Sams microsoft SQL server 2005 reporting services apr 2006 ISBN 0672327996

Microsoft®SQLServer2005ReportingServices
ByMichaelLisin,JimJoseph
...............................................
Publisher:Sams
PubDate:March22,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-672-32799-6
PrintISBN-13:978-0-672-32799-5
Pages:480

TableofContents|Index

SQLServerReportingenablesthecreation,management,anddeliveryofbothtraditional,
paper-orientedreportsandinteractive,Web-basedreports.Anintegratedpartofthe
Microsoftbusinessintelligenceframework,ReportingServicescombinesthedata
managementcapabilitiesofSQLServerandMicrosoftWindowsServerwithfamiliarand
powerfulMicrosoftOfficeSystemapplicationstodeliverreal-timeinformationtosupport
dailyoperationsanddrivedecisions.MicrosoftSQLServer2005ReportingServiceswill
helpyouunderstandReportingServicesfromvariousperspectives:
Howitfitsbusinessscenarios
HowtoinstallandconfigureReportingServices
ReportingServicescomponents
Developingreports
Asyouprogresstoadvanceduserstatus,youwillenjoythechapteraboutaccessing
ReportingServicesprogrammaticallyandextendingReportingServices,andyouwillbe
abletousethisbookasaconvenientreference.


Microsoft®SQLServer2005ReportingServices
ByMichaelLisin,JimJoseph
...............................................
Publisher:Sams

PubDate:March22,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-672-32799-6
PrintISBN-13:978-0-672-32799-5
Pages:480

TableofContents|Index

Copyright
AbouttheAuthors
Acknowledgments
WeWanttoHearfromYou!
Introduction
PartI:IntroductiontoReportingServices
Chapter1.IntroductiontoSQLServerReportingServices(SSRS)
WhatIsSSRS?
SSRSforEndUsers
OverviewofFeatures
EnterpriseReportExamples

SSRSintheReportDevelopmentLifeCycle
EditionsofReportingServices
HowIsSSRSLicensed?
Summary
Chapter2.ReportingServicesCapabilities:Presentation,Navigation,and
Programmability
ReportLayouts
ReportPresentation(Rendering)Formats
ReportItems,VisualEffects,andCharting
ReportNavigation
AdHocReportsNEWin2005
ReportingServicesDataAccessFeatures
Programmability

Summary
Chapter3.ReportingServicesArchitecture
ReportServerWebandWindowsService
ProgrammaticInterfaces
ReportProcessor
Command-LineUtilities
ReportingServicesExtensions
ReportServerDatabases
SchedulingandDeliveryProcessor
ReportBuilderNEWin2005
ReportModelDesignerNEWin2005
ReportDesigner
ReportManager
SQLServerManagementStudioNEWin2005
ReportingServicesConfigurationToolNEWin2005
RSPrintClientControlNEWin2005
WMIProvider
PerformanceMonitoringObjects
Summary
Chapter4.ReportingServicesDeploymentScenarios
High-AvailabilityDeploymentConsiderations
InternetDeploymentConsiderations
MinimumHardwareRequirements
SoftwareRequirements
KeyFeaturesofSSRSbySQLServer2005Editions
Licensing

Summary
Chapter5.InstallingReportingServices
Summary
PartII:ReportAuthoringfromBasictoAdvanced
Chapter6.ReportDesigner
TwoMainReportDesignersfromMicrosoft
VisualStudioHavesVersusHaveNots
Solution,Project,FileHierarchy
GeneratingReportswithVisualStudio
Summary
Chapter7.ReportDefinitionLanguage
Language:AWaytoCommunicate
UseofXML

DeclarativeProgramming
ReportElements
Summary
Chapter8.Expressions
WhatIsanExpression?
ExpressionSyntax
AddingExpressions
Collections
UsingFunctions
OtherFunctions
UsingExpressionstoChangeReportItemPropertiesandBehavior
Example:PlacingEmphasisonCertainValues
Summary
Chapter9.AccessingData
Data-ProcessingExtensions
TypesofDataSources
ConnectionStrings
QueryingData
AddingaDataSource
Summary
Chapter10.ReportParameters
SettingUpParameters
ParameterProperties
Data-DrivenParameters
ParametersandDataSources

