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Reporting Services courseware and training manuals
Our Reporting Services courseware includes everything from creating basic reports through to advanced topics like custom assemblies:
You can see details of how to license our Reporting Services courseware (including volume requirements) here.
Reporting Services courseware
Here is a list of all of our Reporting Services manual chapters (you can download the ones marked):
Chapter | Sections | Subsections |
---|---|---|
Getting Started (7 pages) | What is Reporting Services? | |
Visual Studio and SQL Server Data Tools | A Brief History of Version Numbers ; Installing SQL Server Data Tools | |
Report Server Projects | Opening Visual Studio ; Creating a New Project ; Closing a Project ; Opening an Existing Project ; Using the Start Page | |
The Visual Studio Screen | Auto-Hiding Windows ; Opening and Closing Windows ; The Main Windows ; Repositioning Windows ; Resetting the Window Layout | |
Working with Reports (5 pages) | Creating Reports | |
Report Views | Design View and Report Preview ; Code View | |
Managing Reports | Opening and Closing Reports ; Saving Reports ; Renaming Reports ; Deleting and Removing Reports ; Importing Reports | |
Report Templates | Creating a Report Template ; Using a Report Template | |
Basic Report Items (7 pages) | Report Items | Adding Items to a Report |
Selecting Report Items | Selecting Single Report Items ; Selecting Multiple Items | |
Manipulating Report Items | Moving Report Items ; Resizing Items ; Using the Properties Window ; Deleting Items ; Aligning Items ; Distributing Items | |
Images, Rectangles and Textboxes | Images ; Rectangles ; Textboxes | |
Formatting
(6 pages)
Download this chapter |
Three Ways to Format an Item | Toolbars ; The Properties Window ; The Properties Dialog Box |
Changing Colours | Choosing Basic Colours ; Custom Colours ; Colour Gradients and Patterns | |
Formatting Text | Formatting All or Part of a Textbox ; Basic Font Formatting Options ; Text Alignment | |
Formatting Borders | The Borders Toolbar ; The Borders Dialog | |
Formatting Numbers and Dates | Using Built-In Formats ; Creating Custom Formats | |
Getting Data (8 pages) | Data Sources and Datasets | The Wise Owl Movies Database |
Data Sources | Shared and Embedded Data Sources ; Creating a Shared Data Source ; Using a Shared Data Source ; Creating an Embedded Data Source | |
Datasets | Shared and Embedded Datasets ; Creating a Shared Dataset ; Using a Shared Dataset ; Creating an Embedded Dataset | |
The Query Designer | Building a Query | |
Editing Data Sources and Datasets | Editing Data Sources ; Editing a Dataset | |
Basic Tables (12 pages) | Creating Tables | Inserting a Table ; Tables and Datasets ; Using the Field Selector ; Dragging Fields into a Table |
Views of a Table | Tables in Design View ; Tables in Report View | |
Selecting in Tables | Selecting the Table ; Selecting Cells | |
Table Properties | The Tablix Properties Dialog Box ; The Text Box Properties Dialog Box | |
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 | |
Merging and Splitting Cells | Merging Cells ; Splitting Cells | |
Controlling Column Headers | How Not to Make Column Headers Repeat ; Repeating Column Headers on Each Page ; Making Column Headers Scroll | |
Sorting and Filtering (6 pages) | Sorting | Sorting in the Query of a Dataset ; Sorting in a Table ; Sorting in a Group ; Interactive Sorting |
Filtering | Filtering in the Query of a Dataset ; Filtering in the Dataset Properties Dialog Box ; Filtering a Table ; Filtering in a Group | |
Grouping in Tables (11 pages) | Grouping Basics | |
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 | |
Removing Groups | Deleting Groups in the Grouping Pane ; Deleting Groups in a Table | |
Formatting a Grouped Table | Adding Group Headers and Footers ; Rearranging Group Titles ; Adding Group Totals | |
Multiple Groups | Adding a New Parent Group ; Adding a Child Group | |
Page Breaks | Inserting Page Breaks between Groups | |
Collapsible Groups | Step 1 - Hiding Detail Rows ; Step 2 - Setting Toggle Items | |
Expressions (17 pages) | Overview of Expressions | Choosing to Create an Expression ; The Expression Builder Dialog Box ; Referring to Dataset Fields ; Referring to Report Items ; Inserting Functions |
