Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services [Paperback]

Brian Larson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0072262397 | ISBN-13: 978-0072262391 | Edition: 2

Microsoft's Reporting Services product is a vital part of the SQL Server 2005 business intelligence platform, but it works with virtually any data source. This hands-on guide explains how to transform data into insightful and interactive Web-based reports using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services. With coverage of everything from installation to administration, the book demonstrates how to use this powerful server-based reporting solution to improve business decision-making and facilitate company-wide -- even worldwide -- communication.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Generate and distribute comprehensive, integrated reports

Transform disparate corporate data into business intelligence with help from this hands-on guide. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services explains how to create, manage, and deliver traditional and interactive reports with this powerful server-based reporting solution. Written by a member of the Reporting Services development team, the book covers the entire report-building and distribution process and offers complete details on all the product's integrated features. Improve business decision-making in your organization by getting the right information to the right people at the right time.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR DATABASE PROFESSIONALS

• Install and set up SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services
• Use the SELECT query to extract report data from your data sources
• Add charts, images, and other graphics
• Generate reports using the Report Wizard and from scratch
• Maintain a secure, managed environment
• Integrate reports with desktop and web applications
• Enable end-user access to reports via the Report Server and its Report Manager web interface
• Export reports to other presentation and data exchange rendering formats

About the Author

Brian Larson (Arden Hills, MN), MCSD, served as a member of the Reporting Services development team on a contract basis, and has contributed to the code base. He is the Chief of Technology (COT) for Superior Consulting Services (SCS) in the Twin Cities. SCS is a Microsoft Certified Partner and is currently developing a client solution that uses Microsoft Reporting Services for report production and distribution.

Brian has been invited to speak on Reporting Services at several conferences including SQL Server Magazine Connections (both in Vegas and Orlando), has been interviewed as a subject matter expert by Microsoft TechNet, .NET Rocks, and others and has written articles for SQL Server Magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 767 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 2 edition (December 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072262397
• ISBN-13: 978-0072262391
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Larson is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, with degrees in physics and computer science. Brian has worked in the computer industry since 1985 and has been a consultant creating custom database applications since 1989. He is currently the Vice President of Technology and BI Practice Manager for Superior Consulting Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota (http://www.teamscs.com). Brian is an MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 and a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA).

Brian served as a member of the original Reporting Services development team as a consultant to Microsoft. In that role, he contributed to the initial code base of Reporting Services.

Brian has presented at national conferences and events, including the SQL Server Magazine Connections Conference, the PASS Community Summit, and the Microsoft Business Intelligence Conference, and has provided training and mentoring on Reporting Services and business intelligence across the country. He has been a contributor and columnist for SQL Server Magazine.

Brian began his writing career collecting rejection letters for some very bad science fiction short stories. Brian got the last laugh on all of those cruel editors by sneaking a bit of science fiction into his Reporting Services books. The sample company used in all of the examples is an intergalactic shipping company staffed by robots and employing faster than the speed of light travel to offer previous day delivery. The company back story may be fanciful; the business examples, however, are all down to earth!

Brian lives with his wife Pam in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota. Pam will tell you that their first date took place at the Luther College computer center. If that doesn't qualify someone to write computer books, then I don't know what does.

Brian can be contacted at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional clarity and useful real world examples!, January 17, 2006

By 

John M. Cunha "ThotWorks" (Windham, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (Paperback)

This book delivers a solid understanding of Reporting Services derived from working through genuinely useful, real world examples preceded by clear technical overviews.

I am a BI consultant always learning new software technologies and as part of this work, read many instructional s/w books. From this standpoint I can state that this book shows great attention to detail (all of the examples actually work). It also incorporates a very useful feature "Task Notes" that further explains the implicit assumptions and underlying factors following each example. This shows that a great deal of care was taken to ensure that the reader is always on the same page as the writer.

This book is rare in its clarity, technical editing and delivery of concrete skills in return for the effort spent with it. Just keep off my turf when you acquire your skills! (;^ )

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Detailed Tutorial For Those New To Reporting Services, July 7, 2006

By 

Yannick Salgleda "Yannick" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (Paperback)

Many reviewers of this book have given it high marks because it is a terrific tutorial and that introduces most of the crucial techniques for writing great reports. I would agree as I have reporting experience with MS-Access and Crystal and this book helped me get up to speed quickly. If you like learning in a step-by-step fashion right out of a book - this is the book!

The bad reviews came from people that were looking for more of a reference type book. While this book is not a bad reference it does fall short as a reference book. For example, one reviewer brought up that the ability to shade alternating detail rows of a report does not appear to be easy to find in this book. I would agree with that. I was unable to go into the index and find a quick solution in this book.

If you want a better reference book try the WROX book, Professional SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services. That book is not as good as this book from a step-by-step standpoint but it is a better reference when you need a quick solutions. For example, page 272 has code on how to shade alternating rows - they call it Greenbar Reports. It was not easy to find in this book either. How many people would look up "Greenbar Reports" in the reference? I was looking into "shading alternative rows". I just happened to stumble upon it.

I bought both books together. Of course there is lots of overlap but between the two that is all you will need to become a pro at Reporting Services.

Reporting Services could use a COOKBOOK-style text like they have for Access and other programming languages. Those types of books have served me well over the years. Until then this book and the WROX book should do the trick!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, May 10, 2007

By 

S. Taylor "stusrt" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (Paperback)

we have over a dozen SQL SERVER 2005 suite books in our office. The thing that makes this better then all the others, is that while some people like reading these books, and others like books as references only - this book seems to satisfy both groups of developers at my office.
The most used SSRS book at the office by a mile.