Ad hoc reporting is supported through a thin client that is downloaded from the report server.

Drill-through reports and interactivity. Add interactive features by providing links to related reports and reports that provide supporting details.

Parameterized reports. Add parameters to refine a query or filter a dataset. Dynamic parameters get values at run time based on user selections (the selection of one parameter builds the value list for a second parameter).

Presentation formats. Choose a presentation format when you open the report, or after you open the report. Choose from Web-oriented, page-oriented, and desktop application formats. Formats include HTML, MHTML, PDF, XML, CSV, TIFF, and Excel.

Custom controls or report items. Embed custom controls or report items that you create or purchase from a third-party vendor. A custom control requires a custom report processing extension.

Navigation. Add bookmarks and document maps to provide navigation options within a large report.

Aggregations. Aggregate and summarize data using controls and expressions. Aggregates include sum, average, min, max, count, and running totals.

Graphical elements. Embed or reference images and other resources that contain external content.

Reporting Services Deployment Options

On-demand access over Web connections. Use a browser to navigate a folder hierarchy to find and work with reports and other items. Reports can be referenced from a Favorites list in a Web browser, or link from a Web portal.

Sharepoint Web parts. Reporting Services provides two Web parts for report viewing and report server folder navigation. The Web parts can be embedded in a Microsoft SharePoint Portal site to easily integrate with a report server deployment.

My Reports and My Subscriptions. In Report Manager, store and manage reports and subscriptions in a personal workspace.

Subscriptions for E-mail or File share Delivery. Automate report delivery through a standard subscription and set report presentation preferences. Users who prefer to view a report in Microsoft Excel, for example, can specify that format in a subscription. Deliver a rendered report to an e-mail inbox. Set delivery options that control whether the report is delivered as a link or attachment. Deliver a rendered report to a shared folder. Set delivery options that control whether the report is overwritten or added to an existing folder.

Data-driven subscriptions. Automate report distribution through data-driven subscriptions, which generate a recipient list and delivery instructions at run time from an external data source. Use a query and column-mapping information to customize report output for a large number of users.

Multiple options for integrating Reporting Services into standard .NET based applications.  And mv.NET from BlueFinity provides the ideal .NET development tool for MultiValue databases:

• URL access.

• The Report Server Web service, also known as the Reporting Services SOAP API.

• The ReportViewer controls for Visual Studio 2005.

More Information

Please visit the official Microsoft Reporting Services website for complete information.

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