From Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 to Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 there have been many great changes. The landscape of computing itself has changed with a proliferation of devices of various shapes and sizes. As you might have already learned, and I am sure you will learn from reading this book, Reporting Services has changed a lot especially as it relates to integration with SharePoint, another great product from Microsoft.
The initial motivation to write the 2nd edition of Learning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services came from Packt. In my 1st edition, I had bypassed the part related to SharePoint. SharePoint Integration with SQL Server 2012 becoming much more robust leading to some great interactive features motivated me further. I wanted to experience the thrill of investigating what these new features are and communicate it to my readers. Also, Report Builder 3 came after the 1st edition, and the new features that came with it compelled me to write this book.
The style of writing this edition is very similar to the first edition, which my readers enjoyed. This style makes learning a pleasure, removing the drudgery of reading a lot of text before tackling what is essential for the task. The task is made easier because of Microsoft's wizard-based program flow, a keenly honed Rapid Application Development (RAD) technology. The content of the book is not just GUI-based, there is enough coding, but is kept to a minimum. All code has been tested and is available for download at the Packt site. The background material, a condensate of Microsoft documentation, is carefully added to each chapter giving it an entry point. Sometimes entire portions of Microsoft documentation has been added to leave out ambiguities. This is then followed by graded hands-on exercises supported by screenshots with concluding remarks highlighting what is learned. In each chapter there are a number of links to material on Microsoft sites (mostly); some of them may be broken by the time the reader may reach out, however these links are meant mostly for those who seek information beyond the book to further the understanding of a particular item. I plan to present a list of all links in the book on my blog http://hodentek.blogspot.com.
I recommend readers start with Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012, and follow through. Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012, is mandatory as the book depends on the environment created in in this chapter. In Chapter 2, SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Projects with Visual Studio 2012, the report viewer controlling both desktop and web applications will be described with examples. Chapter 3, Overview of SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Architecture, Features, and Tools, is a summary of available documentation regarding architecture and features. Chapter 4, Working with Report Manager, describes the various tasks you can perform with Report Manager. In Chapter 5, Working with Report Builder 3.0 (also part of Chapter 10, Applications Accessing Report Servers) you will work with Report Builder 3.0 and the new gadgets. Chapter 6, Power View and Reporting Services, is entirely devoted to Power View, new and interesting in SQL Server 2012, and so is Chapter 7, Self-Service Data Alerts in SSRS 2012, on Self-Service Data Alerts, both of which launched from the SharePoint Site. A large number of programming tools are presented in Chapter 8, Reporting Services and Programming, with a brief introduction to Power Shell in as much detail as it is essential for configuring SharePoint Reporting Services service. Chapter 9, Windows Azure SQL Reporting, describes fully the way to get acquainted with the new Windows Azure SQL Reporting. Three applications accessing Report Servers are described in Chapter 10, Applications Accessing Report Servers, which in addition to those in the first edition completes the picture.
I am not new to reporting software and I have seen and worked with many. I believe that Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is one of the best as it delivers what is promised. Microsoft has tested and tried the various components that go into Reporting Services over many years to make this happen such as Windows, .NET Framework from v1.1 to v4.5, Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Azure, Microsoft SharePoint, and Silverlight to mention only a few and I have a feeling that I might have left out many others. Microsoft documentation has the last word and I would recommend readers to access the MSDN/TECHNET forums and the Microsoft Connect site to further their learning experience.
Writing this book was somewhat of a challenge. Windows 7 platform is not a recommended platform for SharePoint. Installing and configuring SharePoint on a Windows 7 platform was not easy. Two malware attacks during the writing period made it lot worse. My educational and research background over 25 years in academia has helped me a lot in delivering a book whose sole purpose is to take a reader with little initial background to be productive in a relatively short time. I do sincerely hope this has been achieved and that readers enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Editors and reviewers have contributed a great deal of time and effort both technically and otherwise to make this book possible. One could say, editors write the book. However, I hold myself totally responsible for any errors and omissions. I will be looking forward to hearing from my readers to share with me their learning experience.
Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012, provides step-by-step instructions supported by detailed screenshots for installing/configuring SQL Server 2012 Enterprise in Native and SharePoint Integrated mode, configuring Reporting Services 2012 in Native mode, installing sample databases used in the book, guidance to install SharePoint 2010 on Windows 7, and installing Reporting Services 2012 in SharePoint Integrated mode.
Chapter 2, SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Projects with Visual Studio 2012, gives details about Microsoft Business Intelligence projects, including an introduction to SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), creating BI projects in SSDT, creating reports using SSDT, and creating reports using Visual Studio suite.
Chapter 3, Overview of SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Architecture, Features, and Tools, provides readers a summary of Microsoft documentation related to SSRS 2012 regarding structural design of the environment, architecture of Native mode and SharePoint Integrated mode of Reporting Services, Reporting Services Configuration, and salient features of Reporting Services 2012. The reader will learn to work with Reporting Services operational features and configuration files.
Chapter 4, Working with Report Manager, describes how to work with Report Manager and administer the Report Server. Specifically the reader will learn all aspects of reports that include management, viewing, security, and permission for reports. The reader will also learn scheduling and delivery of reports, uploading/downloading reports/resources, creating data models, and so on, which are all described with examples.
