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Optimize reporting and BI with Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services and Mobile Reports provides a comprehensive lesson in business intelligence (BI), operational reporting and Reporting Services architecture using a clear, concise tutorial approach. You'll learn effective report solution design based upon many years of experience with successful report solutions. Improve your own reports with advanced, best-practice design, usability, query design, and filtering techniques. Expert guidance provides insight into common report types and explains where each could be made more efficient, while providing step-by step instruction on Microsoft SQL Server 2016. All changes to the 2016 release are covered in detail, including improvements to the Visual Studio Report Designer (SQL Server Data Tools) and Report Builder, Mobile Dashboard Designer, the new Report Portal Interface, HTML-5 Rendering, Power BI integration, Custom Parameters Pane, and more. The Microsoft SQL Server 2016 release will include significant changes. New functionality, new capabilities, re-tooled processes, and changing support require a considerable update to existing knowledge. Whether you're starting from scratch or simply upgrading, this book is an essential guide to report design and business intelligence solutions. * Understand BI fundamentals and Reporting Services architecture * Learn the ingredients to a successful report design * Get up to speed on Microsoft SQL Server 2016 * Grasp the purpose behind common designs to optimize your reporting Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services makes reporting faster, easier, and more powerful than ever in web, desktop and portal solutions. Compatibility with an extensive variety of data sources makes it a go-to solution for organizations across the globe. The 2016 release brings some of the biggest changes in years, and the full depth and breadth of these changes can create a serious snag in your workflow. For a clear tutorial geared toward the working professional, Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services and Mobile Reports is the ideal guide for getting up to speed and producing successful reports.
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Seitenzahl: 952
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017
Cover
Title Page
Introduction
Who This Book Is For
What This Book Covers
What You Need to Use This Book
Conventions
Sample Reports and Projects
Errata
P2P.WROX.COM
Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1: Introducing Reporting Services
Who Uses Reporting Services?
Dashboards, Reports, and Applications
Report Tool Choices
Optimizing Performance
Summary
Chapter 2: What's New in SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services?
Report Builder and Designer Enhancements
Modern Browser Rendering
Parameter Layout Control
Updated RDL Specification
Mobile Reports
KPIs
Native Printing Control
PowerPoint Rendering
Integrated and Improved Web Portal
New Charts and Visual Enhancements
Standardized, Modern Browser Rendering
Power BI Dashboard Pinning
Summary
Chapter 3: Reporting Services Installation and Architecture
What's Changed in SQL Server 2016?
The Basic Installation
The Enterprise Deployment
The Reporting Life Cycle
Reporting Services Tools
Reporting Services Windows Service
Reporting Services Processors and Extensions
Reporting Services Application Databases
Summary
Part II: Basic Report Design
Chapter 4: Report Layout and Formatting
Using Report Design Tools
Understanding Report Data Building Blocks
Samples and Exercises
Summary
Chapter 5: Data Access and Query Basics
Database Essentials
Data Source Management
Datasets and Fields
Summary
Chapter 6: Grouping and Totals
SQL Server Data Tools
Report Groups
Exercise
Summary
Part III: Advanced and Analytic Reporting
Chapter 7: Advanced Report Design
Pagination and Flow Control
Headers and Footers
Composite Reports and Embedded Content
Unlocking the Textbox
Designing Master/Detail Reports
Designing Subreports
Navigating Reports
Exercises
Summary
Chapter 8: Graphical Report Design
Visual Design Principles
Chart Types
Exercises
Summary
Chapter 9: Advanced Queries and Parameters
T-SQL Queries and Parameters
MDX Queries and Parameters
Summary
Chapter 10: Reporting With Analysis Services
Analysis Services for Reporting
Using Reporting Services with Analysis Services Data
Working with Multidimensional Expression Language
Adding Nonadditive Measures
Mdx Properties and Cube Formatting
Drill-Through Reports
Best Practices and Provisions
Summary
Chapter 11: SSAS Reporting Advanced Techniques
Building A Dynamic Cube Browser with SSRS
Cube Dynamic Rows
Cube Dynamic Rows Expanded
Cube Restricting Rows
Cube Metadata
Cube Browser
Summary
Chapter 12: Expressions and Actions
Basic Expressions Recap
Using the Expression Builder
Calculated Fields
Conditional Expressions
The IIF() Function
Using Custom Code
Reporting on Recursive Relationships
Actions and Report Navigation
Summary
Part IV: Solution Patterns
Chapter 13: Report Projects and Consolidation
SSDT Solutions and Projects
Version Control
Synchronizing Content
Managing Server Content
Report Builder and Self-Service Reporting Strategies
Report Builder and Semantic Model History
Planning A Self-Service Reporting Environment
User Report Migration Strategies
Summary
Chapter 14: Report Solutions, Patterns, and Recipes
Super Reports
Report Recipes: Building on Basic Skills
Summary
Part V: Reporting Services Custom Programming
Chapter 15: Integrating Reports into Custom Applications
URL Access
Programmatic Rendering
Using the Reportviewer Control
Summary
Chapter 16: Extending Reporting Services
Extension Through Interfaces
Creating a Custom Data Processing Extension
Summary
Part VI: Mobile Report Solutions
Chapter 17: Introducing Reporting Services Mobile Reports
The Mobile Report Experience and Business Case
Connection and Dataset Design Basics
Introducing Mobile Report Publisher
Visual Control Categories
Summary
Chapter 18: Implementing a Mobile Report with Design-First Development
Design-First Mobile Report Development Exercise
Summary
Chapter 19: Mobile Report Design Patterns
Key Performance Indicators
The Thing About KPIs
Creating a Time-Series Mobile Report
Summary
Chapter 20: Advanced Mobile Report Solutions
Designing a Chart Data Grid Mobile Report
Exercise: Adding a Drill-Through Mobile Report
Exercise: Adding a Drill-Through Paginated Report
Summary
Part VII: Administering Reporting Services
Chapter 21: Content Management
Using Web Portal
Content Management Activities
Site and Content Security
Site Branding
Content Management Automation
Summary
Chapter 22: Server Administration
Security
Backup and Recovery
Monitoring
Configuration
Summary
End User License Agreement
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Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Chapter 1: Introducing Reporting Services
Figure 1.1 Using navigation links.
