1. SQL Server 2000: Report Authoring with SQL Server Reporting Services Peter Blackburn Book: ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services’ Windows Server Systems – SQL Server MVP DAT368

2. Goals Encourage you to purchase the book Overview of Reporting Services Demonstrate range of report design features Build two reports adding complexity Discuss key report definition concepts Mention some tips and tricks

3. What does Reporting Services do? “SQL Reporting Services 2000 can serve reports over the inter- or intra- net, based on data from *any* source directly into many formats including:- html, pdf, excel, csv, image formats.” Yes, it’s a web application\service

4. Reporting Services Demo

5. Internet Information Server (IIS) Reporting Services Architecture URL & SOAP Interfaces Report Server Report Processor Data Processing Data Sources (SQL, OLE DB, XML/A, ODBC, Oracle, Custom) Report Rendering Output Formats HTML, Excel, PDF, CSV, XML… SQL Server Catalog SQL Server 2000 VS.NET Report Designer Report Manager ReportServer Web Service Security Delivery Targets (E-mail, FileShare, Custom) Scheduling & Delivery

6. Principal Components Report Designer Add In to Visual Basic.NET 2003 (or Visual Studio.NET 2003) Report Server IIS hosted Web Service Stores, Processes, Renders, Serves Reports over http(s) Report Manager IIS hosted Web Application Manage Reports Windows Report Service System Service Executes and delivers scheduled Reports

7. Minimum Requirements Report Server Windows 2000 Professional (Server Editions Recommended) SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition with Service Pack 3A Internet Information Server Users Any device with a web browser capable of html 3.0 HOWEVER Internet Explorer – is highly recommended Developers Visual Basic.NET 2003

8. Creating Reports Use Report Designer hosted in Visual Studio.NET 2003 Start with Report wizard or blank report Import from Microsoft Access XP or 2003 Charts and code-behind are not imported Redesign your top reports to use Reporting Services features Use 3rd party tools that target Reporting Services Proclarity, Panorama, Cizer, MIS AG Full list at: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting

9. Creating Reports Demo

10. Report Items TextboxImageLineRectangleSubreport Data Regions (List, Table, Matrix, Chart) Custom Report Items coming in SQL Server 2005! £100,000

11. Item Styles All Report Items Background Color Background Image Border Color Border Style Border Width PaddingCharts Background Gradient TextboxesColor Font Family Font Size Font Style Font Weight Format Line Height Text Align Text Decoration Vertical Align

12. Lists Repeating regions with freeform layout Similar to “bands” in other report writers But multiple lists can sit side- by-side! Lists inside lists to get multiple levels of grouping Use for complex repeating areas Brian Jason Steve £10,000 £20,000 £30,000

13. Tables Like lists with columns Fixed columns, repeating rows Table cells can span columns Multiple table rows per record Table cells can contain any report item Faster and smaller than lists Easier to align items Use for most reports £80,000 Grand Total £50,000EastTotal £30,000NorthTotal SalesRegionPerson £50,000EastSteve £20,000NorthDan £10,000NorthBrian

14. Matrices Repeats in row and column directions Also known as pivot table or cross tab Arbitrary formatting in headers Different formatting for subtotals Matrix cells can contain any report item Use when column headings are records in your data £720£760£600 Total £300£400£300 Steve £300£250£200 Jason £120£110£100 Brian 200220012000 Sales

15. Charts Data from fields in the data set or from expressions Full set of chart properties and types Style enhancements in SP1 Same data functionality as Matrix

16. Expressions Most properties take expressions Values from the data sets Values of other items on the report Values of global properties and user properties Expressions use Visual Basic.NET syntax Aggregates: Sum, Avg, Count, Min, First, etc. Examples=Fields!Name.Value =Fields!First.Value & " " & Fields!Last.Value =Sum(Fields!Sales.Value) =IIf(Sum(Fields!Sales.Value)>10, "green", "red")

17. Parameters Report parameters can be used in report expressions (including binding to query parameters) Set of valid values and default values can be static or query-based Parameters can be hierarchical Selection of parameter value can drive later valid values Accessed using global Parameters collection, e.g. =IIF(Fields!Sales.Value > Parameters!Goal.Value, “PASS", “FAIL")

18. Making Reports Interactive Actions can be added to report items Drill down within a report Drill through to a different report Bookmarks jump within a report Hyperlinks any web page Document map shows report structure

19. Green Bar Conditional formatting on contents of table cells Background color expression =iif(RowNumber(Nothing) Mod 2,“Green","White")

20. Page Break After N Rows “Hidden” page break grouping Group expression =Ceiling(RowNumber(Nothing)/30) No header or footer Page break at end of group

21. Running Total Running aggregate function =RunningValue(Fields!SalesAmt.Value, Sum, Nothing)

22. Simulated End-User Sorting “Sort By” report parameter Values = Names of fields to sort by “Direction” report parameter Values = Ascending, Descending, None

23. Simulated End-User Sorting Two sort expressions on table Ascending sort =iif(Parameters!Direction.Value= "Ascending", Fields(Parameters!SortBy.Value).Value,0) Descending sort =iif(Parameters!Direction.Value= “Descending", Fields(Parameters!SortBy.Value).Value,0) SQL Server 2005 will have auto-sort and filter built in!

