Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Microsoft SQL Server 2008/R2 Reporting Services

2. DBI205 Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Microsoft SQL Server 2008/R2 Reporting Services TeoLachev MVP, MCSD, MCITP, MCT teo.lachev@prologika.com

3. About Me • Consultant, author, and mentor with focus on Microsoft BI • Owner of Prologika – Microsoft BI consulting and training company based in Atlanta (www.prologika.com) • Microsoft SQL Server MVP for 5 years • Leader of Atlanta BI group (atlantabi.sqlpass.org)

4. Agenda • Present top reasons to upgrade to 2008 and R2 • Show many demos • Help you discover hidden features • Let's start with a quick poll • Do you use Reporting Services? • If yes, do you use an earlier version than 2008?

5. 2008 • Create flexible report layouts TablixReason #1 • What’s Tablix? • The best of Table – tabular layout • The best of Matrix – crosstab layout • TABLIX = TABle + LIst + MatriX • Supports flexible report layouts • Fixed and dynamic columns and rows • Stepped layout • Parallel independent column groups • Supports switching between layouts • Table, Matrix, List data regions provide initial layouts only • You can always change layout

6. TablixStepped column layout Desired Current

7. TablixParallel dynamic groups Current Desired

8. TablixNon-detail aggregates in subtotals Current Desired ... ...

9. Tablix demo

10. 2008/R2 • Author ad-hoc reports Report BuilderReason #2 • Implemented as desktop application • Two installation options • Stand-alone installer • ClickOnce in both Report Manager and SharePoint • Full RDL 2008/R2 support • Supports all data sources including Report Builder models • Report-specific data sources (client preview) • Shared data sources deployed to server (server preview)

11. Report Builder 3.0 demo

12. 2008/R2 • Jazz up your reports Data VisualizationsReason #3 • 2008 • Enhanced charting • New gauge region • R2 • Sparklines • Indicators • Data bars Chart Gauge Sparkline Indicator Data Bar

13. Jazz up Your Reports

14. Data Visualizations demo

15. R2 • Add geospatialvisualizations MappingReason #4 • Support for SQL spatial types • Geography – earth coordinates • Geometry – planar coordinates • Multiple map layers • Spatial sources • ESRI shapefiles • SQL server • SSRS map gallery • Bing

16. Maps demo

17. R2 • Share & collaborate Report PartsReason #5 • Reuse common report elements • Accelerate report creation • Increase end-user adoption Report Gallery SourceReport New Report

18. Report Parts demo

19. Shared datasets Reports as data feeds New data providers SharePoint List SQL Azure Parallel Data Warehouse Lookup functions R2 • Import and exportdata in new ways Data EnhancementsReason #6 Report-BasedData Feeds ATOM Feed Published Reports Publishing Data Import Data Sources Encapsu-lating Reports SharePointFarm SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 R2 Data feed capabilities are provided out of the box in every report.

20. Data Enhancements demo

21. 2008 • Scale up better Robust Report PlatformReason #7 • No dependency on IIS • Easier configuration • Better resource management • Simplified deployment and adoption • Scalable report engine • Redesigned in 2008 • Reports are not memory bound • Redesigned renderers • 3-4 x report loads by just upgrading to 2008

22. Configuring Memory Utilization • SSRS 2008 and above support memory configuration • Settings in rsreportserver.config configure memory • Example <WorkingSetMaximum>4000000</WorkingSetMaximum> <MemoryThreshold>90</MemoryThreshold> <MemorySafetyMargin>80</MemorySafetyMargin> <WorkingSetMinimum>2400000</WorkingSetMinimum>

23. Robust Report Platform demo

24. 2008 • Author reports faster Rich Formatting SupportReason #8 • Textbox is a constituent control • Has one or more paragraphs • Each paragraph has textruns and optionally placeholders • A placeholder represents an expression • Supports a set of HTML and CSS format tagshttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645967.aspx

25. Rich Formatting Support demo

26. R2 • Improve managementand user experience Enhanced ExperienceReason #9 • Report Viewer • Smooth and fluid navigation experience • AJAX-based • Report Manager • SharePoint look and feel • Workflow optimized(no need to preview report to access its properties or manage it)

27. Enhanced User Experience demo

28. R2 • Remove limitations Miscellaneous EnhancementsReason #10 • Page break enhancements • Determine export format and Excel tab naming • Vertical text • Export to Word

29. Rendering enhancements demo

30. Summary • SSRS is feature-rich reporting platform • Evaluate SSRS 2008 and R2 • Download and install Report Builder 3.0http://tinyurl.com/reportbuilder30 • Help improving SSRS • Go to connect.microsoft.com • Log new suggestions and vote for existing suggestions

31. Related Content • DBI330: Can Your BI Solution Scale?DBI201: BI Power HourDBI211: What’s New in Microsoft SQL Server Code-Named “Denali” for Reporting Services • DBI378-INT: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Tips and Tricks, How-to and BeyondDBI272-INT: What to Use and When • DBI271-HOL: Exploring Project "Crescent"DBI276-HOL: Working with ATOM Data Feeds in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SSRSDBI391-HOL: Developing and Consuming Report Libraries in SSRS R2 • Product Demo Stations (demo station title and location) • Find Me Later at DBI TLC

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33. Resources • Connect. Share. Discuss. http://northamerica.msteched.com Learning • Sessions On-Demand & Community • Microsoft Certification & Training Resources www.microsoft.com/teched www.microsoft.com/learning • Resources for IT Professionals • Resources for Developers http://microsoft.com/technet http://microsoft.com/msdn

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36. © 2011 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.