Figure 1.2 Web portal.
Figure 1.3 Web portal on iPhone.
Figure 1.4 Mobile report on iPad.
Chapter 2: What's New in SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services?
Figure 2.1 Evolution of Reporting Services.
Figure 2.2 Report Builder's new look.
Figure 2.3 Report Designer grid.
Figure 2.4 RDL file snippet
Figure 2.5 Mobile report on tablet.
Figure 2.6 Mobile report on phone.
Figure 2.7 KPI from SSDT Report Designer dataset.
Figure 2.8 Content menu in the web portal.
Figure 2.9 Two new chart types.
Figure 2.10 Reporting Services Configuration Manager.
Figure 2.11 Power BI pinning added to report toolbar.
Figure 2.12 “Pinnable” items highlighted in web portal.
Figure 2.13 Power BI dashboard and update frequency.
Figure 2.14 Pinned report visuals appearing on the dashboard alongside the Power BI visuals.
Chapter 3: Reporting Services Installation and Architecture
Figure 3.1 SQL Server setup DVD image mounted as a logical drive.
Figure 3.2 SQL Server Installation Center.
Figure 3.3 Installation page of the SQL Server Installation Center.
Figure 3.4 Setup Support Rules page.
Figure 3.5 System Configuration Check Report.
Figure 3.6 Product Key page.
Figure 3.7 License Terms page.
Figure 3.8 Install Setup Files page.
Figure 3.9 Selecting a SQL Server Feature Installation.
Figure 3.10 Selecting products and features to install.
Figure 3.11 Instance Configuration page.
Figure 3.12 Server Configuration page.
Figure 3.13 Server Configuration tab of the Database Engine Configuration page.
Figure 3.14 Reporting Services Configuration page.
Figure 3.15 Ready to Install page.
Figure 3.16 Installation Progress page.
Figure 3.17 Web portal.
Figure 3.18 Navigating directly to the report server.
Figure 3.19 The two Reporting Services instances.
Figure 3.20 A named instance and a default instance open in browser windows.
Figure 3.21 SSRS services and dependencies.
Figure 3.22 SSRS core processing.
Chapter 4: Report Layout and Formatting
Figure 4.1 Report Builder with different areas of the designer.
Figure 4.2 Basic components of reports.
Figure 4.3 Report Builder Insert ribbon.
Figure 4.4 Simple multi-level table report.
Figure 4.5 Matrix report.
Figure 4.6 List in design view.
Figure 4.7 List report preview.
Figure 4.8 Creating a new folder.
Figure 4.9 A new empty folder.
Figure 4.10 Getting Started page.
Figure 4.11 Selecting Add Data Source in the Report Data pane.
Figure 4.12 Data Source Properties dialog.
Figure 4.13 Connection Properties dialog.
Figure 4.14 Selecting Add Dataset.
Figure 4.15 Query Designer dialog.
Figure 4.16 List of fields added to Report Data pane.
Figure 4.17 Selecting the Insert Table option.
Figure 4.18 Placing the table.
Figure 4.19 Selecting the ProductCategory field.
Figure 4.20 Inserting columns.
Figure 4.21 Previewing the report using the Run icon.
Figure 4.22 Selecting the background color.
Figure 4.23 Formatting the column for currency.
Figure 4.24 Previewing the report.
Figure 4.25 Revealing the total number of pages.
Figure 4.26 Selecting Group Properties.
Figure 4.27 Selecting the [ProductName] field.
Figure 4.28 Selecting the [OrderQuantity] field.
Figure 4.29 Jumping to the last page of the report.
Chapter 5: Data Access and Query Basics
Figure 5.1 Selecting columns in Query Designer.
Figure 5.2 Using the Auto Detect feature.
Figure 5.3 Adding a report parameter.
Figure 5.4 Generating a T-SQL query.
Figure 5.5 “Connect to Server” dialog.
Figure 5.6 Right-clicking the WroxSSRS2016 database.
Figure 5.7 Selecting the SalesSummaryCountry dataset.
Figure 5.8 Pasting the query copied from SSMS.
Figure 5.9 Entering the year for the Parameter Value.
Figure 5.10 Dataset Properties with query.
Figure 5.11 “Parameter value” referring to a report parameter.
Figure 5.12 Four fields belonging to the dataset.
Figure 5.13 Selecting the Insert Matrix option.
Figure 5.14 Dropping the matrix into the report body.
Figure 5.15 Selecting the [SUM(SalesAmountSum)] data cell.
Figure 5.16 Entering 2013 for the Year parameter.
Figure 5.17 Country field values repeated across columns.
Figure 5.18 Report Parameter Properties dialog.
Figure 5.19 Entering report parameters.
Figure 5.20 Providing a default value for the parameter.
Figure 5.21 Report with the new parameter value.
Figure 5.22 Report Parameter Properties dialog.
Figure 5.23 Changing the WHERE clause of the query.
Figure 5.24 Checking the values
2012
and
2013
.
Chapter 6: Grouping and Totals
Figure 6.1 Choosing Reporting Services from the New Project dialog.
Figure 6.2 Window panes in Report Designer.
Figure 6.3 A report in the Design window.
Figure 6.4 Tables added to Query Designer.
Figure 6.5 Column names modified.
Figure 6.6 Using Report Designer properties and features.
Figure 6.7 the Group Properties dialog.
Figure 6.8 ProductCategory field as a group expression.
Figure 6.9 Managing page breaks.
Figure 6.10 Grouped table data region with totals.
Figure 6.11 Design of sample report.
Figure 6.12 Previewing the report.
Figure 6.13 Sorting page of the Group Properties dialog.
Figure 6.14 Displaying by one field and sorting by another.
