Reporting Services Consultant: SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
is a server-based reporting tool. It was first introduced prior to the release of
SQL2005 as a separate add-on feature that could be obtained for SQL2000. Beginning
with the release of SQL2005, Reporting Services has been included as one of the
components available on most versions of the SQL Server installation media. As a
consultant, I have thoroughly enjoyed using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
since it was still in "beta" prior to its initial release. Since that time, many
improvements and additional features have been added.
Reporting Services comes with an ad-hoc reporting tool that is launched from its
browser-based Report Manager. There is also a Report Designer accessible from within
the Visual Studio IDE that a Reporting Services consultant can use to access powerful
features for report design. The product can deliver reports in PDF format as well
as other formats. It has features for automated, scheduled report delivery. SQL
Server Reporting Services can also be integrated into custom applications.
Reporting Services allows you to report on a variety of databases and data sources.
It is not limited to data stored in SQL Server databases. In addition, SQL Reporting
Services can report on data stored in Analysis Services "cubes" using MDX (Multidimensional
Expressions) queries. The Visual Studio IDE assists a Reporting Services consultant
with creating these MDX queries.
Please feel free to send an email to scott@scottreis.com
with questions or comments about what you would like to accomplish with Reporting
Services.