SQL Server^® 2008 Reporting Services:
Hands-On

Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services

• Identifying deployment: native, integrated or single server
• Managing Web farm deployment with/without SharePoint

Developing Reports

Designing fundamental reports

• Connecting to relational and multidimensional data sources
• Generating a Tablix reporting structure
• Building an interactive chart
• Creating reports with richly formatted text

Composing expressions

• Computing custom fields
• Linking expressions to properties
• Employing conditional formatting

Arranging and sorting data

• Multiple-level grouping and categorising the results
• Applying aggregate functions

Producing various outputs from a Tablix

• Creating parallel dynamic group report formats
• Combining dynamic and static columns

Integrating Parameters and Filters

Incorporating parameters into reports

• Yielding subsets of data with query parameters
• Aligning report parameters to query parameters
• Constructing cascading report parameters
• Transmitting parameters to stored procedures
• Handling multivalued parameters

Applying filters to report data

• Augmenting performance with filters
• Determining filters vs. query parameters

Implementing Interactive Features

Combining multiple data regions in one report

• Applying sequential and nested regions
• Creating master/detail reports and linking subreports

Showing robust data with relevant detail

• Drilling through report detail and drilling down report data
• Navigating reports with document maps
• Reporting with hierarchical rows and dynamic headers

Deploying and Delivering Reports

Deploying reports to the server

• Publishing reports and configuring project properties
• Verifying results with Report Manager

Identifying delivery options

• Electing on demand or via subscription
• Enhancing performance with cached instances and snapshots
• Configuring snapshot history
• Formatting different outputs

Dispatching subscription reports

• Publishing reports via e-mail and fileshare
• Seamlessly delivering reports by data-driven subscriptions

Integrating reports with SharePoint

• Deploying reports to SharePoint
• Viewing results in Report Center and Data Connections libraries

Safeguarding Reporting Services

Structuring content security

• Leveraging existing Windows authentication
• Establishing permission levels on report items

Ensuring the RS system

• Instituting varying levels of administrative roles
• Granting and revoking system-level permissions

Extended Reporting and Data Visualisation

Creating reports on Analysis Services cubes

• Exploiting cubes as intuitive data sources for nontechnical and power users
• Working with the slicing and dicing features of Analysis Services
• Generating parameterised reports with MDX Builder

Designing reports for data visualisation

• Improving data visualisation with sparklines, data bars, maps and indicators
• Implementing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Dragging and dropping visualisation components to display inline

Delivering Reports to Users

• Accessing and controlling reports using URLs
• Enumerating reports on a report server
• Embedding reports in applications with the Report Viewer
• Delivering reports through SharePoint