SQL Server Reporting Services is a server-based reporting platform. These types of reporting services can be used to create and manage tabular, matrix, and graphical reports. These types of reports contain data from SQL Server and also various other data source types. These types of reports can be viewed over a World Wide Web based connection. These types of reports can be built based on relational or multidimensional data from SQL Server and an ODBC and OLEDB connection. The user can create reports in a different manner, like graphical, tabular and also matrix form.
The main feature of SQL Server Reporting Services is that it is a web-based feature. Users can interact with the Report Server web service directly, or instead use Report Manager. We can deploy our finished reports using a Reporting Service website called Report Manager and user can view the reports directly within their web or Windows-based application. For creating SQL Server Reporting Services we must install a Business Intelligence (BI) project template for Visual Studio. Reporting Services is more compatible with Microsoft technologies.
Advantages of SQL Server Reporting Services
These are the following advantages of SQL Server Reporting Services:
- Faster processes of final reports on both relational and multidimensional data.
- Easily deploying reports using the Microsoft reporting service.
- Faster delivery of information to business organizations
- Providing better decision making to business users.
- Direct and efficient way of reporting access to information residing in both Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases.
- Provides Ability to business users to interact with information without including IT professionals.
- There is No need for any special skills.
- It provides a World Wide Web (WWW) based connection for deploying reports.
Reporting Service in SQL Server 2008
Reporting is a very essential part of business of any company which helps in estimating what is actually going on within the company for which there are a variety of reports:
- Managed Reporting which is also known as enterprise reporting that are use to create reports of business and delivers all the information to each and every employee to take their decision accordingly.
- Ad-Hoc Reporting means the shortcut to the report development which is required by any user at any time. In case of Ad-Hoc one can get the information according to their needs without submitting a request and waiting for a report to be developed by the report developer.
- Embedded Reporting means as its name suggests it enables the user to embed reports directly into business applications and web portals and also enables the user to consume the report within the context of their business process.
There are various report development tools which depend upon the type of user you are, like an experienced developer uses a comprehensive development environment from the other users, who are unfamiliar with database designs.
Report builder is one of the most important tools and is widely used to generate reports which models business data into an easy format like purchase, stock.
Conclusion
SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services provides a complete enterprise reporting solution that can support thousands of users by providing them with reports.
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