Figure 6.15 Selecting the vSalesSummaryYearProduct view.
Figure 6.16 Selecting the vSalesSummaryYearProduct view.
Figure 6.17 Filter text added to Query Designer.
Figure 6.18 Report preview showing one row per product.
Figure 6.19 Selecting the Order Quantity column.
Figure 6.20 Selecting the background color icon.
Figure 6.21 Previewing the report.
Figure 6.22 Clicking the down-arrow icon.
Figure 6.23 Previewing the report.
Figure 6.24 Totals for the last category and the overall total.
Figure 6.25 Expression editor window.
Figure 6.26 Changing text to Grand Total.
Figure 6.27 Category name and category total.
Figure 6.28 Selecting ProductSubcategory.
Figure 6.29 Revealing three products in the Helmets subcategory.
Figure 6.30 Adding a query script to return a distinct list.
Figure 6.31 Choosing “Available Values” and query options.
Figure 6.32 Modifying the expression.
Figure 6.33 Entire report in default view.
Chapter 7: Advanced Report Design
Figure 7.1 Report properties in the designer.
Figure 7.2 Report Properties, Page Setup page.
Figure 7.3 Properties window, Size properties group.
Figure 7.4 Headers and footers in the designer for a typical table report.
Figure 7.5 Rendered table report with headers and footers.
Figure 7.6 Page header shown on the second page.
Figure 7.7 Page Header Properties dialog.
Figure 7.8 Row group header boundary.
Figure 7.9 Assembling the page footer.
Figure 7.10 Assembling the page header.
Figure 7.11 Assembling the report header.
Figure 7.12 Tablix Properties dialog.
Figure 7.13 Setting up repeating page header in Advanced Mode.
Figure 7.14 Textbox Padding properties.
Figure 7.15 Text with embedded formatting.
Figure 7.16 Placeholder Properties dialog.
Figure 7.17 Previewed report with data-bound embedded formatting.
Figure 7.18 Report header content contained in a rectangle.
Figure 7.19 Page header content contained in a rectangle.
Figure 7.20 Setting a page break in the rectangle properties.
Figure 7.21 Long parameter text in page header.
Figure 7.22 Setting the PageBreak Disabled property with an expression.
Figure 7.23 Report rendered to Excel.
Figure 7.24 Multi-level table report with drill-down and repeating chart.
Figure 7.25 Matrix report with repeating chart.
Figure 7.26 List report with free-form layout and embedded chart.
Figure 7.27 Combination report with list, embedded table, and chart.
Figure 7.28 Different aggregate functions used in totals.
Figure 7.29 Using a scoped aggregation.
Figure 7.30 Putting the calculations together in a meaningful solution.
Figure 7.31 Adding a subreport to the main report.
Figure 7.32 Modify the dataset parameter using an expression.
Figure 7.33 Product Details report with subreport in designer.
Figure 7.34 Product Details report in preview.
Figure 7.35 Multi-group table report with document map.
Figure 7.36 Report Properties dialog.
Figure 7.37 Page Header Properties dialog.
Figure 7.38 Adding an embedded image.
Figure 7.39 Completed template report.
Figure 7.40 Select an item from the Add New Item dialog.
Figure 7.41 The Query Designer.
Figure 7.42 Report Parameter Properties.
Figure 7.43 Add a Figure caption here.
Figure 7.44 Matrix Design view and BackgroundColor property expresssion.
Figure 7.45 Preview of finished report.
Chapter 8: Graphical Report Design
Figure 8.1 Two renditions of the same chart.
Figure 8.2 Stacked column chart.
Figure 8.3 Area chart.
Figure 8.4 Pie chart for Bike product categories.
Figure 8.5 Doughnut chart versus bar chart.
Figure 8.6 Top 200 Product Sales report.
Figure 8.7 Bubble chart.
Figure 8.8 Series Properties page for bubble chart.
Figure 8.9 Tree Map chart.
Figure 8.10 Sunburst chart.
Figure 8.11 Chart properties and settings.
Figure 8.12 Hierarchy of chart objects.
Figure 8.13 Adding a new chart area.
Figure 8.14 Series Properties option.
Figure 8.15 Selecting a chart area.
Figure 8.16 Finished report with line chart and axis moved.
Figure 8.17 Chart Area Properties dialog.
Figure 8.18 Changing the Category to Currency.
Figure 8.19 Changing the Interval to 1.
Figure 8.20 Viewing the tooltip.
Figure 8.21 Previewing the report.
Figure 8.22 Changing the “Vertical axis” to Secondary.
Figure 8.23 Previewing the revised report.
Chapter 9: Advanced Queries and Parameters
Figure 9.1 Parameters page of Dataset Properties dialog.
Figure 9.2 Report Parameter Properties page of the Report Data window.
Figure 9.3 Specifying the “Value field” and “Label field” properties.
Figure 9.4 Clarifying the context in the printed report.
Figure 9.5 Finished report with the parameter list in the heading.
Figure 9.6 Filtering product subcategories.
Figure 9.7 Available Values settings.
Figure 9.8 Using the right-click menu to add and remove columns and rows.
Figure 9.9 Products in parameter list.
Figure 9.10 Using “(All Countries)” to provide users with an option.
Figure 9.11 Using a numeric key rather than text.
Figure 9.12 Designer parameter bar grid arrangement.
Figure 9.13 Preview with month of July displayed.
Figure 9.14 Matrix report showing results of MDX query.
Figure 9.15 Mapping to the “Value field” and “Label field”.
Figure 9.16 Using a full-qualified unique name reference for each key value.
Figure 9.17 Copying values.
Figure 9.18 Naming two query parameters.
Figure 9.19 Dataset Properties page.
Chapter 10: Reporting with Analysis Services
Figure 10.1 Adding a new data source.
Figure 10.2 Shared Data Source Properties dialog.
Figure 10.3 Connection Properties dialog.
Figure 10.4 Changing the name of the data source.
Figure 10.5 MDX Query Designer.
