Datasheet

Chapter 1: Introducing Reporting Services
7
As a software developer, coming to the realization that the largest group of reporting professionals is not
the software developer or other technical expert was a wake - up call. As I taught Reporting Services 2000
classes for Microsoft, I often spent a large portion of the classroom time just teaching students to use the
Visual Studio user interface. It was new to them and unlike any other application they were accustomed
to. Report designers who have been using other tools such as Crystal Reports, for example, will typically
be a little intimidated by the Reporting Services design tools because they may be unfamiliar and may
seem to be more “ raw ” and developer - centric than what they ’ re used to using. In order to take advantage
of advanced report capabilities, these individuals must either acquire some simple programming skills or
work with software developers to add custom code and expressions to their reports.
Today, Reporting Services in SQL Server 2008 meets the needs of information workers and technology
professionals with two different design tools. The stand - alone report designer is simple, focused, and
familiar — with a user interface similar to Microsoft Office applications. A more advanced report design
experience is available to application developers and other technical professionals, integrated into the
Visual Studio solution design environment shell. This tool is optimized for adding custom expressions,
complex features, and program code.
Application and Reporting Technology
The definition of reporting is changing. Like so many components of the computer/information
industry, the lines between one thing and another have become very fuzzy. This applies to so many
concepts in our industry. For example, many traditional desktop applications now run in a web browser.
Are these client or server applications? These days it ’ s hard to draw a line and categorize a business
solution. Not long ago, if an application opened in a web browser, it was considered to be a server - side
application — all the processing occurred on a web server. Likewise, if an application ran from a shortcut
on your computer, it was a client - side application, where all the files and processing occurred on your
own computer. Have you attended an Internet - hosted meeting or seminar? If so, you probably navigated
to a site in your web browser, entered a meeting number, and, magically, you were looking at
PowerPoint slides and a demonstration running on the presenter ’ s desktop computer. Although you
Business Information
Workers
Software
Developers
System
Administrators
Business
Managers
Figure 1 - 1
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