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Courseware

Fast-track SSRS course manual

Here are the chapters included in this course manual (we use exactly the same manuals for our classroom and online Reporting Services courses).

Click here to download a sample of the first two chapters of this Fast-track SSRS manual, or review how to license our courseware.

Chapter 1 - GETTING STARTED▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
1.1	What is Reporting Services?		13
1.2	Visual Studio and SQL Server Data Tools	A Brief History of Version Numbers Installing SQL Server Data Tools	14
1.3	Report Server Projects	Opening Visual Studio Creating a New Project Closing a Project Opening an Existing Project Using the Start Page	15
1.4	The Visual Studio Screen	Auto-Hiding Windows Opening and Closing Windows The Main Windows Repositioning Windows Resetting the Window Layout	17

Chapter 2 - WORKING WITH REPORTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
2.1	Creating Reports		20
2.2	Report Views	Design View and Report Preview Code View	21
2.3	Managing Reports	Opening and Closing Reports Saving Reports Renaming Reports Deleting and Removing Reports Importing Reports	22
2.4	Report Templates	Creating a Report Template Using a Report Template	24

Chapter 3 - BASIC REPORT ITEMS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
3.1	Report Items	Adding Items to a Report	25
3.2	Selecting Report Items	Selecting Single Report Items Selecting Multiple Items	26
3.3	Manipulating Report Items	Moving Report Items Resizing Items Using the Properties Window Deleting Items Aligning Items Distributing Items	27
3.4	Images, Rectangles and Textboxes	Images Rectangles Textboxes	30

Chapter 4 - FORMATTING▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
4.1	Three Ways to Format an Item	Toolbars The Properties Window The Properties Dialog Box	32
4.2	Changing Colours	Choosing Basic Colours Custom Colours Colour Gradients and Patterns	33
4.3	Formatting Text	Formatting All or Part of a Textbox Basic Font Formatting Options Text Alignment	35
4.4	Formatting Borders	The Borders Toolbar The Borders Dialog	36
4.5	Formatting Numbers and Dates	Using Built-In Formats Creating Custom Formats	37

Chapter 5 - GETTING DATA▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
5.1	Data Sources and Datasets	The Wise Owl Movies Database	38
5.2	Data Sources	Shared and Embedded Data Sources Creating a Shared Data Source Using a Shared Data Source Creating an Embedded Data Source	39
5.3	Datasets	Shared and Embedded Datasets Creating a Shared Dataset Using a Shared Dataset Creating an Embedded Dataset	42
5.4	The Query Designer	Building a Query	44
5.5	Editing Data Sources and Datasets	Editing Data Sources Editing a Dataset	45

Chapter 6 - BASIC TABLES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
6.1	Creating Tables	Inserting a Table Tables and Datasets Using the Field Selector Dragging Fields into a Table	46
6.2	Views of a Table	Tables in Design View Tables in Report View	48
6.3	Selecting in Tables	Selecting the Table Selecting Cells	49
6.4	Table Properties	The Tablix Properties Dialog Box The Text Box Properties Dialog Box	50
6.5	Rows and Columns	Selecting Rows and Columns Changing Column Widths Changing Row Heights Preventing Row Height Changes Inserting and Deleting Columns Inserting and Deleting Rows	51
6.6	Merging and Splitting Cells	Merging Cells Splitting Cells	54
6.7	Controlling Column Headers	How Not to Make Column Headers Repeat Repeating Column Headers on Each Page Making Column Headers Scroll	55

Chapter 7 - SORTING AND FILTERING▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
7.1	Sorting	Sorting in the Query of a Dataset Sorting in a Table Sorting in a Group Interactive Sorting	58
7.2	Filtering	Filtering in the Query of a Dataset Filtering in the Dataset Properties Dialog Box Filtering a Table Filtering in a Group	61

Chapter 8 - GROUPING IN TABLES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
8.1	Grouping Basics		64
8.2	Grouping Rows in a Table	Step 1 – Build a Basic Table Step 2 – Apply Grouping to the Detail Row Step 3 – Choose Which Field to Group By The End Result	65
8.3	Removing Groups	Deleting Groups in the Grouping Pane Deleting Groups in a Table	67
8.4	Formatting a Grouped Table	Adding Group Headers and Footers Rearranging Group Titles Adding Group Totals	68
8.5	Multiple Groups	Adding a New Parent Group Adding a Child Group	71
8.6	Page Breaks	Inserting Page Breaks between Groups	72
8.7	Collapsible Groups	Step 1 - Hiding Detail Rows Step 2 - Setting Toggle Items	73

