Datasheet

Part I: Getting Started
12
The actual design work is performed using a client - side builder tool delivered on demand in the user ’ s
web browser. The user experience is quite simple. As far as the user is concerned, a new report is created
using a simple web page selection, and Report Builder opens in a browser window without specifically
installing a software package ahead of time. These reports are stored on the server in the same folder
space as other reports. The Report Manager web interface is used to access and maintain standard
Reporting Services reports as well as Report Builder reports and their associated data models.
The advantages of Report Builder reports are that they give users the ability to design and customize
their own reports without involving a report designer or developer. Report styles and features include
standard report layouts like columnar, hierarchical, pivot/matrix, and charts but can only include one of
these data range elements, unlike standard reports that can include as many as you like. Report Builder
reports cannot contain or use custom code. Data - formatting options are more restrictive, and the
data models must be prepared ahead of time. Models may be created to mirror the details of source data
tables or may be simplified. This allows the data model designer to hide sensitive data and to simplify
complex data sources with alias columns, aggregations, and calculated data members.
Report Design Tools
When Reporting Services was released for use with SQL Server 2000, only one design tool could be used
to create reports. Since that time, third - party vendors began creating design tools designed specifically
for users with different needs. High - end report developers require different tools to create corporate
reporting solutions from those required by information workers to design personal and departmental
reports. Information Technology architects, database designers, and application developers who create
large - scale business intelligence solutions need a design environment that allows members of formal
teams to share and manage various files and reports. They need to write and debug program code and
shared components.
Information workers may not need to use such sophisticated tools and will benefit from a simple design
environment with familiar features and options. A simplified, stand - alone report designer will assist
users to create departmental and personal reports that need to be deployed to a central server, shared
with other users, and available for future enhancements.
An ad hoc design tool should be simple and lightweight and should require little or no installed software
on the user ’ s computer. It should allow IT professionals to expose a simplified and secure view of
corporate data sources that ad hoc report designers use to simply select predefined data elements and
organize them in common report presentations.
Report Builder 2.0
Report Builder 2.0 is an addition to the report design suite for the information worker to create fully
capable, server - hosted reports. It ’ s a serious tool with a moderate learning curve. Unlike its predecessors
Visual Studio or the Business Intelligence Development Studio, it doesn ’ t expose some advanced
capabilities that may be unnecessary for someone designing typical departmental or personal reports. In
Chapter 5, you learn to use to use the Microsoft Office - like user interface to design data sources, queries,
and report layouts to meet a variety of business needs.
c01.indd 12c01.indd 12 11/13/08 4:23:41 PM11/13/08 4:23:41 PM