ExpressionswithParameters
DynamicSQLwithParameters
ParameterDependencies
ExampleUsingMultiValueNEWin2005
Summary
Chapter11.WorkingwithReportItems
DataRegions,Containers,andIndependentReportItems
ReportDesigner'sToolbox
LineReportItem
RectangleReportItem
ImageReportItem
TextboxReportItem
TableReportItem
ListReportItem

PracticalApplicationofReportItems
MatrixReportItem
ChartReportItem
ChartData(Value)
ChartSeriesGroups
ChartCategoryGroups
Chart'sRDL
PracticalApplicationofChartandMatrix
ReportBodyVersusPageHeader/Footer
Summary
Chapter12.Grouping,Sorting,andAggregatingData,WorkingwithScope
GroupingDataonaReport
Sorting,IncludingInteractiveUserSorting
InteractiveSortingNEWin2005
DataSourceSorting
DataRegionandGroupSorting
ScopeofanAggregateFunction
LevelandInScopeFunctions
Summary
Chapter13.AdvancedReportFormatting
Formatting-RelatedReportItemProperties
FormattingNumericandDate/TimeValues
StandardDate/TimeFormatStrings
CustomDate/TimeFormatting
CreatingAlternatingColorsfortheLinesonaReport

PagingReport
Summary
Chapter14.ReportNavigation
Hyperlink(JumptoURL)Navigation
BookmarkLink(JumptoBookmark)Navigation
DocumentMap
Drillthrough(JumptoReport)Navigation
HidingItemsandToggleItems
PracticalApplicationofActionItems
Summary
Chapter15.WorkingwithMultidimensionalDataSources
AnalysisServicesConcepts
Data-MiningConcepts
Summary

Chapter16.AdHocReportingNewin2005
IssuesFacingAdHocReporting
Client-sideReportingwithSSRS
ReportModelsandtheModelDesigner
ReportModelProjects
ModelFileContent
FeaturesofReportBuilder
BuildingReportswithReportBuilder
Summary
PartIII:ReportingServicesAdministrationandOperations
Chapter17.ManagingReports,DataSources,andModels
DeploymentOptionsinVisualStudio
DeploymentThroughReportManager
DeployingReportsThroughSQLServerManagementStudio
ChangingReportProperties
SettingReportHistoryandSnapshots
MyReports
Summary
Chapter18.SecuringReportServerItems
ReportingServicesSecurityModel
WhatCanBeSecured?
HowRoleAssignmentsWork
RelationshipsBetweenRoles,Tasks,andUsers
OverviewofBuilt-InRoles
AssigningBuilt-InRoles
DefiningCustomRoles
Summary
Chapter19.SubscribingtoReports

OverviewofSubscriptions
OverviewofDeliveryExtensions
CreatingaSimpleSubscription
CreatingaData-DrivenSubscription
ManagingSubscriptions
Summary
Chapter20.ReportExecutionandProcessing
ManagingSchedules
ReportExecutionandProcessing
ReportExecutionHistory

Summary
Chapter21.DeployingandConfiguringSSRS
OverviewofDeploymentScenarios
RequirementsforaStandardDeployment
RequirementsforaScale-OutDeployment
ConfiguringSSRS
KeyManagement

Summary
PartIV:DevelopingforReportingServices
Chapter22.ImplementingCustomEmbeddedFunctions
AddingEmbeddedCode
DebuggingEmbeddedCode
Summary
Chapter23.HowtoCreateandCallaCustomAssemblyfromaReport
Strong-NamedCustomAssemblies
NETSecurityPrimerforaSSRSAdministrator
AssembliesThatRequireOtherThanExecutePermissions
DebuggingCustomAssemblies
Summary
Chapter24.HowtoIntegrateURLAccess
HowtoIntegrateURLAccessinanApplication
Summary
Chapter25.HowtoUseReportingServicesWebServices
ReportManagementWebServiceNewin2005(ReportService2005.asmx)
HowtoScriptReportingServices(UsingtheRSUtility)
WorkingwithReportParameters
SecurityWhenCallingaWebService
SomeoftheCommonlyUsedMethodswithShortCodeSnippets
Summary
Chapter26.WritingCustomReportingServicesExtensions
CommonConsiderationsforCustomReportingServicesExtensions:
Implementation,Deployment,andSecurity
DeliveryExtension
InteractionsBetweenUser,SSRS,andaDeliveryExtension
Summary
Chapter27.ReportRenderingControlsandSharePointServicesWebParts
MicrosoftVisualStudio2005ReportViewerWebandWindowsControlsNewin