Chapter 9 - EXPRESSIONS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
9.1	Overview of Expressions	Choosing to Create an Expression The Expression Builder Dialog Box Referring to Dataset Fields Referring to Report Items Inserting Functions	75
9.2	Ad-Hoc Table Columns	Creating an Ad-Hoc Column Expression	78
9.3	Calculated Fields	Adding a Calculated Field to a Dataset Using a Calculated Field Adding Calculated Fields to a Query	79
9.4	Working with Numbers	Basic Arithmetic Numeric Functions	81
9.5	Conditional Functions	The IIf Function The Switch Function Comparison Operators Logical Operators	82
9.6	Working with Text	Concatenating Text Text Functions	84
9.7	Working with Dates	Returning the Current Date Date Functions Intervals for Date Functions Formatting Dates	85
9.8	Aggregating Data	Aggregate Functions Adding Aggregates the Quick Way Changing the Aggregate Function Specifying the Scope	87
9.9	Lookup Functions	The Lookup Function The LookupSet Function	89
9.10	Built-In Fields	Built-In Fields in the Expression Builder Built-In Fields in the Report Data Window	90
9.11	Placeholders	Creating a Placeholder	91

Chapter 10 - DYNAMIC FORMATTING▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
10.1	Formatting with Expressions	Which Properties can be Calculated?	92
10.2	Calculating Colours	Using Named Colours Using Custom Colours Converting RGB to Hexadecimal Values	93
10.3	Calculating Font Properties	Dynamic Font Sizes Decorating Text Other Font Properties	95
10.4	Dynamically Hiding Report Items	The Hidden Property Calculating the Visibility of Report Items	96

Chapter 11 - PRINTING AND EXPORTING▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
11.1	Printing Reports	Print Layout View Choosing to Print a Report	97
11.2	Page Setup	Page Setup Options in Preview Page Setup Options in Design View Controlling the Page Size	98
11.3	Headers and Footers	Adding and Removing Headers and Footers Adding Items to Headers and Footers Expressions for Headers and Footers Controlling Page Numbers in Groups	100
11.4	Exporting Reports	Choosing to Export a Report Creating Worksheet Names in Excel	102
11.5	Testing the Render Format	Displaying a Title Page in Excel Only A List of Render Formats	103

Chapter 12 - ADVANCED EXPRESSIONS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
12.1	Scope	Dataset Scope Data Region Scope Row and Group Scope Entering Aggregate Formulae	104
12.2	Row Numbers	The RowNumber Function Numbering over Groups The Nothing Scope Alternate Row Colouring	107
12.3	Running Totals		109
12.4	Extra Functions		110

Chapter 13 - VARIABLES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
13.1	Using Variables	The Need for Variables Creating a Variable Referencing Variables	111
13.2	How Variables are Calculated		113
13.3	Group Variables	Creating a Group Variable Referring to Group Variables in Expressions	114

Chapter 14 - EMBEDDING CODE IN REPORTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
14.1	Overview – Ways to Reuse Code	Our Example Strategies to Use Writing your Expression in SQL Writing an Expression in SSRS	116
14.2	Creating an Embedded Function	Step 1 - Designing your Function (Data Types) Step 2 – Writing your Function Step 3 – Embedding your Code in a Report Step 4 – Referencing your Code	118
14.3	Other Ways to Write Code	Writing Code within RDL Writing Code within a Class Library	121

Chapter 15 - PARAMETERS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
15.1	Introduction to Parameters	Displaying the Parameters Pane	123
15.2	Report Parameters	Creating a Report Parameter Using a Report Parameter in a Filter Parameter Data Types Dealing with No Rows Displaying Parameter Values in the Report	124
15.3	Query Parameters	Writing a Query using Parameters	127
15.4	Organising Parameters	Changing the Order of Parameters Using the Parameters Pane	128
15.5	Default Values	Typing in a Default Value Calculating Default Values Getting Default Values from a Dataset	129
15.6	Null Values	Allowing Null Values Dealing with Nulls in Filters	131
15.7	Drop Down Lists	Manually Entering Available Values Using a Dataset to Populate a List	132
15.8	Multi-Value Drop Down Lists	Allowing Multiple Values Using Multiple Values in Filters Using Multiple Values in Queries Displaying Multiple Values in a Report	134
15.9	Cascading Drop Down Lists	Creating Cascading Drop Down Lists Using Cascading Drop Down Lists	136
15.10	Conditional Formatting with Parameters	Parameters in Formatting Expressions	139

