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Generate Ad-hoc Reports with Microsoft Reporting Services 2005

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If you have followed the RS 2005 roadmap, you have undoubtedly noticed that among the many new features in Microsoft Reporting Services 2005 is one that can truly help reduce the workload for developers—the ability to give end users the power to generate their own ad-hoc reports. My article explains the major components of Microsoft Reporting Services’ ad-hoc architecture and semantic model, and walks you through an end-to-end example that demonstrates how to author, manage, and deliver ad-hoc reports.


Happy ad-hoc reporting!

Upcoming Business Intelligence webcasts

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There are quite a few upcoming Business Intelligence webcasts you shouldn’t miss. If you are interested in the Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2005 make sure to register and mark you calendar.

SP2 is here

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The much anticipated and long-delayed RS Service Pack 2 is here! Download it from from the Microsoft Download Center: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=502C0D89-1308-4662-8F58-CEC55EF1235B&displaylang=en. The list of changes and bug fixes can be found here. The SP 2 is cummulative and it includes the SP1 changes. Therefore, you don’t need to apply SP1 before installing SP2.


Join me to give credit to the RS team for their heroic effort. For little more than a year they managed to release two service packs (with numerious enhancements), merge the RS 2000 codebase into Yukon, implement the new Yukon feature set, and meanwhile address hundreds of questions on the RS newsgroup (which by the way is one of the most active discussion lists). I personally know of a few “enterprise” shops that couldn’t complete the design phase for this period of time. Well done for a team of about 30 people!

SQL Server 2005 March Community Technical Preview (CTP)

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Today, Microsoft released the third Community Technical Preview (CTP) for SQL Server 2005. The latest CTP includes a number of new features, such as enhanced integration with Visual Studio 2005, performance improvements in Management Studio, a SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005 upgrade tool, and 64-bit support for Reporting Services, Notification Services and the management, development and configuration tools.


In addition, this CTP includes Report Builder, a new component of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition and based on the technology acquired from ActiveViews. Because the new self-service, ad hoc report building client is built upon SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, the tool will make enterprise reporting easy, scalable, and reliable for end users. This CTP includes model files that can be used with Report Builder. These model files are available as separate downloads from the Beta Download Page.


The SQL Server 2005 CTP is now available to all MSDN and Betaplace subscribers.

Article here, article there…RS, RS everywhere

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Some of my recent writings see daylight:



  • The publisher of my book donated Chapter 1 of my book (Introducing Microsoft Reporting Services) to The Code Project website. It is available for free access here http://www.codeproject.com/books/MSReportingServices.asp?msg=1015597#xx1015597xx

  • DevX published part 1 of my two-part article about RS Forms Authentication. It is available for free access here http://www.devx.com/dotnet/Article/26759.

  • MSDN has picked up my article first published by Pinnacle Publications  in the November issue of the Visual Basic Developer magazine. The article demonstrates how to leverage Reporting Services to generate reports on the server side of ASP.NET applications using a custom web control called AwReportViewer. You can read the article and download the sample code here (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnhcvb04/html/vb04k8.asp).

You better watch out…SP2 is coming to town

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While we still have to wait for a couple of more months to get the official release, Santa is giving us a Beta preview of the forthcoming RS 2000 SP2.

Key new features include:

  • Reporting Services SharePoint Web Parts enable you to explore and view reports located on a report server by using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services or SharePoint Portal Server. A set of Reporting Services SharePoint Web Parts are installed with SP2. These Web Parts are called Report Explorer and Report Viewer. Using Report Explorer, you can browse available reports on a report server. Using Report Viewer, you view reports hosted on a report server. Included with Report Explorer is a subscription function that allows you to receive reports by e-mail. Both Web Parts are optimized to run within the SharePoint environment; however, they can be run as standalone components also.
  • Yes, the wait is over! SP2 comes with a brand new Microsoft ActiveX control  to support a rich client-side printing experience and allow users can print reports directly from Internet Explorer. To support this functionality, a downloadable ActiveX control is used. The control’s .cab file is hosted on the report server and is downloaded by the client on request. When you request a report, the HTML viewer returns the report along with a toolbar for navigation. The toolbar contains a print button that displays a print dialog box when clicked. Using the dialog box, you can make standard Windows printing selections including orientation, page size and page range. When the printer settings are selected, you can select Print to print the entire report or a range of pages within the report, or Preview to preview the report in a separate preview pane.

In addition, SP2 will include numerous bug fixes as outlined in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 889640 (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=889640).

For instructions how to subscribe to and get SP2 Beta, please read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889641.

Merry Christmas!

Get a sneak preview on RS 2005 and more…

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Brian Welcker, Group Program Manager for Reporting Services, will do a
webcast on RS 2005 tomorrow at 10 am pacific time. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the new features in RS 2005 from the ultimate authority on this subject.


You can subscribe to the event by following this link https://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/WebCastRegistrationConfirmation.aspx?culture=en-US&RegistrationID=5154053.


There are more webcasts scheduled for tomorrow later during the day including Integration Services (aka DTS) and Analysis Services 2000.


Get a sick day tomorrow or a day off and don’t miss tomorrow’s webcast rollercoaster ride 🙁



And the MVP award goes to…

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I would like to share my excitment with you that Microsoft has recognized my contribution and peer support around Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services.


Today, I received the valuable Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for Windows Server System – SQL Server. This represents a major milestone in my professional career as a consultant and trainer.


Thank you for helping me to achieve this status!

Vote for my book

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If you liked my book “Microsoft Reporting Services in Action” please take a moment to vote for it at the Second Annual .NETDJ Readers’ Choice Awards website.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Let’s talk RS

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Please join me at the following events to learn more about Reporting Services:

 

  1. Atlanta.net User Group presentation (ADNUG) on September 27th
    I will show you how to report-enable WinForm or web applications by integrating them with Reporting Services. Get a sneak preview of the new RS controls that will be included in the next 2005 release of Reporting Services.
  2. SQL Pass Community Summit 2004 from Sept 29 to Sept 30 in Orlando, Florida
    I will join my coworkers from HP to present Reporting Services. Look for me in the HP exhibition booth (#301). Don’t miss this chance to ask me tough RS questions and see various code demos.
  3. Atlanta Microsoft Database Forum presentation (Atlanta.mdf) on October 11th
    Same as my ADNUG presentation.

Looking forward to meeting you at one of these events!