2. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Report Builder 3.0 is a report
authoring environment for business
users who prefer to work in the
Microsoft Office-like environment.
Features such as
• Sparklines
• Data bar indicators
• Data visualizations
• The ability to save report items as report parts
• A wizard for creating maps
Requirements
• Aggregates of aggregates
• “Report Builder” Account in Report Central
• Enhanced support for expressions
• Report Builder 3.0 & .NET framework
• A data source / data connection
• Microsoft IE 7 or higher
Resource http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd220460.aspx
Brad Imotichey
3. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
When you design a report, you specify where to get the data, what data to get, and
how to display the data.
When you run the report, the report processor takes all the information you have
specified, retrieves the data, and combines it with the report layout to generate the
report.
You can preview your reports in Report Builder, or you can publish your report to a
report server (Report Central) where others can run it.
Brad Imotichey
4. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Report Building WorkFlow Requestor Meet
Submit Pegasus Requestor, Data
Request "REPORT SME, RC SME Meet
Requestor CENTRAL - BUILD A to define
Person initiating the Request to Build Reports REPORT" Requirements
most cases the "Report Builder"
Can the
requirements be
satisfied without RC
Report Builder Developer
Resources?
Person Builds the Reports Meet
RC SME
Refine Scope &
Determine RC SME Configures
Development RC for a Report
Data SME Resources. No Yes Builder
Data Subject Matter Expert.
Extensive Knowledge of the data.
PSC Report
Builder
RC SME Submit to PSC and
Report Central Subject Matter Expert. follow NCS Project Report Builder
Processes creates Reports
Extensive Reporting Services Knowledge
Brad Imotichey
5. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
DB Widget WorkFlow
Data Sources
Data Source
Connected to “Report Central”
Report Central Report Central
Create Summary Report to Widget Spec Build Reports
using Report Builder. Save the Report to
Report Central.
Real-time Updates
Publish Reports
Dashboard
CSI will connect the Report to NCS 1 Report
Viewer
Dashboard. 2 Dashboard
3
4
Real-time Updates
Anytime you update the report the
widget will be updated.
Brad Imotichey
6. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Planning Your Report
What format do you want the report to appear in?
You can render reports online (IE is the only browser fully supported) or export them to other formats such as Excel, Word, or PDF.
What structure do you want to use to present the data in the report?
Tabular, matrix, chart, free-form structures, or any combination of these.
What do you want your report to look like?
Highlight key information, help your audience navigate the report, and so on. You might also want to show or hide items, include drill-through reports
or sub-reports, or link to other reports.
Do you need to create your own calculations?
Sometimes, data source and datasets do not contain the exact fields needed. In this situation, you might have to create your own calculated fields.
For example, you might want to multiply the price per unit times the quantity to get a sales amount.
How are you going to deliver your report?
You can save your report to your local computer and continue to work on it, or run it locally for your own information. However, to share your report
with others, you need to save the report to a Report Server (Report Central). Saving it to a server lets others run it whenever they want to.
Alternatively, the report server administrator can set up a subscription to the report or set up e-mail delivery of the report to other individuals. You can
have the report delivered in a specific export format.
Brad Imotichey
7. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Data Sources
Report building begins with a Data Source a.k.a. data connection. A data connection
includes a name and connection properties. A data connection does not specify which
data to retrieve from the external data source.
Example:
Data Source=localhostMSSQL10_50.InstanceName; Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks
Either a data connection must exist or you must supply one.
A reporting services administrator will set up the connection for you if you need assistance.
Brad Imotichey
8. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Report Models
A report model is a user-friendly description of an underlying database, with pre-
established data relationships and auto-generated queries.
Report models can be used as data sources for reports created Report Builder 3.0.
A report model is an additional layer of information that maps database tables and views into concepts that are
meaningful to business users. A well-designed report model should reflect the information that business users want
to report on organized in a meaningful way.
Administrators create report models and then publish them to a report server (Report Central). Report models can
be managed just like other shared data sources.
The purpose of a report model is to remove the need for specialized knowledge of the underlying database schema
and query language. Report models manage building queries, data source connections and authentication,
expressions, filters, and parameters for the user, allowing business users to focus on report design.
Brad Imotichey
9. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Designing Reports
Create table reports for column-based data.
Matrix reports (like cross-tab or PivotTable reports) for summarized data.
Chart reports for graphical data.
Free-form reports for anything else.
Report from a variety of data sources. Build reports using data from any data source type that has a Microsoft .NET
Framework-managed data provider, OLE DB provider, or ODBC data source.
Modify your data by filtering, grouping and sorting data, or by adding formulas or expressions.
Add charts, gauges, sparklines, and indicators to summarize data in a visual format, and present large volumes of
aggregated information at a glance.
Use parameters and filters to filter data for customized views.
Embed or reference images and other resources, including external content.
Brad Imotichey
10. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Managing Reports
Save the report to your computer or to the report server (Report Central > “My Reports”), where you can manage it
and share it with others. Identify who can run your reports using Active Directory groups and users.
Choose a presentation format when you open the report, or after you open the report. You can select Web-oriented,
page-oriented, and desktop application formats. Formats include HTML, MHTML, PDF, XML, CSV, TIFF, Word, and
Excel.
Set up subscriptions. After you publish the report to the report server (Report Central) you can configure your report
to run at a specific time, create a report history, and set up e-mail subscriptions.
Request to create a NCS Dashboard Widget from your summarized report.
Brad Imotichey
11. Report Builder 3.0 Getting Started
Resources
ITSM Report Builder Training: https://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/itsm/pegasus/train/reports/?
Microsoft TechNet Report Builder 3.0: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh272667.aspx
Report Builder 3.0 video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QULbEFizhA
Pegasus Request to Build Reports: https://pegasus.mc.vanderbilt.edu/NewRequest.aspx?id=43
*At minimum please provide information on the Data Source you wish to work with.
“Report Central”: https://reportcentral.mc.vanderbilt.edu/Reports
Brad Imotichey