Chapter 5, Working with Report Builder 3.0, describes all aspects of Report Builder 3.0 with examples. Readers will learn to author reports using this one-stop tool for Reporting Services. In the process the reader will learn to access Native/SharePoint mode Report Servers; author different types of reports, including embedded and shared data sources, column grouping and document maps, subreports, drill-down/drill-through reports, linked reports, reports based on XML data; and the use of additional visual analytic gadgets/features not described in the first edition such as maps, data bars, sparklines, and report parts.
Chapter 6, Power View and Reporting Services, describes Power View as a new feature in SSRS 2012 that does ad-hoc reporting accessible to all levels of expertise in the business from data analysts to business decision makers, but depends on a model built using SSAS (or PowerPivot). Readers will install SQL Server 2012 instance to support Tabular Model, create model/models using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), and use the model to create data source in SharePoint site that has a Reporting Services service running. Readers will create Power View reports using this data source and experience a full dose of interactivity and fun.
Chapter 7, Self-Service Data Alerts in SSRS 2012, describes another new feature of SSRS 2012 when implemented in SharePoint Integrated mode that helps with monitoring data changes on a report, very useful for any proactive organization. Readers will learn details of Data Alert workflow and learn how to use the interfaces in SharePoint. Reader will also learn details of Data Alerts including Data Alert designers and Data Alert managers.
Chapter 8, Reporting Services and Programming, describes several programming and interfaces used with SSRS 2012 that include URL Access, Report Viewer Controls, Reporting Services Web Services APIs, PowerShell support for Native and SharePoint Integrated mode implementation, Windows management instrumentation, Reporting Services utilities, and incorporating custom code in reports that are described with working examples.
Chapter 9, Windows Azure SQL Reporting, describes Windows Azure SQL Reporting as Microsoft Reporting Services in the cloud. The readers will learn how to begin using Windows Azure SQL Reporting Services and create reports using SSDT and deploy them to Azure SQL Reporting Services. In doing so, readers will learn to work with Windows Azure Portal, Windows Azure SQL Databases, and viewing reports on the cloud-based Report Server. All aspects of creating, viewing, and managing reports are discussed.
Chapter 10, Applications Accessing Report Servers, describes working through three examples of accessing Report Servers via applications. In the first, SQL Server Integration Services access the Report Server using a Web Service task; in the second, a Windows Foundation Project accesses Report Servers, both native and SharePoint Integrated mode using an embedded web browser control and in the third, SharePoint web parts are used to access a Native mode Report Server.
Appendix, Reference, provides useful references that have been used in the book. You can download this appendix from http://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/downloads/9922EN_Appendix_References.pdf.
You need the following:
Windows 7 64-bit (Ultimate edition is used in the book) computer (laptop was used) that meets the specifications described in Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 (note 32-bit will not do).
SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition (evaluation edition will do).
SharePoint 2010 Enterprise (evaluation edition will do). Note that the reader may have to install multiple instances of SQL Server 2012.
Access to Northwind, AdventureWorks Databases available from CodePlex sites described in Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012.
IIS 7.5 Version (a part of Windows 7 installation).
IE 9.0 browser or the version specified in Chapter 1, Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012.
Visual Studio 2010 or 2012 Ultimate (evaluation edition will do).
This book is for anyone who is new to SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services and needs to create and deploy/publish reports. This book will be useful for authors creating/administering reports for Native as well as SharePoint Integrated mode implementations. Report Server DBAs will greatly benefit by the administrative topics discussed in the book. This book is suitable for autodidacts, computer programming trainers, report developers, data analysts, and non-programmer type decision makers.
A basic but not necessarily specialist knowledge of SQL Server is assumed. Basic working knowledge of SharePoint will be very helpful.
In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.
Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "Double-click on the SQLFULL_x64_ENU_Install.exe file, which begins the installation"
A block of code is set as follows:
<Service>
<IsSchedulingService>True</IsSchedulingService>
<IsNotificationService>True</IsNotificationService>
<IsEventService>True</IsEventService>
<PollingInterval>10</PollingInterval>
<WindowsServiceUseFileShareStorage>False</WindowsServiceUseFileShareStorage>
<MemorySafetyMargin>80</MemorySafetyMargin>
<MemoryThreshold>90</MemoryThreshold>
<RecycleTime>720</RecycleTime>
<MaxAppDomainUnloadTime>30</MaxAppDomainUnloadTime>
<MaxQueueThreads>0</MaxQueueThreads>
<UrlRoot>
</UrlRoot>
<UnattendedExecutionAccount>
<UserName></UserName>
<Password></Password>
<Domain></Domain>
</UnattendedExecutionAccount>
<PolicyLevel>rssrvpolicy.config</PolicyLevel>
<IsWebServiceEnabled>True</IsWebServiceEnabled>
<IsReportManagerEnabled>True</IsReportManagerEnabled>
<FileShareStorageLocation>
<Path>
</Path>
</FileShareStorageLocation>
</Service>New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: "clicking the Next button moves you to the next screen".
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