Chapter 16 - SQL SERVER DATABASE ACCESS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
16.1	Server Explorer / Management Studio	Comparison of SSMS and Server Explorer	140
16.2	Accessing Server Explorer		141
16.3	Accessing Management Studio (SSMS)	Starting to Use Management Studio Object Explorer Useful Start-up Options	142

Chapter 17 - VIEWS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
17.1	The Need for Views		144
17.2	Creating Views using the Designer	Starting the Designer Choosing Columns Sorting and Filtering Adding Grouping Executing a View Saving and Closing Views Seeing your View in Object Explorer Running a View Changing a View	145
17.3	Scripting Views	Creating a New View Changing an Open View in Script Changing a View’s Script from Object Explorer	150
17.4	Switching between the Designer and Scripting		152
17.5	Using Views in Datasets		153
17.6	Using Views to Rename Columns		154
17.7	Pros and Cons of Views	Advantages of Views Disadvantages of Views	155

Chapter 18 - STORED PROCEDURES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
18.1	Introduction to Stored Procedures		156
18.2	Creating Stored Procedures	Typing in a Stored Procedure Executing the Script to Create your Stored Procedure Viewing your Stored Procedure Basing a Report on your Stored Procedure	157
18.3	Altering a Stored Procedure	Altering an Open Stored Procedure Altering a Procedure in a Database The Need to Refresh Fields	159
18.4	Executing Stored Procedures	Refreshing your Local Cache Altering and Executing a Stored Procedure Together Selecting a Stored Procedure Name to Run It	161
18.5	Renaming and Deleting Stored Procedures	Renaming/Deleting a Procedure with the Menu Deleting a Procedure in Script Renaming a Procedure in Script	163
18.6	The Cheat’s Stored Procedure		164

Chapter 19 - PARAMETERS IN STORED PROCEDURES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
19.1	Overview	Syntax of Parameters Parameters and SSRS Reports	165
19.2	Creating Procedures with Parameters	Step 1 – Specifying the Parameters Step 2 – Coding the Parameters Step 3 – Referencing the Parameters Using Text Wildcards with Parameters	166
19.3	Testing Procedures using Parameters	Passing Values to Parameters in Order Testing a Procedure using Parameter Names Right-clicking to Test a Procedure	168
19.4	Stored Procedure Parameters in SSRS Reports		170
19.5	Allowing Null Values	How Null Values are Passed from SSRS The Workaround – Trap Nulls in your WHERE Condition	171
19.6	Parameter Data Types (Numbers)	Integer Data Types Decimal and Numeric Types The Float Type	173
19.7	Parameter Data Types (Text)	Types of Character Storage Variable Length Data Types Fixed Length Data Types	174
19.8	Parameter Data Types (Dates/Times)		175

Chapter 20 - STORED PROCEDURES AND DROPDOWNS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
20.1	Basic Dropdowns using Stored Procedures	Step 1 – Creating the Two Datasets Needed Step 2 – Adding the Datasets Step 3 – Configuring the Dropdown Parameter	176
20.2	Cascading Dropdowns	The Datasets and Parameters Needed The Three Stored Procedures Needed	178
20.3	Removing SELECT A VALUE	How Dropdowns Look by Default How the Solution will Work Creating the Dataset with Additional Top Row Setting the Default Parameter Value	179

Chapter 21 - MULTIVALUE DROPDOWNS AND PROCEDURES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
21.1	Multivalue Parameters	How Multivalue Parameters are Stored	182
21.2	Splitting Comma-Delimited Strings	Creating a Table-Valued Function to Split the Parameter String Testing the Table-Valued Function	183
21.3	Creating a Multivalue Parameter	Step 1 - Creating the Dropdown Dataset Step 2 - Creating the Main Report Dataset Step 3 – Adding the Datasets to the Report Step 4 – Configuring the Parameter Created Step 5 – Showing the Values Chosen	185
21.4	Coping with Multivalue Choices	Intercepting SELECT ALL Setting a Maximum Number of Choices	188

Chapter 22 - INDICATORS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
22.1	Creating Indicators	Adding an Indicator to a Table Assigning a Field to an Indicator	190
22.2	Editing Indicators	Changing the Indicator Changing the Indicator’s Field Changing the Aggregate Function	191
22.3	Formatting Indicators	Changing Indicator Colours and Icons Formatting the Background of an Indicator	192
22.4	Indicator Size and Position	Controlling the Size of an Indicator Preventing an Indicator from Stretching	193
22.5	Scaling and Measurement Units	Changing the Scope of Scaling Changing the Measurement Units Adding and Removing Bands	194

