- You want to include an image in a report. How do you display the
Image Properties dialog box?
When you drag an image item from the Toolbox window to the Report Designer, the Image Properties dialog box automatically opens. - You want to configure an amount to display the value in a currency
format. Which property do you use?
To configure an amount to display a value in a currency format, select the report item, and then set the format property to C or c. - What are data regions?
Data regions are report items that display repeated rows of summarized information from datasets. - You want to generate a report that is formatted as a chart. Can you
use the Report Wizard to create such a report?
No, the Report Wizard lets you create only tabular and matrix reports. you must create the chart report directly by using the Report Designer. - You want to use BIDS to deploy a report to a different server than
the one you chose in the Report Wizard. How can you change the server URL?
You can right-click the project in Solution Explorer and then change the Target-Server URL property. - Which rendering formats are affected by the PageSize properties?
Because only the Adobe PDf file, Word, and Image rendering extensions use physical page breaks, they are the only formats that are affected by the PageSize properties. - Can you use a stored procedure to provide data to an SSRS report?
Yes, you can use a stored procedure to provide data to an SSRS report by configuring the dataset to use a stored procedure command type. However, your stored procedure should return only a single result set. If it returns multiple result sets, only the first one is used for the report dataset. - You want to use a perspective in an MDX query. How do you select
the perspective?
Use the Cube Selector in the MDX Query Designer to select a perspective. - Can you use data mining models in SSRS?
Yes, you can use the DMX Designer to create data mining queries for SSRS reports. However, do not forget to flatten the result set returned by the DMX query. - You want your report to display a hyperlink that will take users to
your intranet. How do you configure such a hyperlink?
Create a text box item, set the action to Go To URL, and then configure the URL. - You want a report to display Sales by Category, SubCategory, and
Product. You want users to see only summarized information initially but
to be able to display the details as necessary. How would you create the
report?
Group the Sales information by Category, SubCategory, and Product. Hide the SubCategory group and set the visibility to toggle based on the Category item. Hide the Product category group and set the visibility to toggle based on the SubCategory item. - You want to create an Excel interactive report from SSRS. In SSRS,
can you create the same interactive experience in Excel that you would
have on the Web?
No, you cannot create the same experience with SSRS. you can, however, use Excel to create such an experience. - What is the main difference between a Matrix report item and a
Table report item?
The main difference between a Matrix and a Table report item is in the initial template. Actually, both report items are just templates for the Tablix data region. - When you do not use report caching, is it better to use parameters
to filter information in the query or to use filters in the dataset?
From a performance perspective, it is better to use parameters because they let SSRS pull filtered data from the data source. In contrast, when you use filters, the queries retrieve all data and then filter the information in an additional step. - How do you configure a running aggregate in SSRS?
You can use the RunningValue function to configure a running aggregate. - What is the main purpose of a report parameter?
The main purpose of a report parameter is to add interactivity to your reports, letting users change the report behavior based on options they select. - What is the main purpose of a query parameter?
The main purpose of a query parameter is to filter data in the data source. - You want your users to select a parameter from a list of values in
a list box. How should you configure the parameter?
You should create a data source that contains the possible values and then bind the data source to the parameter. - What is the main benefit of using embedded code in a report?
The main benefit of using embedded code in a report is that the code you write at the report level can be reused in any expression in the report. - What programming language would you use to create embedded
functions in SSRS?
An SSRS report supports only visual Basic .nET embedded code. - How do you reference an embedded function in a report expression?
Use the Code prefix and the name of the function to reference an embedded function in a report expression. - Which of the following are valid options for deploying a report?
(Choose all that apply.)
a. With BIDS
b. With the Computer Management console
c. With the .nET START command
d. With SSMS
e. With Report Manager
The correct answers are a and e, BIDS and Report Manager. - Why should you not overwrite a shared data source in production?
You should not overwrite a production-shared data source because the administrator has probably already changed some connection string properties. - Can you edit a report that an end user created by using Report
Builder in BIDS?
