SQL Reporting IISQL Reporting IIAnother tool in our IT toolbox.A free with Microsoft SQL that empowers a few levels of users.

By Bryan Yates - bryan@nmmi.eduProgrammer

New Mexico Military InstituteOctober 25, 2012

AgendaWhat can it do for me?Pre-Req’sServer componentsWorkstation componentsUser empowermentSubscriptionsData sourcesPros/ConsLive Demo and Questions

Microsoft SQL ReportingMicrosoft SQL ReportingWeb based delivery of SQL resultsReportedly works with Oracle,

SharePoint Lists, and other SQL DBsWorks on Microsoft SQL 2008,

including multiple Databases in a single report

Users have many export format options

Users have nice filter and sort options

“Subscriptions” will send emails of reports in any format on a schedule, even to non-users

ExampleExample

Pre-RequisitesPre-RequisitesSSRS ships with SQL server

(Enterprise or Standard)◦Server to support SSRS◦SQL license(s) (licensed by CPU)◦Optionally a cluster of servers

A Windows workstation for development (optional)

StrategyStrategyInstall server componentsInstall the right client building toolsBuild the right SQL queriesPut the queries into a reportTweak the report to allow user

empowerment◦Add Filters, sorting, sub-reports

Add/verify permissions to allow user access

Testing, tweaking, testing, testing

Server installServer installInstall from msSQL 2008 CD, with

SQL or after “SQL reporting services”

“Report services configuration manager” guides through simple setup (DB location, credentials)

Can use default web serverNot Cluster Aware

Install SQL first Install SSRS on each cluster node

“Join scaled out deployment” option May require second DB instance

Both nodes up and running web services

Client Tool 1, Client Tool 1, the right toolthe right toolReport BuilderReport BuilderWeb app - delivered via Internet

Explorer from the report websiteNot a feature rich tool, KISS

• SQL 2008 R2 has a couple more features from non R2

Usable by most all user levels◦IT can make detailed reports with

choices◦Power users can design and

selectivity share their own reports with internal and even external users (ex: Regents)

Client Tool 2Client Tool 2SQL Server Management StudioSQL Server Management StudioSQL building and troubleshooting

toolThis is a mature development

tool On msSQL CD, install all

management toolsWorks on any Windows®

workstationImpersonation of users is pretty

simpleexecute as login = 'domain\otherguy'select top 10 * from server.database.dbo.tablerevert

SQL Server Management SQL Server Management Studio, new queryStudio, new query

SQL Server Management SQL Server Management Studio, query designerStudio, query designer

SQL Server Management SQL Server Management Studio, query designerStudio, query designer

This GUI view allows you to select output fields in one place and it corrects in other panes, including SQL syntax pane.

ResultsResultsCommon look and feel for all

reportsHeader area includes filtering

itemsExport list consistent with all

reports

ExampleExample

““JustJustsendsendmemethe the report”report”

SubscriptionsSubscriptionsFeatures ability to send a report

to any email address, even if they have no permissions or even credentials. Board of Directors, big boss, etc, may not have any SQL permissions◦Create Data Source using SQL user

and pw◦Can develop report with Windows

Auth, then switch live report to use other Data Source

◦Power Users can be allowed to switch Data Source, but no overwrite any sources

Overall, ProsOverall, ProsPower users and IT experts can use

tools to quickly develop and modify SQL reports

Reuse of existing SQL queriesUsers better enabled to filter data to

their likingMany Output formats (Excel, PDF, etc),

which do not have to be updated with new releases

SharePoint Web parts allow easy inclusion in SP

SharePoint list support allows some power users to have the ultimate power

ConsConsAverage user cannot develop

SQLLimited reports, without Report

Builder 3Poor Report searching, multiple

page issuesNot easy to see number of results

returnedIf using SQL on Microsoft Cluster,

setup tricky

SummarySummaryGood product for the costStandardizes report output

choices to allow easy adoption, common look and feel

Enables user empowerment Can use SQL you’ve probably

already createdDevelopment not for average Joe

This presentationThis presentation

Sorry for the lack of handouts, this presentation was a late entry.◦The Web:

http://wordpress.nmmi.edu/computertraining

◦Email me: brYan@nmmi.edu

◦Any quick questions before the live demo?