Chapter 23 - GAUGES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
23.1	What are Gauges?	Anatomy of a Gauge	196
23.2	Creating Gauges	Inserting a Gauge into a Table Assigning a Field to a Gauge	197
23.3	Editing Gauges	Selecting Part of a Gauge Adding and Deleting Items in a Gauge	198
23.4	Editing a Scale	Changing the Limits of the Scale Formatting Tick Marks Changing the Scale’s Dimensions	199
23.5	Editing a Pointer	Changing the Pointer Type Setting the Pointer Size and Position Changing the Pointer Fill Colour	201
23.6	Editing a Range	Setting the Start and End Position Changing the Size and Position Changing the Fill Colour	203
23.7	Editing the Gauge	Choosing a Frame Formatting the Frame Setting the Size and Position	204
23.8	Editing a Label	Setting the Value Displayed Anchoring a Label	205
23.9	Multiple Items	Multiple Pointers Multiple Scales Multiple Gauges Creating Child Gauges	206

Chapter 24 - CHARTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
24.1	Creating Charts	Inserting a Chart into a Report Inserting a Chart into a Tablix Item Assigning Fields to a Chart Previewing a Chart	208
24.2	Editing Charts	Parts of a Chart Changing Chart Properties Adding and Removing Elements in a Chart	210
24.3	Chart Colours	Choosing a Colour Palette Creating a Custom Palette Calculating Colours Synchronising Colours in a Table	212
24.4	Using Multiple Value Fields	Adding Multiple Value Fields to a Chart Multiple Value Axes Using Different Chart Types	213
24.5	Sparklines	Adding a Sparkline to a Report or Tablix Item Editing Sparklines	216
24.6	Databars	Adding a Data Bar to a Report or Tablix Item Editing Data Bars	217

Chapter 25 - MATRICES▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
25.1	Overview of Matrices	Adding a Matrix to a Report Assigning Fields to a Matrix	218
25.2	Editing a Matrix	Changing the Aggregate Function Replacing Empty Cells Displaying Row and Column Totals	219
25.3	Sorting a Matrix	Sorting by Row and Column Fields Sorting by Values	221
25.4	Matrix Headers and Titles	Inserting the Extra Row Controlling the Height of the Header Row	222
25.5	Repeating and Scrolling Headers	Making Row and Column Headers Repeat	223
25.6	Multiple Grouping Levels	Creating Multiple Grouping Levels	224

Chapter 26 - LISTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
26.1	Introduction to Lists	What a List Really Is	225
26.2	Creating a List	Inserting a List into a Report Adding Fields to a List Adding Labels to Fields	226
26.3	Grouped Lists	Adding a Group to a List	228

Chapter 27 - SUBREPORTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
27.1	An Overview of Subreports		229
27.2	Creating the Child Report	Step 1 - Create the Dataset Step 2 - Create a Parameter Step 3 - Filter the Dataset Step 4 - Design the Report	230
27.3	Creating the Parent Report	Step 1 - Create the Dataset Step 2 - Design the Report	232
27.4	Combining the Parent and Child Reports	Step 1 - Insert a Subreport into the Parent Report Step 2 – Assign a Report to the Subreport Step 3 - Pass a Value to the Child Report’s Parameter Running the Report	233

Chapter 28 - DRILLTHROUGH REPORTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
28.1	Overview of Drillthrough Reports	The Example for this Chapter	235
28.2	Creating the Child Report	Step 1 - Create the Dataset Step 2 - Hide the Parameter Step 3 - Design the Report	236
28.3	Creating the Parent Report	Step 1 - Create the Dataset Step 2 - Design the Report	237
28.4	Creating Report Actions	Step 1 - View the Action Properties Step 2 - Configure the Action to Open a Report	238
28.5	Using Drillthrough Reports	Running the Parent Report Returning to the Parent Report	239
28.6	Multiple Parameters	Creating Child Reports with Multiple Parameters Creating the Parent Report	240