24. Simulated “All” Parameters String parameter (Country) Query contains “like @Country” Valid Values list contains “All” Mapped to value of “%”

25. Deploying Reports Copies reports, images, and data sources to Report Server via Web Service After you deploy Set security permissions Set up caching and scheduled execution Set up subscriptions Bask in the admiration of your co-workers!

26. For more information Visit www.sqlreportingservices.net www.sqlreportingservices.net Site offers premium content for book owners ISBN: 0321268288; Published: Oct 8, 2004; Pages: 768 Includes DVD with over 2.5GB of tutorial videos Only book to include updates for SP1

27. “The ultimate resource for both DBAs and developers on SQL Server Reporting Services; this book and DVD will guide you from installation, security, report design, and deployment to developing extensions.” Gert E.R. Drapers, Software Architect, SQL Server Development, Microsoft Corporation “Bill Vaughn and Peter Blackburn have created a masterful work of Reporting Services documentation, which includes tips, tricks, and product insights that you just won’t find anywhere else.” Bryan Keller, Programmer Writer, SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft Corporation “An insightful, informative, and sometimes irreverent look into the world of Reporting Services, Hitchhiker’s Guide to SQL Server Reporting Services provides plenty of walk-throughs, examples, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of the product. Peter and Bill take you step by step through the various features of Reporting Services, pointing out pitfalls and best practices along the way. An excellent addition to any Reporting Services library.” Michelle Larez, Technical Writer, SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft Corporation “Although it is called Hitchhiker’s Guide to SQL Server Reporting Services, I like to think of it in more of a movie context as Bill and Peter’s Excellent Adventure. Get ready for a totally excellent quest to get the most out of your SQL Server Reporting Services deployment.” Brian Welcker, Group Program Manager, SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft Corporation “I got to know Peter and Bill in the early beta stages of SQL Server Reporting Services, where they were among the most prolific participants. This book reflects their passion for this product, their drive to go beneath the surface and understand its inner workings and its architecture.” Tudor Trufinescu, Development Lead, SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft Corporation What the Development Team Say What the Development Team Say “I learned new things when I read it” Bill Baker, General Manager, SQL Server Business Intelligence, Microsoft Corporation PeterDB@boost.net

28. Serious Complaint From: Rob Gray (Microsoft UK) Sent: 26 November 2004 10:53 To: Peter Blackburn Subject: Serious Complaint about your book Hi Peter I have a massive complaint about your book. I usually use technical books as a cure for insomnia, and they usually prove to be quite effective. Your book, however, has let me down… I’ve been reading the foreword etc. over the last few weeks whenever I’ve had a chance, but last night I started reading the first “real” chapter. Now rather than the book being a cure for insomnia, I ended up only getting to sleep sometime after 01:30am (I’m usually asleep by 11). A Technical book isn’t MEANT to be interesting or amusing, and DEFINITELY not intriguing! What’s going on!!?? This is also the first time that I’ve laughed out loud while reading a technical book. In fact I’ve only laughed out loud once or twice in my life when reading ANY book, including ones that are meant to be funny. PLEASE MAKE THE NEXT EDITION BORING SO THAT I CAN AT LEAST GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT!! On a serious note, congrats on a great and fun-to-read book. I’m sure you can expect some feedback from us as we work though it! Definitely on my “recommended reading” list. Cheers, Rob

29. Additional Resources Reporting Services web site http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting Reporting Services newsgroup news:microsoft.public.sqlserver.reportingsvcs Course 2030: Creating Reporting Solutions http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/syllabi/2030AFin al.asp http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/syllabi/2030AFin al.asp SQL Server Community Sites http://www.microsoft.com/sql/community/

30. Community Resources My Web Site http://www.SqlReportingServices.NET Community Resources http://www.microsoft.com/communities/default.mspx Most Valuable Professional (MVP) http://www.microsoft.com/communities/mvp Newsgroups Converse online with Microsoft Newsgroups, including Worldwide http://communities2.microsoft.com/communities /newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx http://communities2.microsoft.com/communities /newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx User Groups - Meet and learn with your peers http://www.microsoft.com/communities/usergroups default.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/communities/usergroups default.mspx

31. © 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This presentation is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.