Module 3

Supporting Self Service

Reporting
Module Overview
• Introduction to Self Service Reporting
• Shared Data Sources and Datasets
• Report Parts
Lesson 1: Introduction to Self Service Reporting
• Self Service Reporting Scenarios
• Report Builder
• Deploying Report Builder
Self Service Reporting Scenarios

• Empower information workers

• Supplement standard reports
• Reduce IT workload
Report Builder
• Self service authoring tool – create and edit reports
• Designed for business users – familiar Office-style interface
Deploying Report Builder
ClickOnce Version
• Installed on-demand from
Report Manager or a
SharePoint document
library
• Download must be enabled
in Report Server settings
 You can specify an
alternative download URL
Standalone Version
• Installed from .msi package
 Download the package
from the Microsoft
Download Center
• Can be pushed to client
computers by using
enterprise software
management tools
Demonstration: Using Report Builder
In this demonstration, you will see how to:
• Use Report Builder to create a report
• Publish a report from Report Builder
• Use Report Builder to edit an existing report
Lesson 2: Shared Data Sources and Datasets
• Using Shared Data Items for Self Service Reporting
• Creating Shared Data Sources
• Creating Shared Datasets
Using Shared Data Items for Self Service Reporting

• Shared data sources

 Enable multiple report developers
to use the same connection to a
data source for multiple reports
 Eliminates requirement for report
authors to know connection
string details
• Shared datasets
 Enable multiple report developers
to create multiple reports based
on the same query
 Eliminates requirement for report
authors to know query syntax
 Creating Shared Data Sources

SQL Server Data Tools

• Add to a report server project
• Publish to a report server

Report Manager / SharePoint

• Create in-place on the report server
• View dependencies and manage
properties
Demonstration: Using a Shared Data Source
In this demonstration, you will see how to:
• Create a shared data source
• Use a shared data source in a report
 Creating Shared Datasets
SQL Server Data Tools
• Add to a report server project
• Publish to a report server

Report Builder
• Create and save in report server

Report Manager / SharePoint

• View dependencies and manage
properties
Demonstration: Using a Shared Dataset
In this demonstration, you will see how to:
• Create a shared dataset
• Use a shared dataset in a report
Lesson 3: Report Parts
• What Are Report Parts?
• Publishing Report Parts
• Using Report Parts
• Updating Report Parts
What Are Report Parts?

• Report items stored on a report server

that can be reused in multiple reports:
• Charts
• Gauges
• Images
• Maps
• Parameters
• Rectangles
• Tables
• Matrices
• Lists
• Report parts in reports use a unique
ID to maintain a relationship to the
instance of the report part on the
server
Publishing Report Parts

1. Use Report Designer or

Report Builder to create a
report
2. Publish report parts in the
report
3. Select individual items, add
descriptions, and set
publishing locations
Using Report Parts

1. Search the Report Part Gallery

 Only in Report Builder
2. Drag into report body
3. Reformat as required
Updating Report Parts

• Update notification when report is opened in Report Builder

• Explicit check for updates option on Report Builder menu
Demonstration: Using Report Parts
In this demonstration, you will see how to:
• Create and publish a report part
• Use a report part in a report
• Update a report part
Lab Scenario

As a BI professional at Adventure Works Cycles, you want

to empower business users to create their own reports
using Report Builder
You need to experiment with Report Builder to create a
report, and find out how much database technology
knowledge users will need to perform self-service reporting
You must then explore ways in which you can create
reusable reporting components that will simplify the report
creation process for business users who have limited
database technology expertise
Lab 3: Implementing Self Service Reporting
• Exercise 1: Using Report Builder
• Exercise 2: Simplifying Data Access for Business Users
• Exercise 3: Using Report Parts

Logon information
Virtual machine MIA-SQLBI
User name ADVENTUREWORKS\Student
Password Pa$$w0rd

Estimated time: 45 minutes

Module Review and Takeaways
• How can you enable business users to create reports
without them needing to define connection strings for
databases?
• How can you simplify self service reporting for business
users who aren’t familiar with query syntax?
• How can you create a standard gauge that multiple
business users can include in their reports?