Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft)) [Paperback]

Stacia Misner (Author), Hitachi Consulting (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735622507 | ISBN-13: 978-0735622500 | Publication Date: May 24, 2006

Teach yourself the fundamentals of SQL Server Reporting Services—one step at a time. With this practical, learn-by-doing tutorial, you get the guidance you need to build flexible and powerful solutions that support the reporting needs of your organization.

Discover how to:

• Install and configure Reporting Services
• Author, manage, and access reports
• Create attractive, information-rich reports with the Report Designer
• Calculate values, organize information, and manipulate report data
• Build, deploy, and maintain a report model
• Render and distribute reports in various formats
• Implement role-based security to restrict access to information
• Explore more advanced report design techniques
• Programmatically customize any stage of the reporting lifecycle

CD features all practice exercises.

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [e-mail].

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The popular STEP BY STEP approach provides hands-on guidance to beginning-level and new-to-SQL Server 2005 programmers. A sequential, learn-by-doing tutorial, this book covers key features and techniques of Reporting Services to help programmers harness the full power of SQL Server 2005. The enclosed CD includes data sets and sample code.

Key Book Benefits:

-Delivers step-by-step instruction about how to install, enable, envision, create, and share reports based on SQL Server 2005 data stores.

-Provides hands-on exercises that develop proficiency quickly—based on data stores and examples provided on the enclosed CD.

-Features expertise from Hitachi Consulting, which creates specialized SQL Server-based data solutions for corporate customers.

-STEP BY STEP is ideal for anyone with a basic understanding of SQL Server.

About the Author

Stacia Misner manages the development of training solutions for business intelligence and enterprise reporting at Hitachi Consulting. She’s written numerous books, including Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services Step by Step.

Hitachi Consulting, a division of Hitachi Ltd., is a global business and IT consulting firm serving Fortune 2000 companies. It is a leader in developing corporate training and custom solutions for Reporting Services.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (May 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735622507
• ISBN-13: 978-0735622500
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Relational Databases

More About the Author

Stacia Misner is a MCITP-BI and MCTS-BI with a Bachelors' degree in Social Sciences. She is a consultant, educator, author, mentor, and principal of Data Inspirations. Her career spans more than 25 years with a focus on improving business practices through technology. Since 2000, she has been providing consulting and education services for Microsoft's business intelligence technologies. In addition, she has authored or co-authored several books covering different components of the Microsoft SQL Server database and business intelligence platform. Stacia has presented at the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS), Microsoft's TechEd, SQL Server Magazine Connections, and various Microsoft events. She currently lives in Las Vegas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs technical review but has a ton of information., July 21, 2006

By 

Mark - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)

I found the book extremely useful in getting me pointed in the right direction with Reporting Services. I used the book less as a technical reference and more as an overview of how Reporting Services works and what options are available for solving reporting problems in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

I agree with the other reviewers that the book needs additional technical editing. For example, in Chapter 9 Stacia states that the rs.exe utility can be used with C# and that sample scripts are installed with SQL Server 2005. I have not seen a reference anywhere else on the web that states rs.exe can be used with C# and after installing SQL Server 2005 multiple times with every sample database I could find I did not get any sample scripts in the location specified.

If you use the book for an overview of SSRS you will gain many insights into how Reporting Services works but for the detailed technical details I would recommend the MSDN books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What a waste!, May 15, 2008

By 

Michael S. Harris "Rev. Mike" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)

I purchased the book well over a year ago and placed it in my library for future reference. Now that I finally need it to dig into SSRS further, I'm truly disappointed. Besides the well documented script to load the databases not working, I've found plenty of instances where I found myself truly lost in the "Step by Step". I really had to go back time after time to see if I missed something. Low and behold, I didn't miss a thing. This was an extreme waste of valuable time away from projects. What the book is missing is a really good technical review. Long story short, placed this one on the shelf and ordered Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services 2005 by Brian Larson. Now I'm beginning to wonder about my SSAS Step by Step now. Then again, I'll just save my self valuable time and pick up another SSAS anyway. Hope this helps!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Typical poor quality MS Step-By-Step, August 5, 2007

By 

B. Owczarzak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)

I agree with the other reviewer that had trouble installing the sample files: there's no excuse that Microsoft Press should have let this book out the door without some basic technical review. In order to successfully install the files, you must manually edit the attach_databases.sql file to map the @physname paths to the .mdf files stored in your My Documents folder rather than c:\rs2005sbs (which is never created by the installer). For the intended audience of this book, that's an unnecessary hastle that the use user should have to go through.