Report Builder

Report Builder is a tool used to create, edit, and publish reports in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). It is a graphical user interface (GUI) application that enables users to design and format reports by defining data connections, queries, and layouts.

Syntax

The syntax for Report Builder is graphical, and involves the use of a drag-and-drop interface, which allows users to create and customize their reports without writing any code.

Example

Consider a scenario where we have a database containing sales data from an online store. We need to create a report that summarizes the monthly sales revenues by product category. To create this report in Report Builder, we would do the following:

1. Create a new report in Report Builder.
2. Define a data source by providing the connection details to the database containing the sales data.
3. Define a query that retrieves the necessary data for the report. In this case, we need to join the sales and products tables, group the data by month and category, and calculate the revenue for each group. We can use SQL syntax or the graphical query designer to create our query.
4. Define the layout of the report by dragging and dropping the fields from the query onto the report designer canvas. We can also add charts, images, and other visual elements to the report.
5. Preview the report to ensure that the data and layout are correct, and then save and publish the report to the SSRS server.

Explanation

In the example above, we used Report Builder to create a report that summarizes the monthly sales revenues by product category. We first defined a data source and a query to retrieve the necessary data. We then designed the layout of the report using a drag-and-drop interface, and added a chart to visualize the data. We previewed the report to ensure that the data and layout were correct, and then saved and published the report to the SSRS server.

Use

Report Builder is used to create and publish reports in SSRS. It is particularly useful for users who are not familiar with writing code but want to create professional-looking reports that incorporate data from multiple sources and include a wide range of data visualizations.

Important Points

• Report Builder is a graphical user interface (GUI) application used to create and publish reports in SSRS.
• Reports can be designed and formatted using a drag-and-drop interface without writing any code.
• Reports can include data from multiple sources and a wide range of data visualizations.
• Reports can be published to the SSRS server for others to view and share.

Summary

Report Builder is a powerful tool used to create, edit, and publish reports in SSRS. It is a graphical user interface (GUI) application that enables users to design and format reports by defining data connections, queries, and layouts. Reports can be created without writing any code and can include data from multiple sources and a wide range of data visualizations. Reports can be shared and published to the SSRS server for others to view and analyze.