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Reporting Services Authoring

Tips and Tricks Part I

Shane RiskBusiness Intelligence Consultant

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AgendaTime Topic8:30 9:00 Breakfast

9:00 10:00

SSRS OverviewNew FeaturesArchitectural ImprovementsScale-out / Scale-up

10:00 10:15 Break10:15 11:45 SSRS Authoring Tips & Tricks Part I

Enhanced Data VisualizationTablix for Flexible Report LayoutChart Types and RecommendationsReporting using Relational vs. Cubes

11:45 1:00 Lunch & Open Discussion Q&A1:00 2:30 SSRS Authoring Tips & Tricks Part II

Microsoft Reporting OptionsDrill Through NavigationExpression-Based FormattingReport Builder v2.0

Report Delivery & Options

2:30 2:45 Break2:45 4:15 SSRS and Portals Tips & Tricks

Portal Development using SharePoint and Integrated SSRSReport Center - Report Library & Data Connection Library (MOSS e-CAL)Building dashboards (based WSS/MOSS Std CAL vs. MOSS e-CAL (PPS)Combining SSRS w/ other report types (MOSS e-CAL XL Services, PPS ACs/AGs, ProClarity)

4:15 4:30 Wrap-up and Giveaways

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SSRS Tips and Tricks

Enhanced Data Visualization

Tablix for Flexible Report Layouts

Chart Types and Recommendations

Visualization Best Practices

Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

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Enhanced Data Visualization

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Enhanced Data Visualization

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Sparkline Chart

Sparkline Perfect for dashboards

Compact Concise

Provides context Can link to other reports

for detail

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Bullet Gauge

Bullet Preferred over gauges and thermometers Easier to read Take less space More accurate

Similar to a bar chart, but offers more information

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SSRS Tips and Tricks

Enhanced Data Visualization

Tablix for Flexible Report Layouts

Chart Types and Recommendations

Visualization Best Practices

Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

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What is Tablix ? The best of Tabl e merged with the best of Matr ix Allows for fixed and dynamic columns and rows Enables arbitrary nesting on each axis Enables multiple parallel row/column members at each

level Introduces optional omission of row/column headers

Innovative layout capabilities Support for richly formatted text Innovative grouping capabilities

Flexible Report Layout

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2001 2002 Total

1,115 1,331 2,446

152 642 794

11,156 13,312 24,468

1,523 6,421 7,944

13,946 21,706 35,653

Retail Acme

Nadir, Inc.Wholesale ABC Corp.

XYZ, Ltd.Grand Total

Customer

Retail

Acme

Nadir, Inc.Wholesale

ABC Corp.

XYZ, Ltd.

Grand Total

Growth

19%

322%

19%

322%

56%

Tabl ixe + Matr

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SSRS Tips and Tricks

Enhanced Data Visualization

Tablix for Flexible Report Layouts

Chart Types and Recommendations

Visualization Best Practices

Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

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Histogram Charts

Set the series type =Column Custom Attributes

HistogramSegmentInterv

alNumber HistogramSegmentInterv

alWidth HistogramShowPercentO

nSecondaryAxis

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Pareto Charts

Commonly used in qualitycontrol scenarios. Set the Chart Type =

Column Custom Attributes

ShowColumnAs Property =Pareto

Remove the Axis Title onthe Secondary Axis bySelecting the Chart Area

Value Axis in theProperty Grid

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Chart Demo

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SSRS Tips and Tricks

Enhanced Data Visualization

Tablix for Flexible Report Layouts

Chart Types and Recommendations

Visualization Best Practices

Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

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Examples of Poor Visualizations

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Examples of Good Visualizations

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%40%

IT Power User BusinessUser

CasualUser

ExtendedBusiness

User

ProducerConsumer

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Good Data Visualization... Shows the data Represents large quantities of data coherently

and efficiently Help the user to discern relationships in the

data encourages the eye to compare different

pieces of data does not distort what the data has to say

The Value of Data Visualization

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Common Visualization Mistakes

Inappropriate display media Pie charts, 3-D charts

Poorly designed display media

Using fill patterns, line styles, and fullysaturated/bright colors. Encoding quantitative data inaccurately Crowded charts Variety for the sake of variety Adding visual flair

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Tips, Tricks, Best Practices

Part to whole Line Charts Bar Charts Disparate Values Gridlines Sparklines Bullet graphs

Small multiples Pareto charts Histograms

Exception highlighting Keywords vs.Expressions

Status indicators

Drilldown on charts Empty points Coordinate colors across

charts w/empty points Custom gauge images Multiple chart areas

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SSRS Tips and Tricks

Enhanced Data Visualization

Tablix for Flexible Report Layouts

Chart Types and Recommendations

Visualization Best Practices

Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

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Relational vs. OLAP Reporting

Relational Benefits Optimized for processing transactions Data stored at detail level

Easily report at the lowest level of data

OLAP Benefits Data is pre-aggregated Easy drag and drop query builder Optimized for analyzing data Easily used to create a wide range of reports

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Relational vs. OLAP Reporting Demo

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