2005
















MicrosoftSharePointWebParts
Summary
Chapter28.CustomReportDefinitionLanguage(RDL)Generatorsand
CustomizingReportDefinition

Summary
PartV:Appendices

AppendixA.ReferencesandAdditionalReading


AppendixB.Glossary

AppendixC.FAQ
Index


Copyright
Microsoft®SQLServer2005ReportingServices
Copyright©2006bySamsPublishing
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookshallbereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedbyanymeans,
electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Nopatent
liabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.Althougheveryprecautionhasbeentakenin
thepreparationofthisbook,thepublisherandauthorassume
noresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Norisanyliability
assumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2005937212
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
FirstPrinting:March2006
080706054321

Trademarks
Alltermsmentionedinthisbookthatareknowntobe
trademarksorservicemarkshavebeenappropriately
capitalized.SamsPublishingcannotattesttotheaccuracyof
thisinformation.Useofaterminthisbookshouldnotbe
regardedasaffectingthevalidityofanytrademarkorservice
mark.

WarningandDisclaimer
Everyefforthasbeenmadetomakethisbookascompleteand
asaccurateaspossible,butnowarrantyorfitnessisimplied.
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andthepublishershallhaveneitherliabilitynorresponsibilityto
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Publisher
PaulBoger
AcquisitionsEditor
NeilRowe
DevelopmentEditor
MarkRenfrow


ManagingEditor
CharlotteClapp

ProjectEditor
GeorgeNedeff
CopyEditor
KarenAnnett
Indexer
KenJohnson
Proofreader
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TechnicalEditor
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PageLayout
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Dedication
MichaelLisin:Dedicatedtomyfamily:mywifeAnna,my
daughterHelen,mymother,andthememoryofmy
grandfather.Thankyouforalwaysbeingextremelysupportive
inmylifeendeavors.


JimJoseph:DedicatedtomywifeDeseereandmyson
Christopher.

AbouttheAuthors
MichaelLisinhasbeeninthesoftwareindustryformorethan
14yearswith7ofthoseyearsworkingwithMicrosoft.Heis
currentlyworkingasaseniorstrategyconsultantwithMicrosoft
ConsultingServices.MichaelhasbeenworkingwithSQLServer
forsixyearsandwithSQLServerReportingServicesstarting
fromthepre-Betaversionin2002.Michaelhastaught
ReportingServicesclassesandpresentedSQLServer-related
topicsduringvariousevents.MichaelwillcompletehisMBA
degreeatTexasA&Mthisyear.
JimJosephisamanageratContinentalAirlinesInc.He
currentlyfunctionsasaSQLServerDBAwithintheFinancial
SystemsGroupwithContinentalTechnology.HeearnedhisMBA
attheUniversityofStThomasin2003,andundergraduate
degreeinmathematicsfromtherein1999.Inhissparetime,
heenjoysspendingtimewithhisinfantson,Christopher,and
wifeDeseere.


Acknowledgments
Theauthorswouldliketothankthepublishingteamworking
withusonthisbook.Specialthanksto:Neil,Mark,George,
Karen,andAlex.Thankyouforyourvaluablefeedback,
answers,andhardworkonthisbook.Withoutyouall,thisbook
wouldnotbecomplete.
ThankyoutoBrianWelcker,RichardWaymire,RobertBruckner,
ThierryD'Hers,DavidCrawford,BogdanCrivat,DonovanSmith,
andEliIlionskyforhelpingwithquestionsthatarosewhile

writingthisbook.ThankyoutoMattWhittenandStephen
RauchforgettingMichaelstartedwithReportingServices.
ThankyoutoKevinSwalesforpointersaboutexceptionreports.




