Part I: SQL Server Reporting Services General Topics

1. How to migrate SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services to another computer?

Answer:

The migration process for Reporting Services includes manual and automated steps. The
following tasks are part of a report server migration:

1. Back up database, application, and configuration files.

2. Back up the encryption key.
3. Install a new instance of SQL Server 2008. If you are using the same
hardware, you can install SQL Server 2008 side-by-side your existing SQL
Server 2000 or 2005 installation. Be aware that if you do this, you might
need to install SQL Server 2008 as a named instance.
4. Move the report server database and other application files from your
SQL Server 2000 or 2005 installation to your new SQL Server 2008
installation.
5. Move any custom application files to the new installation.
6. Configure the report server.
7. Edit RSReportServer.config to include any custom settings from your
previous installation.
8. Optionally, configure custom Access Control Lists (ACLs) for the new
Reporting Services Windows service group.
9. Test your installation.
10. Remove unused applications and tools after you have confirmed that the
new instance is fully operational.

If you are reusing an existing report server database that you created in a
previous installation, be aware that there are restrictions on the editions of
SQL Server you use to host the report server database.

For more information, please refer to the following link:

Migration (Reporting Services)

How to: Migrate a Reporting Services Installation

2. How to combine connecting string via parameter?

Answer:
You can include parameter reference in the data source connection string and allow the
user to choose a data source for the report. For example, with an expression-based
connection string, a user who is running a sales report can select a data source for a
particular county before running the report.

The following example illustrates the use of a data source expression in a SQL Server
connection string. The example assumes you have created a report parameter named
ServerName:
="Data Source=" & Parameters! ServerName.Value & "; initial
catalog=AdventureWorks"

3. How to install a 32-bit version of SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services on a computer
that is running a 64-bit version of Windows?

Answer:

To install the 32-bit version of Reporting Services on a computer that is

running the 64-bit version of IIS 6.0, we can follow these following steps:

1. Uninstall the 64-bit version of Reporting Services.

Note: Side-by-side installations of 32-bit versions of Reporting Services

and 64-bit versions of Reporting Services are not supported.

2. Run the Dotnetfx64.exe file to manually install the .NET Framework.

The Dotnetfx64.exe file is in the Tools\redist\2.0 folder on the SQL Server

2005 Setup media. To download the Dotnetfx64.exe file, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=70186

3. In IIS Manager, click Web Server Extensions.

4. In the Details pane, right-click ASP.NET V2.0.50727, and then click Allow.
5. Right-click Web Sites, and then click Properties.
6. Click the ISAPI Filters tab.
7. In the Filter Name column, click ASP.NET_2.0.50727, and then click Edit.
8. Replace
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\aspnet_filter.dll with
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\aspnet_filter.dll.

Note: The Aspnet_filter.dll file in the

C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\ folder is a 32-bit
version of the file.

9. Click OK two times, and then close IIS Manager.

10. At a command prompt, run the following command:

cscript %SystemDrive%\inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs set

w3svc/AppPools/Enable32bitAppOnWin64 1

11. Install the 32-bit version of Reporting Services.

12. After setup is complete, open IIS Manager, and then click Web Server
Extensions.
13. In the Details pane, right-click ASP.NET V2.0.50727 (32-bit), and then
click Allow.
To install the 32-bit version of Reporting Services on a computer that is
running the 64-bit version of IIS 7.0, follow these steps:

1. Enable ASP.NET and IIS before you install Reporting Services.

2. Open a command prompt. To do this, click Start, point to All Programs,
point to Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as
administrator.
3. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
4. Copy the following script:

cscript %SystemDrive%\inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs set

w3svc/AppPools/Enable32bitAppOnWin64 1

5. In the upper-left corner of the Command Prompt window, right-click the

command prompt icon, click Edit, and then click Paste.
6. Press ENTER to run the script.
7. Install the 32-bit version of Reporting Services. You must apply SQL
Server 2005 Service Pack 2 (SP2) after you install Reporting Services in
Windows Vista. If you install SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with
Advanced Services, you can run SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with
Advanced Services SP2.