Figure 10.6 Analysis Services metadata objects.
Figure 10.7 Query Designer filled in.
Figure 10.8 Defining the Filter Expression.
Figure 10.9 Default slicer.
Figure 10.10 Table report.
Figure 10.11 Indicator Properties dialog.
Figure 10.12 Switching to the text query view.
Figure 10.13 Query as it appears in Query window.
Figure 10.14 Testing the query.
Figure 10.15 Three new calculated members in the dataset fields collection.
Figure 10.16 Completed report.
Figure 10.17 Basic matrix report.
Figure 10.18 Report in preview.
Figure 10.19 Report with changes.
Figure 10.20 Miscalculated report and fixed report.
Figure 10.21 Modifying field properties.
Figure 10.22 Action expression settings.
Chapter 11: SSAS Reporting Advanced Techniques
Figure 11.1 Behavior of final report.
Figure 11.2 Cube Dynamic Rows Report Data.
Figure 11.3 DataSet1 in Query Designer.
Figure 11.4 Query Parameters dialog.
Figure 11.5 Results of query.
Figure 11.6 Expression group on [Row Key].
Figure 11.7 Seeing how rows are sorted.
Figure 11.8 Changing the text alignment and padding properties.
Figure 11.9 Setting the BackgroundColor property.
Figure 11.10 Current cell properties.
Figure 11.11 Testing the changing of the report.
Figure 11.12 Changing action.
Figure 11.13 Viewing the changed report.
Figure 11.14 Viewing each hierarchy level in a new column.
Figure 11.15 Creating a new table/tablix.
Figure 11.16 Completed report.
Figure 11.17 Creating a new dataset.
Figure 11.18 Setting the “Value field” and “Label field” values.
Figure 11.19 Default value of pRowCount parameter.
Figure 11.20 Results of execution.
Figure 11.21 Previewing the report.
Figure 11.22 Adding pRowCount.
Figure 11.23 Interacting with a report parameter.
Figure 11.24 Finished report.
Figure 11.25 Dataset properties.
Figure 11.26 Cube metadata.
Figure 11.27 Dataset Properties dialog showing filter condition.
Figure 11.28 Text Box Properties dialog.
Figure 11.29 Clicking a cube to display an associated MeasureGroup.
Figure 11.30 Complete report data.
Figure 11.31 Design surface.
Figure 11.32 Preview.
Figure 11.33 Design surface.
Figure 11.34 Preview.
Figure 11.35 Sales report.
Figure 11.36 Profit and loss report.
Figure 11.37 Key navigation paths.
Figure 11.38 List of parameters and default values.
Figure 11.39 Metadata and measure value.
Figure 11.40 Main tablix.
Figure 11.41 Adding an ascending or descending control.
Figure 11.42 Parameter values.
Figure 11.43 Swapping of row and column parameters.
Figure 11.44 Action.
Figure 11.45 Selecting a measure.
Figure 11.46 Design surface and Action tab.
Figure 11.47 Preview of result.
Figure 11.48 Action parameters.
Figure 11.49 Selecting the Date parameter.
Figure 11.50 Formatted footer.
Figure 11.51 Angry Koala Cube Surfer report.
Figure 11.52 Report with a lag of 12.
Chapter 12: Expressions and Actions
Figure 12.1 Expression window.
Figure 12.2 Textbox used to calculate profit margin.
Figure 12.3 Selecting the dataset you want to use.
Figure 12.4 Dataset properties dialog.
Figure 12.5 Field reference in a textbox.
Figure 12.6 Report results.
Figure 12.7 Finished report.
Figure 12.8 Product Details report.
Figure 12.9 Action page in the Text Box Properties dialog.
Figure 12.10 Row Groups pane.
Figure 12.11 Group Properties dialog.
Figure 12.12 Setting the “Recursive parent” property.
Figure 12.13 Correct design environment.
Figure 12.14 Finished report.
Figure 12.15 Two example reports.
Figure 12.16 Table with a drill-through action on the first column.
Figure 12.17 Report Data window.
Figure 12.18 Text Box Properties dialog.
Figure 12.19 Clicking a column of interest on the column chart.
Figure 12.20 Report action properties.
Figure 12.21 Report in Design view.
Figure 12.22 Parameter reset back to the default state.
Chapter 13: Report Projects and Consolidation
Figure 13.1 New Project dialog.
Figure 13.2 Shared datasets in SSDT.
Figure 13.3 Requirements document template.
Figure 13.4 Sketch of a dashboard report solution.
Figure 13.5 Property Pages for sample server.
Figure 13.6 Feature differences and similarities between the Report Builder and SSDT design tools.
Figure 13.7 Tasks and roles that are best suited for each design tool.
Figure 13.8 Report part folder.
Figure 13.9 Options dialog.
Figure 13.10 The Publish Report Parts option.
Chapter 14: Report Solutions, Patterns, and Recipes
Figure 14.1 Interdependencies between basic report design elements.
Figure 14.2 Final dashboard.
Figure 14.3 Final scorecard report.
Figure 14.4 MDX Query Designer.
Figure 14.5 Completed scorecard table in report designer.
Figure 14.6 Score table with AVG expressions.
Figure 14.7 Add indicator to table.
Figure 14.8 Select Indicator Type dialog.
Figure 14.9 Select Gauge Type dialog.
Figure 14.10 Sparkline table and chart in the report designer.
Figure 14.11 MDX query designer.
Figure 14.12 Parameter properties.
Figure 14.13 Select Sparkline Type dialog.
Figure 14.14 Chart Data window.
Figure 14.15 Category group expression.
Figure 14.16 Chart Properties filter expressions.
Figure 14.17 Text Box Properties Action page.
Figure 14.18 Sparkline table and chart in preview.
Figure 14.19 Choosing a map from the Map Gallery.
Figure 14.20 Map Layers window.
Figure 14.21 MapBindingFieldPair Editor dialog.
Chapter 15: Integrating Reports into Custom Applications
Figure 15.1 Web Portal Favorites page.