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Introduction
SQLServerReportingServicesisaserver-based,extensibleand
scalableplatformthatdeliversandpresentsinformationbased
ondatathatabusinesscollectsduringitsoperation.
Information,inturn,helpsbusinessmanagerstoevaluatethe
currentstateoftheenterpriseandmakedecisionsonhowto
increaserevenues,reducecosts,andincreasecustomerand
employeesatisfaction.
TheReportingServicesscopeextendsfromtraditionalpaper
reportstointeractivecontentandvariousformsofdelivery:
email,fileshares,andsoon.SSRSiscapableofgenerating
reportsinvariousformats,suchasHypertextMarkupLanguage
(HTML),ExtensibleMarkupLanguage(XML),andExcelformats,
thusallowinguserstomanipulatetheirdatainwhateverformat
isrequired.
Beforedivingintothisbook,let'stakeamomenttounderstand
thelayoutaswellassomeoftheconventionsusedinthebook.
First,wecoverhowthisbookisorganizedandwhatyoucan
expectineachsection.Second,wecoverthestyleand
formattingconventionsusedinthisbook.Itisparticularly

noteworthytonotethestylechangesinreferencetocodelines,
includingSQLServerand.NETcode.

HowThisBookIsOrganized
ThisbookbeginswithanintroductoryoverviewofSQLServer
2005ReportingServicesandcoversabroadrangeoftopicsin
theareasofreportauthoring,ReportingServicesdeployment
andadministration,andcustomcodedevelopmentforReporting
Services.
ThechaptersinPartI,"IntroductiontoReportingServices,"


provideahigh-leveloverviewofReportingServicesand
highlightkeyfeaturesoftheReportingServices,deployment
scenarios,typicalusersofReportingServices,andReporting
Servicesarchitecture.Thispartallowsforleisurelyreadingand
doesnotrequireyoutohaveaccesstoacomputer.
ThechaptersinPartII,"ReportAuthoringfromBasicto
Advanced,"takeyouthroughreportdevelopmenttoolsand
processes.Thispartdescribesreportbuildingblocksandwalks
throughbuildingareportfromsimpletocomplex.
ThechaptersinPartIII,"ReportingServicesAdministrationand
Operations,"discussadvancedtopicsofReportingServices
administration,suchassettingpropersecurity,managing
ReportingServicesasindividualserversandinawebfarm,and
gatheringreportexecutioninformation.
ThechaptersinPartIV,"DevelopingforReportingServices,"
areforthoseofyouwhomightwanttoextendReporting
Servicesandincorporatereportsintheirapplications.Thispart
coverskeyprogrammableaspectsofReportingServices.

ConventionsUsedinThisBook
SQLServer2005ReportingServicesisfrequentlyabbreviated
asSSRS.
BusinessIntelligenceDevelopmentStudioisfrequently
abbreviatedasBIDS.
NewfeaturesavailableinSQLServer2005ReportingServices
ascomparedtoSQLServer2000ReportingServices(SSRS2K)
arelabeledwith"NEWin2005".
Namesofproducts,tools,individualwindows(dockingornot),
titles,andabbreviationsarecapitalized.Forexample,SQL
Server2005,SQLServerReportingServices,VisualStudio


2005,ReportDesigner,ReportBuilder,ReportManager,
Windows,andsoon.
Monospaceisusedtohighlight:

Sectionsofcodethatareincludedintheflowofthe
text"Addatextboxtoareportandplacethefollowingcode
intheBackgroundColorproperty:=Code.Highlight(value)."
Filenames"VisualStudiocreatesaprojectwithasingleclass
Class1.Let'srenamefileClass1.csinSolutionExplorerto
MainClass.cs."
Pathnames"Thecompiledassemblymustbelocatedin
directorieswhereitisaccessiblebyReportDesigner(the
defaultdirectoryisC:\ProgramFiles\MicrosoftVisualStudio
8\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies)andSSRS(defaultisC:\Program
Files\MicrosoftSQLServer\MSSQL.3\Reporting
Services\ReportServer\bin)."

Errornumbers,codes,andmessages:"
[rsInvalidReportParameterDependency]Thereportparameter
'SalesOrderId'hasaDefaultValueoraValidValuethatdependson
thereportparameter"MaxOrderId".Forwarddependenciesarenot
valid."

Namesofpermissions,constants,properties,collections,
andvariables:Execute,Fields,ReportParameter,Parent.
Toindicateadjustableinformation,weuse
"{}",mostlywherethevariableinformationcanbe
confusedwithXML,forexample<Value>{EXPRESSION}</Value>.In
thisexample,an{EXPRESSION}isanyvalidexpression,
suchas=Fields!ProductImage.Value.


"<>",wherethevariableinformationcannotbeconfused
withXML,forexample=Fields!<FieldName>.Value.