Chapter 29 - MAPS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
29.1	Maps in SSRS	Map Data	241
29.2	Creating a Map Report	Creating a Dataset Inserting a Map into a Report	242
29.3	The Map Wizard	Step 1 – Choosing a Map Source Step 2 – Cropping and Resizing the Map Step 3 – Choosing a Type of Visualisation Step 4 – Selecting a Dataset Step 5 – Linking the Dataset to the Map Step 6 – Choosing Which Field to Display	243
29.4	Editing Maps	Map Options and Properties Map Layers	246
29.5	Colour Rules	Controlling Colour Bands Types of Colour Rules	247

Chapter 30 - IMPROVING REPORT NAVIGATION▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
30.1	Bookmarks	Step 1 - Creating the Report Step 2 – Creating the Bookmarks to Jump to Step 3 - Creating the Links to Each Row Step 4 - Creating the Link Back to the Top Step 5 – Creating Tooltips	249
30.2	Navigation Maps	Creating a Document Map Nested Document Maps Exporting Document Map Reports to Excel Setting Titles	253

Chapter 31 - DYNAMIC REPORTS (DATA)▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
31.1	Dynamic Data Sources		256
31.2	Dynamic Datasets	Step 1 - Creating the Base Report Step 2 - Creating the Parameter Step 3 – Make the Report Variable	257
31.3	Dynamic Stored Procedures	Vary the Name of the Stored Procedure Passing a Value to a Stored Procedure Parameter	259

Chapter 32 - DYNAMIC REPORTS (DESIGN)▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
32.1	Examples in this Chapter		260
32.2	The Underlying Principle		261
32.3	Example – Choosing the Grouping Field	Step 1 – Create the Report Template Step 2 – Create the Parameter Step 3 - Choose the Grouping Field Step 4 – Make any References to the Fixed Field Dynamic	262
32.4	Example – Choosing the Row and Column Field for a Matrix	Step 1 – Create the Report Template Step 2 – Create the First Dropdown Parameter Step 3 – Creating the Second Dropdown Parameter Step 4 – Showing the Second Parameter Step 5 – Changing the Grouping Fields Step 6 – Update other References	265
32.5	Example – Choosing the Data Field	Creating the Dropdown Parameter The Data Field and Title Expressions The Number Formatting	269

Chapter 33 - DEPLOYING REPORT PROJECTS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
33.1	What is Deployment?		271
33.2	Preparing for Deployment	Finding the URL of the Report Server Setting the Target Server for a Report Project Choosing Whether to Overwrite Data Sources	272
33.3	Deploying the Project	Deploying a Report Project	274

Chapter 34 - THE REPORTING SERVICES WEB PORTAL▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
34.1	Overview of the Web Portal		275
34.2	Getting to the Web Portal	Finding the Web Portal URL Browsing to the Web Portal	276
34.3	Using the Web Portal	The Web Portal Menu Viewing Item Options Finding Items Using Favourites	277
34.4	Working with Reports	Viewing and Exporting Reports Downloading Reports Moving and Deleting Reports Managing Reports	279
34.5	Report Builder	Editing Reports in Report Builder Viewing Windows in Report Builder Inserting New Items in Report Builder Saving the Report	282
34.6	Uploading Items	Uploading Files in the Web Portal	284
34.7	Security in Reporting Services	Users, Groups and Roles Assigning Users to System-Level Roles Assigning Users to Item-Level Roles Creating New Roles	285

Chapter 35 - MANAGING DATA SOURCES AND DATASETS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
35.1	Deployed Data Sources and Datasets	Viewing Shared Data Sources and Datasets	288
35.2	Managing Data Sources	Editing Data Sources Creating a New Data Source	289
35.3	Data Source Credentials	Viewing Credential Options Storing Credentials in a Data Source Prompting for Credentials	291
35.4	Managing Datasets	Creating a New Dataset Viewing a Dataset’s Data Editing a Dataset	293

Chapter 36 - SCHEDULES, SNAPSHOTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS▼

Section	Title	Subsections	Page
36.1	Alternative Ways to Run Reports		295
36.2	Schedules	Running the SQL Server Agent Managing Shared Schedules Configuring a Schedule	296
36.3	Caching Reports and Datasets	Enabling Caching Cache Expiration Settings Cache Refresh Plans Setting Parameter Values Running a Report from a Cache Snapshot	298
36.4	Report History Snapshots	Creating a History Snapshot Manually Creating Scheduled History Snapshots Retaining History Snapshots	301
36.5	Subscriptions	Types of Subscription Creating a Subscription Using a Windows File Share Destination Using an Email Destination Assigning Parameter Values Managing Subscriptions	303

If you book a place on one of our courses you will automatically get access to the relevant courseware manual online, and also have the option to receive a paper copy of it.

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