Figure 15.2 Report server page.
Figure 15.3 Data Sources folder.
Figure 15.4 Data source contents.
Figure 15.5 Sales Dashboard report.
Figure 15.6 Internet Sales KPI Dashboard.
Figure 15.7 Dashboard report with parameters.
Figure 15.8 Custom rendering application interface.
Figure 15.9 Add Service Reference dialog.
Figure 15.10 Service Reference Settings dialog.
Figure 15.11 Add Web Reference dialog containing WSDL.
Figure 15.12 Reporting Service Rendering application report list.
Figure 15.13 Reporting Service Rendering application.
Figure 15.14 Confirmation message box.
Figure 15.15 New Project dialog.
Figure 15.16 Data Source Configuration Wizard.
Figure 15.17 ReportViewer control properties.
Figure 15.18 ReportViewerTasks smart tag panel.
Figure 15.19 Sample report with map and table.
Figure 15.20 WroxReportViewer form running.
Figure 15.21 Report in viewer application.
Chapter 16: Extending Reporting Services
Figure 16.1 Reporting Services interfaces in Visual Studio.
Figure 16.2 ADO.NET object model.
Figure 16.3 Reference added to ReportingServices.Interfaces.
Figure 16.4 Application page and assembly information.
Figure 16.5 Interfaces in Visual Studio Class Designer.
Figure 16.6 Data Source Properties with DATASET type selected.
Figure 16.9 Dataset results.
Figure 16.7 Credentials page.
Figure 16.8 Query command in Dataset Properties.
Chapter 17: Introducing Reporting Services Mobile Reports
Figure 17.1 A running mobile report in full-screen mode on an iPad.
Figure 17.2 A simple mobile report displayed in a web browser.
Figure 17.3 Report viewed in the phone app.
Figure 17.4 Pages on Mobile Report Publisher.
Figure 17.5 Mobile Report Publisher Layout page.
Figure 17.6 Navigator controls.
Figure 17.7 The dataset shown in the Data page.
Figure 17.8 Grid and Selection list controls.
Figure 17.9 Gauge type controls.
Figure 17.10 Chart controls.
Figure 17.11 Same data using different chart types.
Figure 17.12 Report with Tree map.
Figure 17.13 Map controls.
Figure 17.14 Map selection list.
Chapter 18: Implementing a Mobile Report with Design-First Development
Figure 18.1 Web Portal with compact menu items.
Figure 18.2 Web Portal after selecting “Mobile Report.”
Figure 18.3 Mobile Report Publisher—Settings page.
Figure 18.4 “Save mobile report as” destination options.
Figure 18.5 Report server and location properties.
Figure 18.6 Report Mobile Publisher—Layout page.
Figure 18.7 Time navigator Time level presets.
Figure 18.8 Setting properties for the Time navigator.
Figure 18.9 Category Sales chart added.
Figure 18.10 Sales Summary by Country and Category report with selected Country.
Figure 18.11 Data page with simulated datasets.
Figure 18.12 Visual controls on the report.
Figure 18.13 Datasets added in the Data page.
Figure 18.14 Selecting a shared data source.
Figure 18.15 Creating a shared dataset.
Figure 18.16 Shared datasets viewed in Web Portal.
Figure 18.17 Add data options.
Figure 18.18 Select the report server.
Figure 18.19 New tables added to report datasets.
Figure 18.20 Time navigator background chart properties.
Figure 18.21 Filter options in the properties for the Select Country control.
Figure 18.22 Number gauge data filter properties and aggregating function selection.
Figure 18.23 Category Sales chart Data properties.
Figure 18.24 Color palette selection.
Figure 18.25 Choosing a report layout.
Figure 18.26 Report shown in phone layout.
Figure 18.27 Report optimized for the phone layout.
Figure 18.28 Phone layout preview.
Figure 18.29 Sales Summary by Country and Category report in Web Portal.
Figure 18.30 Power BI Mobile app on tablet.
Figure 18.31 Connecting to server.
Figure 18.32 Report viewed in the mobile app.
Chapter 19: Mobile Report Design Patterns
Figure 19.1 Elements of a KPI.
Figure 19.2 Completed design page for the US Bike Sales - 2013 KPI.
Figure 19.3 Parameters for Actual and Target Sales dataset.
Figure 19.4 Field selection for Actual and Target Sales dataset.
Figure 19.5 Parameter values for Sales By Month for Year and Country dataset.
Figure 19.6 Field selection for Sales By Month for Year and Country dataset.
Figure 19.7 KPIs in the Web Portal.
Figure 19.8 New Mobile Report from Web Portal.
Figure 19.9 Mobile Report Publisher message.
Figure 19.10 Report layout example for control positioning.
Figure 19.11 Time navigator Visual properties in the Layout page.
Figure 19.12 Add data page.
Figure 19.13 Add data from server page.
Figure 19.14 Report settings page.
Figure 19.15 Save mobile report as page.
Figure 19.16 Time navigator Data properties panel.
Figure 19.17 Select Country Selection list Data properties.
Figure 19.18 Bike Sales Number gauge Data properties.
Figure 19.19 Bike Daily Sales chart Data properties.
Figure 19.20 Bike Daily Sales chart Visual properties.
Figure 19.21 Map Selection list.
Figure 19.22 Selecting shape and data files for custom maps.
Figure 19.23 Sales by Country map Data properties.
Figure 19.24 Functionally complete mobile report.
Figure 19.25 Report after color palette selection.
Figure 19.26 Using the Select Country Selection list.
Figure 19.27 Completed main desktop layout of the mobile report, testing map interactions.
Figure 19.28 Testing chart interactions.
Figure 19.29 Empty phone layout.
Figure 19.30 Completed phone layout.
Figure 19.31 Testing the phone layout in preview.
Figure 19.32 Command prompt with IPCONFigure results.
Figure 19.33 Power BI mobile app on an iPhone.
Figure 19.34 Steps to navigate to report server content on phone app.