Yes, if an end user created a report by using Report Builder in BIDS and saved the report definition file, you can open the file in BIDS and edit it. - How can you manage reports from your application if the report
server is deployed in SharePoint integrated mode?
Use the ReportService2006 endpoint of the SSRS Web service if your report server is deployed in SharePoint integrated mode. - In which processing mode of a report viewer control can you use the
full functionality of your report server?
You should use the remote processing mode to use the full functionality of your report server. - What types of roles are available in SSRS 2008, and what are their
purposes?
Item-level roles and system-level roles are the two types of roles available in SSRS 2008. An item-level role is a collection of tasks related to operations on an object of the report object hierarchy of SSRS 2008. A system-level role is a collection of tasks related to operations on server objects outside the report object hierarchy of SSRS 2008. - Can a user or group belong to more than one item-level or
system-level role?
Yes, in SSRS 2008, a user or group can have more than one association to a system-level or an item-level role. - When storing the credentials of a data source in the server, are
those credentials safe?
Yes, the data source credentials are safe because Reporting Services encrypts them and stores them in the ReportServer SQL Server database. - What happens if you do not specify a parameter value in a
subscription and the parameter does not have a default value?
If you do not specify a parameter value in a subscription and the parameter does not have a default value, the execution of the report will fail. - You want to create a subscription to a report. However, when you
right-click the Subscription subfolder of the report, you notice that the
new Subscription option is dimmed. What is wrong?
When the new Subscription option is dimmed, the report probably does not use stored credentials for accessing the data. SSRS needs these credentials stored in its own ReportServer database to execute a report on a schedule. - What can you do if your query with properties for a data-driven
subscription does not provide values for all of the subscription
properties?
If your query with properties for a data-driven subscription does not provide values for all of the subscription properties, you can use text and default values instead. These values are then used for parameters of all subscriptions you get from the query. - What mechanisms do you identify to reduce the overhead of Reporting
Services data sources?
Snapshots and cached reports can help reduce the processing pressure on data sources and improve report response time. - Can you always create a cache of a report?
No, you can create a cache of a report only when certain requirements, such as having credentials stored in the Report Server, are met. - Can you edit the .rdl code associated with a linked report?
No, because a linked report has no .rdl code of its own. It refers to the .rdl code of the base report. - Which of the tools and utilities described in this lesson can
change or create the virtual directories for the report server and Report
Manager after installation?
Only Reporting Services Configuration Manager can enable and name the virtual directories for the report server and Report Manager. - What is the file name extension for an encryption key backup?
Encryption key backups have an .snk file name extension. - What are the three SSRS command-line utilities and their primary
functions?
RSConfig.exe is used to define the connection properties from the SSRS instance to the Report Server database; RSKeyMgmt.exe performs encryption key operations and scale-out deployment setup; RS.exe runs Report Server Script files that can perform report deployment and management operations. - If you want to disable one of the rendering options in the Save As
drop-down list when viewing a report through Report Manager, where do you do
that?
The visibility property for any of the rendering devices can be changed by modifying the RSReportServer.config file and locating the <ExtensionName="RenderDevice"/> tag for the specific device.
Different Types of Reports in SQL Server Reporting Services
(SSRS)
With Reporting Services, you
can create the following types of reports:
- Parameterized reports
- Linked reports
- Snapshot reports
- Cached reports
- Ad hoc reports
- Clickthrough reports
- Drilldown reports
- Drillthrough reports
- Subreports
Note: A single report can
have characteristics from more than one type; for example, snapshot reports can
be parameterized, ad hoc reports incorporate clickthrough report functionality
due to the report models upon which they are based, and subreports can be
linked reports.
A parameterized report uses
input values to complete report or data processing. With a parameterized
report, you can vary the output of a report based on values that are set when
the report runs. Parameterized reports are frequently used for drillthrough
reports, linked reports, and subreports, connecting and filtering reports with
related data.
