Datasheet

Building standard, server-side reports in the designer can be as simple as 1, 2, 3: First, you create a data
connection to the data source and dataset (query) for the report. The second step is to design the report
layout using simple drag-and-drop tools. Formatting attributes are set by changing properties in the
properties sheet or dialogs. The report may be previewed and debugged within the designer. The third
and final step is to deploy the report to the report server. This may be done using a right-click menu
action. The report designer, shown in Figure 1-3, supports this three-step paradigm with corresponding
designer windows (located on the tabs) and features.
Figure 1-3
Report design is covered in Part II. You’ll learn about the basics in Chapter 4 and about advanced tech-
niques in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 will take you beyond the features and discuss several common business
scenarios. In that chapter, you will learn techniques for designing the best reporting solutions to meet
some common and unique challenges.
Client-side reports are a little different from Reporting Services’ standard server-side reports. Because
this feature is intended to give users the power to create and modify their own reports, it does not
require Visual Studio or Business Intelligence Studio to be installed on their computers. First, a data
model is prepared to support the reports users may build. These data models are stored on the report
server with shared data sources and reports. The data model serves two important purposes: It provides
a simplified view to hide the complexity of relational or hierarchal data. Second, it allows the data model
designer to control access to sensitive or irrelevant data stored in the database. When a user wants to
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