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Service
Pack 2
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=63922

8. Reset IIS.
9. Configure the report server for local administration. To access the report
server and Report Manager locally, follow these steps:

a. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.

b. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
c. Click Security.
d. Click Trusted Sites.
e. Click Sites.
f. Under Add this website to the zone, type http://servername.
g. If you are not using HTTPS for the default site, click to clear the
Require server certification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box.
h. Click Add.
i. Repeat steps f and g to add http://localhost, and then click Close.

10. This step lets you start Internet Explorer either to localhost or to the
network computer name of the server for both Report Server and Report
Manager.

a. Create role assignments that explicitly grant you full-permissions

access. To do this, follow these steps:
 b. Start Internet Explorer by using the Run as administrator option. To do
this, click Start, click All Programs, right-click Internet Explorer, and
then click Run as administrator.
c. Start Report Manager.
d. Note By default, the Report Manager URL is http://servername/reports.
If you are using SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced
Services SP2, the Report Manager URL is
http://servername/reports$sqlexpress. If you are using a named
instance of Reporting Services, the Report Manager URL is
http://servername/reports$InstanceName
e. On the Home page, click Properties.
f. Click New Role Assignment.
g. Type a Windows user account in the following format: domain\user
h. Click to select the Content Manager check box.
i. Click OK.
j. In the upper-right corner of the Home page, click Site Settings.
k. Click Configure site-wide security.
l. Click New Role Assignment.
m. Type a Windows user account in the following format: domain\user
n. Click to select the System Administrator check box.
o. Click OK.
p. Close Report Manager.

11. Open Report Manager in Internet Explorer without using the Run as
administrator option.

4. Error of EXECUTE permission denied on object 'xp_sqlagent_notify'.

Problem:

In some special cases, you may receive the following error when trying to
select the option execution from a report:

EXECUTE permission denied on object 'xp_sqlagent_notify', database

'######', schema '###'.

Cause:

Usually, this error is caused by the user missing the "RSExecRole" role in the
Master and MSDB system databases.

Solution:

Reporting Services uses a predefined database role called "RSExecRole" to

grant report server permissions to the report server database. If you get the
error mentioned above, try to create and provision the "RSExecRole" role in
Master and MSDB system database.

For more information, see:

How to: Create the RSExecRole
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc281308.aspx

5. Security consideration for anonymous access to Report Server.

6. How to create a custom report template in Reporting Services?
7. Does Reporting Services support horizontal tables which have fixed rows and dynamic
columns?
8. How to reset the page number back to 1 every time the report gets a group break?
9. How to open the drill- through report in a new browser window?
10. How to verify the version of SQL Server?
11. How to use multiple datasets?
12. How to upgrade report from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005?
13. Out of memory error when exporting reports to Excel.
14. How to improve PDF quality of the report exported in Reporting Services 2005?
15. How to enable the Select All option for a multi-value parameter?

Part II: SQL Server Reporting Services SharePoint Integrated Mode Topics

1. How to deploy reports to SQL Server Reporting Services in SharePoint Services

integrated mode?
2. How to integrate SQL Server Reporting Services and SharePoint Services?
3. How to refer the reports on the Report Server in SharePoint Services?
4. How to manage user to view reports in SharePoint integrated mode?
5. What information is needed when posting questions regarding SharePoint integrated
mode?
6. Is Report Builder available in SharePoint Integrated Mode?

1. Difference between Logical Page an Physical Page in SSRS.

 Logical page breaks are page breaks that you insert before or after report items or groups. Page breaks
help to determine how the content is fitted to a report page for optimal viewing when rendering or
exporting the report.

The following rules apply when rendering logical page breaks:

• Logical page breaks are ignored for report items that are constantly hidden and for report items

where the visibility is controlled by clicking another report item.

• Logical page breaks are applied on conditionally visible items if they are currently visible at the

time the report is rendered.

• Space is preserved between the report item with the logical page break and its peer report items.

• Logical page breaks that are inserted before a report item push the report item down to the next

page. The report item is rendered at the top of the next page.
 • Logical page breaks defined on items in table or matrix cells are not kept. This does not apply to

items in lists.

2. How to configure SSRS for Disaster recovery.

Depends on daily backup technique.

3. Describe the role of Encrpytion key in Report Server Configuration

manager.

