Professional SQL Server Reporting Services

What is this book about?

SQL Server Reporting Services is the customizable reporting solution for report designers and programmers. This hands-on guide will get you up to speed quickly. You can create powerful reports without programming knowledge and extend reporting solutions using VB, C#, and ASP.NET.

Packed with detailed examples of building reports, designing report solutions, and developing deployment strategies for interacting with various platforms, this book prepares you to take full advantage of a revolutionary new tool.

What does this book cover?

Here are just some of the things you'll learn in this book:

• Details of programming reports and report scripting
• Advanced report design, including drill-down reports, nested lists, drill-through, links, and dynamic content
• How to manage reports using Report Manager or program code
• High-level strategies for business support systems
• Rendering reports using .NET code, .NET IO namespace classes, and URL rendering
• Deployment strategies to handle hardware, software, and platform considerations, licensing issues, and scaling options

Who is this book for?

This book is for developers and report designers using VB, C#, and ASP.NET who need to tie into SQL Server to build customized reports or to integrate reports into Windows or Web-based applications.

Paul Turley is an instructor for Netdesk Corporation in Seattle. As a consultant, he has worked with Microsoft Consulting Services on enterprise-scale development projects and has created reporting solutions using Crystal Reports, Active Reports, and Access. Since 1988, he has managed IT projects, designed and programmed applications using Visual Basic 3, 4, 5, 6, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, and SQL Server. He obtained his MCSD certification in 1996. Other certifications include MCDBA, IT Project+ and Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) Practitioner.
He designed and maintains www.Scout-Master.com, a web-based service that enables Boy Scout units to manage their membership and advancement records online using ASP.NET, SQL Server 2000, and Reporting Services. Paul has been a contributing author on books and articles including Professional Access 2000 Programming, Beginning Access 2002 VBA, and SQL Server Data Warehousing with Analysis Services from WROX Press.
Paul Turley contributed Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 14, and Appendices D and E to this book.

Todd Bryant has been creating custom data-focused applications and reporting solutions since the early eighties. He began using Microsoft technologies in 1998 and the love affair began. Todd has been contract programming, teaching, and developing custom courseware every since. He is currently working as a trainer at Netdesk Corporation, where he concentrates on Enterprise Solutions, Com+ Services, and Object Oriented Programming using both VB.NET and C#. His certifications include the MCSD, MCSE, MCDBA, and MCT certifications from Microsoft, the CNA certification from Novell, and both CompTIA's A+ and CTT+.
Todd Bryant contributed Chapters 11 and 12 and Appendix C to this book.

James Counihan started working with databases and reporting applications when doing research for the government back in 1979. Since then his program management and development experience has been primarily in the retail and energy industries. He's been teaching development courses at Netdesk Corporation in Seattle for the past three years, focusing on integrating LOB applications using Microsoft application servers and web services.
James Counihan contributed Chapters 6 and 8 and Appendix B to this book.

George McKee is a Solution Developer for Avanade Inc., a Seattle-based integrator for Microsoft technology that's a joint venture between Accenture Ltd. and Microsoft. George specializes in the inhouse financial systems of Avanade. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and has been using computers and databases to resolve technical and business problems for 25 years. George has MCAD and MCSD certifications. When not sitting in front of a computer, George likes to be found in backcountry skiing in the Washington Cascade Mountains. He can be reached via email at georgem@avanade.com.
George McKee contributed Chapter 13 and Appendix A to this book.

Dave DuVarney is a Senior Consultant at Aspirity, LLC where he provides consulting and training services in the fields of business intelligence and software development. He brings over 5 years of finance, programming, and development methodologies experience to high technology business intelligence solutions. Prior to joining Aspirity, Dave was a development instructor teaching a wide range of Microsoft technologies. Dave also spent his early career working for a Seattle-based CPA firm.
When Dave is not working, he enjoys running. At the time of publishing, he is training for his first full marathon.
Dave DuVarney contributed Chapters 2 and 9 to this book.