Figure 19.35 Steps to navigate mobile report in phone app.
Chapter 20: Advanced Mobile Report Solutions
Figure 20.1 Report shell showing control placement.
Figure 20.2 Report datasets.
Figure 20.3 Selection list “Years” Data properties.
Figure 20.4 Selection list “Categories” Data properties.
Figure 20.5 Data grid columns and Chart properties.
Figure 20.6 Completed Data properties for “Subcategory Sales Monthly Trend” Chart data grid control.
Figure 20.7 Chart data grid control Layout properties.
Figure 20.8 Report preview.
Figure 20.9 Data properties for “Subcategory Sales Monthly trend” Chart data grid.
Figure 20.10 Phone preview.
Figure 20.11 Shared dataset parameter properties.
Figure 20.12 Completed report ready for deployment.
Figure 20.13 Chart data grid Visual properties.
Figure 20.14 Report parameters page.
Figure 20.15 Drillthrough reports.
Figure 20.16 Simple Order Details report.
Figure 20.17 Chart data grid drillthrough property.
Figure 20.18 Drillthrough URL options.
Figure 20.19 Mobile and paginated report drillthrough.
Figure 20.20 Example reports with all available maps.
Figure 20.21 Example world countries map
Chapter 21: Content Management
Figure 21.1 Web portal Favorites view.
Figure 21.2 Web portal Browse view.
Figure 21.3 View and Visibility menu.
Figure 21.4 Data source properties page.
Figure 21.5 Report properties pages in web portal.
Figure 21.6 New Linked Report page.
Figure 21.7 Schedules page in Site Settings.
Figure 21.8 Schedule Properties in SSMS.
Figure 21.9 Security page in Site Settings.
Figure 21.10 Assigning roles to a user or group.
Figure 21.11 Role permission mapping in SSMS.
Figure 21.12 Confirm breaking security inheritance.
Figure 21.13 Edit Security page.
Figure 21.14 Branding package file contents.
Figure 21.15 Branding page.
Figure 21.16 Brand package color example report.
Figure 21.17 Some example brand elements.
Chapter 22: Server Administration
Figure 22.1 Configuration Manager Service Account page.
Figure 22.2 Report Server Database Configuration Wizard.
Figure 22.3 Configuration Execution Account page.
Figure 22.4 SSMS Report Server Roles.
Figure 22.5 Configuration Manager Database page.
Figure 22.6 Configuration Manager Encryption Keys page.
Figure 22.7 Server Properties Logging page.
Figure 22.8 Web Service URL and the ReportServer web page.
Figure 22.9 Web Portal URL page and the web portal
Figure 22.10 Server Properties dialog.
Chapter 1: Introducing Reporting Services
Table 1.1 Report Designer and Visualization Options
Chapter 3: Reporting Services Installation and Architecture
Table 3.1 Command-Line Utilities
Table 3.2 Web Service Endpoints
Table 3.4 SSRS configuration files
Table 3.5 Included SSRS rendering extensions
Table 3.6 ReportServer database tables
Table 3.7 ReportServerTempDB database tables
Chapter 6: Grouping and Totals
Table 6.1 Expression Placeholders
Chapter 7: Advanced Report Design
Table 7.1 HTML tags supported with embedded formatting
Table 7.2 Aggregate functions supported in report expressions
Table 7.3 Special-use dataset row functions
Table 7.4 Matrix cell field mapping
Chapter 8: Graphical Report Design
Table 8.1 Chart Type Categories
Chapter 12: Expressions and Actions
Table 12.1 Visual Basic Functions for Report Expressions
Chapter 14: Report Solutions, Patterns, and Recipes
Table 14.1 Common limitations and design alternatives
Chapter 15: Integrating Reports into Custom Applications
Table 15.1 SharePoint “rv” URL Parameters
Table 15.2 Web service “rs” URL Parameters
Table 15.3 Command Parameter Values
Table 15.4 Rendering Format Parameters
Table 15.5 Report Execution Web Service Parameters
Chapter 16: Extending Reporting Services
Table 16.1 Data Processing Extension Objects
Table 16.2 Data Processing Extensions Required Interfaces
Table 16.3 Data Processing Extensions Optional Interfaces
Chapter 20: Advanced Mobile Report Solutions
Table 20.1 Data Grid Chart Properties
Table 20.2 MapShapes Table Summary
Chapter 21: Content Management
Table 21.1 Home Folder Setting Options
Table 21.2 Application Downloads
Table 21.3 Email Subscription Delivery Options
Table 21.4 Fixed Role Permissions
Table 21.5 Task-Level Permissions
Table 21.6 User Item-Level Roles
Table 21.7 RS Utility Parameter Switches
Chapter 22: Server Administration
Table 22.1 Service and Account Types
Table 22.2 Databases and Roles
Table 22.3 System Roles and Task Permissions
Table 22.4 Configuration Files
Table 22.5 Log Configuration Settings
Table 22.6 Trace Log Fields
Table 22.7 Reporting Services Performance Counters
Table 22.8 Reporting Services Windows Service Counters
Table 22.9 Recommended Windows System Counters
Paul Turley
FOURTEEN YEARS! I had to say that out loud just to make sure it was right… yes; fourteen years. That is how long it has been since I began using Reporting Services to create reports and reporting solutions.
Consulting clients, conference attendees, and students often ask which of all the BI or reporting tools they should use for their business reporting needs. I have used several other Microsoft products including SQL Server, Analysis Services, Integration Services, SharePoint, Access, Excel, and Power BI, but Reporting Services is the tool I keep coming back to because it does so much.
My peers and I have been tracking this product through every version since it was released in 2003; since that time, we have produced six Wrox Press books on Reporting Services. I have worked closely with the Microsoft product team leadership, and the product developers who continue to innovate and move it forward. I have learned to use SSRS correctly, and, on occasion, incorrectly; benefiting from some tough lessons about what it can and can't do along the way. My goal is to share this experience with you, in addition to the best practices we have developed over the years.