A> To encrypt credentials, connection strings. Can be taken backup

and restore when required from configuration manager.

4. User want only to display only pdf as export option in report

Manager .. Describe Steps to perform this .

A>

using System.Reflection;
using Microsoft.Reporting.WebForms;

public void DisableUnwantedExportFormats()

{
foreach(RenderingExtension extension in serverReport.ListRenderingExtensions())
{
if(extension.Name == "XML" || extension.Name == "IMAGE"
|| extension.Name == "MHTML")
ReflectivelySetVisibilityFalse(extension);
}
}

5. Name and Describe few console utilities for SSRS.

Configuration of connection properties between the Report Server to the repository

RSConfig.exe
database.

RSKeyMgmt.exeManagement of encryption keys via command-line

RS.exe Scripting of report deployment

http://www.jenstirrup.com/2009/05/command-line-utilities-in-ssrs-
2008.html
6. Name few Endpoints exposed by SSRs 2008.

o Management Endpoints

o Execution Endpoint

o SharePoint Proxy Endpoints

 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155398.aspx

7. How can you access the Code in You report. Describe the Static and
intance based method with example.

A> Static methods within a custom assembly are available globally within the report. You
can access static methods in expressions by namespace, class, and method name

The following example calls the method ToGBP, which converts the StandardCost field
value from dollar to pounds sterling:

=CurrencyConversion.DollarCurrencyConversion.ToGBP(Fields!
StandardCost.Value)

Instance-based methods are available through a globally defined Code member. You
access these by referring to the Code member, and then the instance and method name.
The following example calls the instance method ToEUR which converts the StandardCost
field value from dollar to euro:

=Code.m_myDollarCoversion.ToEUR(Fields!StandardCost.Value)

8. how to add custom Assemblies to Report.

1. On the Report menu, click Report Properties

2. On the References tab, do the following:

a. In References, click the add (...) button and then select or browse to the
assembly from the Add Reference dialog box.

b. In Classes, type name of the class and provide an instance name to use
within the report.

3. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms252130(VS.80).aspx

9. What is Linked Report.

A> 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.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155998.aspx
10. What are different types of roles provided by SSRS?

A>

1. Browser

2. Content Manager

3. My Reports

4. Publisher

5. Report Builder

11. Describe different Processing Modes offered by SSRS.

Local Processing Mode:

Processes reports in the client application.

Remote Processing Mode:

Renders server reports that are processed on a SQL Server Reporting Services report
server.

12. When to Use Null Data driven Subscription?

Create a data-driven subscription that uses the Null Delivery Provider. When you specify
the Null Delivery Provider as the method of delivery in the subscription, the report server
targets the report server database as the delivery destination and uses a specialized
rendering extension called the null rendering extension. In contrast with other delivery
extensions, the Null Delivery Provider does not have delivery settings that you can
configure through a subscription definition.

13. What Factors need to take into consideration while designing a

international report (Localization).

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/reporting-
services/SSRSReportLocalized.aspx

14. What are different option to deploy report from Dev to Prod.

 From Solution Explorer by giving Target Sever URL

 Uploading the .rdl from Report manager.

15. What are the new Controls / Features added in SSRS 2008 / SSRS
2008 R2

http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/reporting-services/new-features-in-
reporting-services-2008-and-2008-r2/

16. How can you monitor the report Usage.

You can query theReportServer database for this information as follows:

SELECT
ex.UserName, ex.Format, ex.TimeStart, cat.Name,
ex.Parameters,
CONVERT(nvarchar(10), ex.TimeStart, 101) AS rundate
FROM ExecutionLog AS ex, Catalog AS cat
where ex.ReportID = cat.ItemID
ORDER BY ex.TimeStart DESC

Regards

17. How can you add a new report User to report manager.

18. How can you create the dynamaic Datasource. Can a Shared
Datasource be Dynamic?

http://www.simple-talk.com/community/forums/thread/2220.aspx

19. A report is Performing poorly . What steps you would take to

troubleshoot the Issue.

20. Write an Expression to perform a Division of two Integers fields

and to avoid NAN error.

21. have you ever used Rank, Dense Rank Ntile, CTE and Pivot..

22. Is SSRs 2008 dependent on IIS? if not how it perform the

operations.