1. Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services Jeff Dumas Technical Specialist Microsoft Corporation jeffd@microsoft.com

2. Business Reporting Needs Reports Are How We Make Business Decisions Everyday

3. IT Needs Asked to Build More Custom Reports with Less Time and Resources Problems: -- Multiple reports -- Multiple data sources -- Different user needs -- IT in the middle

4. SQL Server Reporting Services Solution: -- IT is a resource, not a middle man -- Users have direct access to custom reports Connects Users to Reports. Frees up IT Department.

5. Reporting Services Vision Delivered through: Traditional and interactive reports Scalable, manageable and embeddable server infrastructure Integration with SharePoint, Office applications, browser and other familiar tools Single platform and tools for all types of structured data (relational, hierarchical, multidimensional) Enable employees at all levels of an organization to realize the promise of BI to promote better decision making

6. User Profiles Analysts Information Consumers Information Explorers 5-10% of users 15-25% of users 65-80% of users Reporting Services Analytical and Visualization Tools

7. Reporting Lifecycle SQL Server Reporting Services provides a single platform for authoring, management and delivery of reports.

8. Architecture

9. Report Authoring  Use Microsoft or 3rd party tools that support RDL  Create single reports from multiple data sources (Access, DB2, OLE DB, ODBC, Oracle, and.NET data providers)  Designer lets you preview report layout & graphical support  Publish reports to Report Server  Exposed RDL allows partners to leverage

10. Report Management  Report definitions, folders, and resources are published and managed in a reporting Web Service.  Managed reports can be executed either on-demand or via schedule and are cached for consistency and performance  Scalable & Extensible Web Services architecture

11. Report Delivery  On-demand (“pull”) or event-based (“push”) delivery of reports  Tight integration with Microsoft Office System  Choose from multiple formats (html, Word, PDF, XML)  Deliver reports to almost any device

12. Report Delivery

13. Intermediate format for rendering reports to diverse output formats –Web Formats (HTML 4 and 3.2) –Print Formats (TIFF, PDF) –Data Formats (Excel, XML, CSV) Personalized and administrator defined subscription and delivery –Ability to select output formats per subscription –Can deliver links as well as rendered reports –Data-driven subscriptions for personal delivery Extensible delivery provider architecture –E-mail, SharePoint

14. Report Authoring

15. Powerful XML Report Definition Language –Freeform / Table / Matrix / Chart –Parameters (Dynamic, Hierarchical) –Sorting / Filtering / Grouping / Aggregates –Interactivity (Drill-down, Drill-through) –Full VB.NET Expression Language Extensible query execution architecture –SQL Server / Analysis Services –OLE DB / ODBC / Oracle Report Designer –Integrated with VS.NET –Query designers for SQL, Analysis Services Published definition enables 3 rd party tools

16. Report Management Web Service APIs for management Report Manager web user interfaces Report Management Functions –Report Metadata (Name, Description, Connections, Credentials, Parameters) –Scheduling integrated with SQL Server Agent –Execution properties (live, cache or snapshot) –History of prior executions Extensible, role-based security architecture

17. Office Integration Import reports from Microsoft Access Office Document Formats –Excel, Word HTML rendering takes advantage of OWC –Interactive Charts, PivotTables, Spreadsheets SharePoint Team Services –Report Web Parts –Report delivery to document libraries, lists –Report Library Template SharePoint Portal Server –Protocol handler for search –SSO, Profile integration

18. Key Differentiators Full Reporting Platform –All server components are extensible –Completely embeddable –Published, extensible report definition Scalability and Performance –Designed from day one to be a.NET web service –Web farm architecture –Optimized processing and rendering Support for Analysis Services –Takes advantage of server aggregates, formatting

19. Less customization work for IT Improved developer productivity  Plug in Web Services  Familiar development environment  Graphical VS.NET tools  Easy to embed into BI & LOB apps More control for end users  Users can subscribe to reports  Choose report formats from their desktop  Familiar, easy-to-use environment using Web browser and Office System applications

20. © 2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.