PartI:IntroductiontoReportingServices
InThisPart



CHAPTER1IntroductiontoSQLServerReportingServices
(SSRS)

CHAPTER2ReportingServicesCapabilities:Presentation,
Navigation,andProgrammability



CHAPTER3ReportingServicesArchitecture



CHAPTER4ReportingServicesDeploymentScenarios



CHAPTER5InstallingReportingServices


Chapter1.IntroductiontoSQLServer
ReportingServices(SSRS)
InThisChapter
WhatIsSSRS?
SSRSforEndUsers
OverviewofFeatures
EnterpriseReportExamples
SSRSintheReportDevelopmentLifeCycle
EditionsofReportingServices
HowIsSSRSLicensed?

Note

ThisbookabbreviatesSQLServer2005
ReportingServicesasSSRSandSQLServer
2000ReportingServicesasSSRS2K.New
featuresavailableinSSRSandnotinSSRS2K
arelabeledwith"NEWin2005".


Intoday'sultracompetitivebusinessenvironment,havinggood
informationisessential.Companiesareawashininformation,
andwiththeadventoftechnologiessuchasRFID,moreand
moreinformationiscoming.Technologyhasmadethejobof
gatheringinformationtrivial,butmakingsenseofitallstill
remainselusive.Thismakesgoodreportingandbusiness
intelligencetoolsessential.
Thisfirstchapterisstrictlynontechnical.Thischapterfocuses
onthefollowing:
CapabilitiesofSSRS
HowitfitsintotheMicrosoftBusinessIntelligenceplatform
ReportdevelopmentlifecycleasitrelatestoSSRS
EditionsofSSRS
LicensingSSRS


WhatIsSSRS?
SSRSisMicrosoft'sanswertobusinessreporting.Itprovidesa
unified,server-based,extensible,andscalableplatformfrom
whichtodeliverandpresentinformation.Itsscopeextends
fromtraditionalpaperreports,toweb-baseddeliveryand
interactivecontent.SSRScanalsobeconfiguredtodeliver
reportstopeoples'inboxes,fileshares,andsoon.SSRSis

capableofgeneratingreportsinvariousformats,suchasthe
web-orientedHypertextMarkupLanguage(HTML)anddesktop
application(MicrosoftExcelandCSV)formats,thusallowing
userstomanipulatetheirdatainwhateverformatisrequired.
SSRSisjustoneofthecomponentsintheMicrosoftBusiness
Intelligence(BI)platform.Combined,thosecomponents
provideanexcellentplatformforenterprisedataanalysis.The
MicrosoftBIplatformincludesthefollowing:
SQLServerThetraditionaldatabaseengine,whichalso
storesSSRS'catalogdata.
SQLServerAnalysisServices(SSAS)Acomponentfor
onlineanalyticalprocessing(OLAP)anddatamining.OLAP
performsdataaggregationandallowsuserstotraverse
fromaggregationstodetailslookingthoughthedimensions
(suchasgeographyortime)ofdata.Datamininghelps
userstodiscoverpatternsindata.
SQLServerIntegrationServices(SSIS)Acomponent
forextracting,transforming,andloading(ETL)data.
SQLServerNotificationServices(SSNS)Acomponent
fordeployingandsendingnotificationsofchangingdata.


SSRSforEndUsers
SSRSisuniqueintheMicrosoftBusinessIntelligencesuite,asit
coversavarietyofinformationusers.Microsoftdividesusers
intothreegroups:informationconsumers,information
explorers,andanalysts.
Table1.1brieflysummarizesthepercentagesofusersineach
group,theleveloftechnicalexperience,andtheexpectations
fromanenterprisereportingtool.Allofthesefactorswillvary

fromcompanytocompany,butgenerallythebreakdownholds
true.
Table1.1.BreakdownofInformationWorkers
Typeof
User

Percentage

Technical
Expertise

Analysts

5%-10%

High

Analystscandevelop
reports,workwithadhoc
reports,andperform
sophisticatedcalculations
(suchaslinearregressions
andtrendanalysis).
Analystsoftenpublish
reportstoexplorersand
consumers.

Information
explorers

15%-30%

Medium

Informationexplorerswant
tointeractwithreportsto
somedegree,suchas
applyingfiltersor
performingdrilldown
through.

Information
consumers

55%-85%

Low

Informationconsumersuse
static,predefined,and
preformattedreports.

Expectation