This book is written to meet the needs of a broad audience, and includes specific solutions for report designers, developers, administrators, and business professionals. My goal for this book is to be a comprehensive guide and valuable reference. It is written for the novice report designer as well as the expert interested in learning to use advanced functionality.
This book is divided into seven parts.
This part covers what Reporting Services is and how it is used. The three chapters in this part of the book will help you understand the capabilities of Reporting Services and the reporting platform. You will get to know the server platform and the report design tools used to create KPIs, paginated reports, and mobile reports. You will learn what's new in SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services.
Chapter 1 covers Reporting Services use cases, using and creating dashboards, creating reports, and building integrated applications. We discuss how to choose the right reporting tool based on the business need, as well as optimizing report performance.
Chapter 2 is all about what is new in SSRS 2016. You learn about report designer enhancements, modern browser rendering, and parameter layout management. We introduce mobile reports and KPIs, new printing and rendering options, the new report web portal, and Power BI dashboard pinning and integration.
In Chapter 3 you learn about how to install Reporting Services and understand the server architecture. We discuss what has changed in the SQL Server 2016 architecture, and how to install and set up a report server. You will understand how to build an enterprise report server deployment, and how to use tools to manage the reporting lifecycle and leverage Reporting Services extensions.
These chapters include hands-on exercises that step through the process of building reports, queries, and the solutions that are discussed in each chapter. Finished copies of all the reports and exercises are provided for your reference. These chapters lead you through the building blocks that are fundamental to all report designs. You learn the mechanics behind data regions, groups, report items, page breaks, tables, matrices, and charts.
Chapter 4 covers report layout and formatting. You learn to use datasets, data regions, and other report data building blocks. You'll design report layouts using tables and matrices, and set grouping and formatting properties using expressions.
Chapter 5 teaches database query essentials. You learn to understand relational database principles and concepts and data source management, and you build simple and complex datasets using the query design tools. We will perform query authoring using the Report Builder query designer, SSDT report designer, and SQL Server Management Studio. You will become proficient using single- and multi-select parameters in queries.
Chapter 6 introduces SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio. You build more advanced reports in your chapter exercises using the graphical query designer and hand-written queries with parameters and complex query logic. You will understand query groups in table joins and the report dataflow, and understand report groups and expressions used for complex grouping, sorting, and visibility.
These chapters deal with advanced and more complex reporting scenarios. You build on your grouping and expression skills, incorporating more advanced queries with parameters, expressions, and programming logic.
Chapter 7 is about advanced report design. You will manage pagination and report page headers and footers. You will use conditional logic for text formatting and layout properties, embedded HTML text and styling, master/detail reports, subreports, and document maps.
In Chapter 8, you learn about graphical report design principles and standards. We review both standard and advanced chart types and design approaches, and we dive deep into more complex charting features, creating multi-series and multiple area charts. Also, you learn to use KPI indicators, sparklines, and data bars.
Chapter 9 is all about advanced queries and parameters. You learn more about T-SQL queries and parameters, and MDX queries and parameters.
In Chapter 10 you use SQL Server Analysis Services as a data source for reports working with Multidimensional Expressions (MDX). You learn to build queries with the MDX query designer and learn to handwrite MDX with parameters.
Chapter 11 is a complex example of a reporting solution that leverages the power of the MDX language and Analysis Services. In this cube browser solution, we use reports to enumerate and prompt the user for parameter selections and then dynamically navigate an entire cube structure. This example showcases some very useful, complex report navigation and design techniques.
In Chapter 12 you learn about interactions and report navigation. We revisit the expressions used to implement conditional logic. You learn to use common functions such as IIF and SWITCH in decision-based expressions and custom code, and you learn reporting techniques using recursive relationships and actions to navigate between reports.
If you use Visual Studio with integrated version control and work with teams to build solutions, this part of the book is for you. You learn to manage report projects alongside other report and solution developers using formal project methodologies.
Chapter 13 is about report projects and report consolidation. You learn to apply SSDT solution patterns, understand how to work with report specifications and requirements, and work within project development phases. You will create report templates and manage reports within projects and solutions. You will also learn to plan self-service reporting solutions and how to support nontechnical report designers who use Report Builder to create their own reports within a managed environment.
In Chapter 14 you learn about report solutions, patterns, and recipes. You will combine multiple report components into super reports and business dashboards. You will design a KPI scorecard, an interactive sparkline report with a drill-through chart, and a map report with drill-through navigation.
In this part, you learn how to integrate Reporting Services into custom applications and to use reports outside of the web portal environment using URL access and web service calls.
Chapter 15 is about integrating reports into custom applications. You'll use URL access and web services to render reports, build a custom Windows form or web form application to enter parameters, and render reports in your own custom interface. You will see how to create a custom-made input interface for Reporting Services reports.
In Chapter 16 you learn to extend Reporting Services and leverage extensibility options. We begin by discussing the reasons for extending SQL Server Reporting Services and creating custom extensions. Often, these options are complex and specific to the business needs outside of standard reporting scenarios. You will learn how each type of Reporting Services extension can be used to provide custom rendering, security, data access, and delivery of reports.
This section of the book introduces new mobile reporting capabilities introduced in SQL Server 2016. You learn to use Mobile Report Publisher and the new mobile reporting platform to deliver reports specifically designed for tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices. We start with basic mobile report design approaches and techniques. You will learn to use each of the visual controls, navigators and selectors, report navigation, and styling options.
Chapter 17 introduces Reporting Services Mobile Reports. You'll learn to use the Mobile Report Publisher to consume shared datasets and deliver interactive information for a mobile device. You'll also learn the basic building blocks and how the components within each of the visual control categories are used for navigation and visualization.
In Chapter 18 you implement a mobile report using design-first development. Using the designer to add visual controls to your mobile report, simulated data is automatically generated to demonstrate visual control interactivity and report navigation. You will learn techniques for fast prototyping and effective user requirement gathering sessions. You will learn to use Time navigators, selectors, number gauges, and charts. You will apply layouts for different device types and color styling, and then deploy and test a complete mobile report.