A linked report is a report
server item that provides an access point to an existing report. Conceptually,
it is similar to a program shortcut that you use to run a program or open a
file.
A linked report is derived
from an existing report and retains the original's report definition. A linked
report always inherits report layout and data source properties of the original
report. All other properties and settings can be different from those of the
original report, including security, parameters, location, subscriptions, and
schedules.
You can create a linked
report on the report server when you want to create additional versions of an
existing report. For example, you could use a single regional sales report to
create region-specific reports for all of your sales territories.
Although linked reports are
typically based on parameterized reports, a parameterized report is not
required. You can create linked reports whenever you want to deploy an existing
report with different settings
A report snapshot is a
report that contains layout information and query results that were retrieved
at a specific point in time. Unlike on-demand reports, which get up-to-date
query results when you select the report, report snapshots are processed on a
schedule and then saved to a report server. When you select a report snapshot
for viewing, the report server retrieves the stored report from the report
server database and shows the data and layout that were current for the report
at the time the snapshot was created.
Report snapshots are not
saved in a particular rendering format. Instead, report snapshots are rendered
in a final viewing format (such as HTML) only when a user or an application
requests it. Deferred rendering makes a snapshot portable. The report can be
rendered in the correct format for the requesting device or Web browser.
Report snapshots serve three
purposes:
- Report history. By creating a series of report
snapshots, you can build a history of a report that shows how data changes
over time.
- Consistency. Use report snapshots when you
want to provide consistent results for multiple users who must work with
identical sets of data. With volatile data, an on-demand report can
produce different results from one minute to the next. A report snapshot,
by contrast, allows you to make valid comparisons against other reports or
analytical tools that contain data from the same point in time.
- Performance. By scheduling large reports to
run during off-peak hours, you can reduce processing impact on the report
server during core business hours.
A cached report is a saved
copy of a processed report. Cached reports are used to improve performance by
reducing the number of processing requests to the report processor and by
reducing the time required to retrieve large reports. They have a mandatory
expiration period, usually in minutes.
A clickthrough report is a
report that displays related data from a report model when you click the
interactive data contained within your model-based report. These reports are
generated by the report server based on the information contained within the report
model. The person who created the model determines which fields are interactive
and which fields are returned when a clickthrough report is opened. These field
settings cannot be changed in the report authoring tools.
Clickthrough reports are
autogenerated. However, you can create an alternative customized report to the
model for interactive data items that is displayed instead. The custom report
is a standard Reporting Services report.
Drilldown reports initially
hide complexity and enable the user to toggle conditionally hidden report items
to control how much detail data they want to see. Drilldown reports must
retrieve all possible data that can be shown in the report.
For reports with large
amounts of data, consider drillthrough reports instead.
Drillthrough reports are
standard reports that are accessed through a hyperlink on a text box in the
original report. Drillthrough reports work with a main report and are the
target of a drillthrough action for a report item such as placeholder text or a
chart. The main report displays summary information, for example in a matrix or
chart. Actions defined in the matrix or chart provide drillthrough links to
reports that display greater details based on the aggregate in the main report.
Drillthrough reports can be filtered by parameters, but they do not have to be.
Drillthrough reports differ from subreports in that the report does not display
within the original report, but opens separately. They differ from clickthrough
reports in that they are not autogenerated from the data source, but are
instead custom reports that are saved on the report server. They differ from
drilldown reports in that they retrieve the report data only for the specified
parameters or for the dataset query.
A subreport is a report that
displays another report inside the body of a main report. Conceptually, a
subreport is similar to a frame in a Web page. It is used to embed a report
within a report. Any report can be used as a subreport. The subreport can use
different data sources than the main report. The report that the subreport
displays is stored on a report server, usually in the same folder as the parent
report. You can set up the parent report to pass parameters to the subreport.
Although a subreport can be
repeated within data regions using a parameter to filter data in each instance
of the subreport, subreports are typically used with a main report as a
briefing book or as a container for a collection of related reports.
For reports with many
instances of subreports, consider using drillthrough reports instead.