Chapter 19 introduces mobile report design patterns for advanced reporting scenarios. You will use controls to create mobile reports for time-series, segmentation, performance, and geographic visualization and interaction. You will configure server access and publish reports that may be used from the web and on different mobile devices.
Chapter 20 covers Advanced Mobile Report solutions. We introduce the chart data grid visual control, and learn to correlate multiple datasets in the control. You learn to use dataset and query parameters in mobile reports, drill-through to a mobile report with dataset parameters, and drill-through to a paginated report with dataset parameters. Additionally, you learn to use map visuals, add custom maps, and manage map shapes for geographic reporting.
These chapters will help you manage content and perform server administration, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
Chapter 21 is all about report server content management. You learn to use the web portal as an administration tool where you will perform content management activities, which include security administration, as well as data source, shared dataset, and report optimization. You learn to manage and enforce security access to folders and reports for groups and individual users.
In Chapter 22 you learn about account management and system-level rules, implement surface area management, plan for backup in disaster recovery, manage application databases, manage encryption keys, and learn to use configuration files. You learn to perform auditing and logging of the report server; and use performance counters and server management reports. You also learn proper memory and resource management for your report servers, and configure URL reservations, administer e-mail delivery, and manage custom extensions on servers.
The hardware and software requirements for designing and running SQL Server 2016 and Reporting Services are such that they will run on newest business grade computers. Custom programming examples require that you install any edition of Visual Studio 2015 or newer. The requirements for SQL Server 2016 specified by Microsoft may be found online in the MSDN library located at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx.
The Developer Edition of SQL Server 2016 is available for free with a Visual Studio Dev Essentials account, available at:
www.visualstudio.com/dev-essentials
. You can also download SQL Server 2016 Developer or Enterprise Edition, and Visual Studio if you have an MSDN subscription.
Report design examples that use paginated Reporting Services reports will work with any edition of SQL Server 2016 and will run on a computer meeting the minimum computer requirements. Mobile Reports and KPIs require SQL Server 2016 Developer or Enterprise Edition.
Chapters 9
,
10
, and
11
require an installation of SQL Server Analysis Services in multidimensional storage mode. This is an optional part of the SQL Server setup.
Examples of custom programming performed outside of the report designer will require a separate installation of Visual Studio 2015 or later. This includes the material in
Chapters 15
and
16
.
The sample databases used in the examples and exercises are available to download from
www.wrox.com
along with the sample projects for this book. Additional resources may be available.
The complete source code for the samples is available for download from this book's web site at
www.wrox.com
. For programming examples, versions are available in both Visual Basic .NET and C#.
To help you get the most from the text and keep track of what's happening, we've used a number of conventions throughout the book.
Boxes like this one hold important, not-to-be-forgotten information that is directly relevant to the surrounding text.
Notes, tips, hints, tricks, and asides to the current discussion are offset and placed in italics like this.
As for styles in the text:
We
italicize
new terms and important words when we introduce them.
We show keyboard strokes like this: Ctrl+A.
We show file names, URLs, and code within the text like so:
persistence.properties
.
For code:
We use a monofont type for code examples.
We use bold to emphasize code that is of particular importance in
the current context.
Sample reports, Visual Studio projects, and completed copies of all the report files produced by following the chapter exercises are provided in the files that accompany the book. All of the samples and completed exercise files are available for download at www.wrox.com. Once at the site, search for this book's ISBN (978-1-119-25835-3), then simply click the Download Code link on the book's detail page to obtain all the sample files for the book.
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To find the errata page for this book, go to http://www.wrox.com and locate the title using the Search box or one of the title lists. Then, on the book details page, click the Book Errata link. On this page you can view all errata that have been submitted for this book and posted by Wrox editors. A complete book list including links to each book's errata is also available at www.wrox.com/misc-pages/booklist.shtml.
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What exactly is SQL Server Reporting Services? How is it used and what are its capabilities and boundaries? Is it a product, a part of SQL Server, or a development platform? The three chapters in Part 1 will get you started with understanding the capabilities of Reporting Services at a high level. You will become acquainted with the entire SSRS platform, the components it encompasses, and their capabilities.
You'll learn about the new features introduced in SQL Server 2016: the new web portal, key performance indicators, and mobile reports. Chapter 2 introduces several key integrations with the Microsoft business analytics platform and advanced visualizations. You'll also see how to install and configure Reporting Services tools and the server so you can get up and running.
CHAPTER 1
: Introducing Reporting Services
CHAPTER 2
: What's New in SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services
CHAPTER 3
: Reporting Services Installation and Architecture
Identifying who uses Reporting Services
Using dashboards, reports, and applications
Understanding application integration
Using Business Intelligence (BI) reporting
Using mobile reports and KPIs
Choosing a report tool
Optimizing report performance
Welcome to SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services. This chapter provides an overview that includes a high-level introduction featuring not only concepts and capabilities of this powerful reporting tool, but also of the Microsoft data analysis platform. Reporting Services embodies a rich history as a rock-solid reporting tool. Although many features have been part of the product for more than 12 years, some features are new, have changed, or were introduced in later versions.
This is the fifth edition of this book. Reporting Services was officially released in early 2004. Since that time, I gained assistance from trusted and experienced colleagues who contributed to previous book editions, and this edition draws upon that foundation of expertise. In areas where the product has matured and evolved forward, I share advanced capabilities and patterns for solving new business problems. The book includes material and techniques using the new or existing features more effectively.
As a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, a specialist, and a respected contractor for Microsoft, I spend considerable time working with different organizations to design reporting solutions. For many years, I frequently have had the opportunity to work alongside the Reporting Services product team. Through leadership changes, product development cycles, and industry trends, the development team has maintained a relevant and durable reporting product that focuses on the needs of the modern business. As you continue to read, you will learn to appreciate the depth of this product.