Ad-Hoc Table Columns | Creating an Ad-Hoc Column Expression | |
Calculated Fields | Adding a Calculated Field to a Dataset ; Using a Calculated Field ; Adding Calculated Fields to a Query | |
Working with Numbers | Basic Arithmetic ; Numeric Functions | |
Conditional Functions | The IIf Function ; The Switch Function ; Comparison Operators ; Logical Operators | |
Working with Text | Concatenating Text ; Text Functions | |
Working with Dates | Returning the Current Date ; Date Functions ; Intervals for Date Functions ; Formatting Dates | |
Aggregating Data | Aggregate Functions ; Adding Aggregates the Quick Way ; Changing the Aggregate Function ; Specifying the Scope | |
Lookup Functions | The Lookup Function ; The LookupSet Function | |
Built-In Fields | Built-In Fields in the Expression Builder ; Built-In Fields in the Report Data Window | |
Placeholders | Creating a Placeholder | |
Dynamic Formatting (5 pages) | Formatting with Expressions | Which Properties can be Calculated? |
Calculating Colours | Using Named Colours ; Using Custom Colours ; Converting RGB to Hexadecimal Values | |
Calculating Font Properties | Dynamic Font Sizes ; Decorating Text ; Other Font Properties | |
Dynamically Hiding Report Items | The Hidden Property ; Calculating the Visibility of Report Items | |
Printing and Exporting (7 pages) | Printing Reports | Print Layout View ; Choosing to Print a Report |
Page Setup | Page Setup Options in Preview ; Page Setup Options in Design View ; Controlling the Page Size | |
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 | |
Exporting Reports | Choosing to Export a Report ; Creating Worksheet Names in Excel | |
Testing the Render Format | Displaying a Title Page in Excel Only ; A List of Render Formats | |
Parameters (17 pages) | Introduction to Parameters | Displaying the Parameters Pane |
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 | |
Query Parameters | Writing a Query using Parameters | |
Organising Parameters | Changing the Order of Parameters ; Using the Parameters Pane | |
Default Values | Typing in a Default Value ; Calculating Default Values ; Getting Default Values from a Dataset | |
Null Values | Allowing Null Values ; Dealing with Nulls in Filters | |
Drop Down Lists | Manually Entering Available Values ; Using a Dataset to Populate a List | |
Multi-Value Drop Down Lists | Allowing Multiple Values ; Using Multiple Values in Filters ; Using Multiple Values in Queries ; Displaying Multiple Values in a Report | |
Cascading Drop Down Lists | Creating Cascading Drop Down Lists ; Using Cascading Drop Down Lists | |
Conditional Formatting with Parameters | Parameters in Formatting Expressions | |
Indicators (6 pages) | Creating Indicators | Adding an Indicator to a Table ; Assigning a Field to an Indicator |
Editing Indicators | Changing the Indicator ; Changing the Indicator’s Field ; Changing the Aggregate Function | |
Formatting Indicators | Changing Indicator Colours and Icons ; Formatting the Background of an Indicator | |
Indicator Size and Position | Controlling the Size of an Indicator ; Preventing an Indicator from Stretching | |
Scaling and Measurement Units | Changing the Scope of Scaling ; Changing the Measurement Units ; Adding and Removing Bands | |
Gauges (12 pages) | What are Gauges? | Anatomy of a Gauge |
Creating Gauges | Inserting a Gauge into a Table ; Assigning a Field to a Gauge | |
Editing Gauges | Selecting Part of a Gauge ; Adding and Deleting Items in a Gauge | |
Editing a Scale | Changing the Limits of the Scale ; Formatting Tick Marks ; Changing the Scale’s Dimensions | |
Editing a Pointer | Changing the Pointer Type ; Setting the Pointer Size and Position ; Changing the Pointer Fill Colour | |
Editing a Range | Setting the Start and End Position ; Changing the Size and Position ; Changing the Fill Colour | |
Editing the Gauge | Choosing a Frame ; Formatting the Frame ; Setting the Size and Position | |
Editing a Label | Setting the Value Displayed ; Anchoring a Label | |
Multiple Items | Multiple Pointers ; Multiple Scales ; Multiple Gauges ; Creating Child Gauges | |
Charts (10 pages) | Creating Charts | Inserting a Chart into a Report ; Inserting a Chart into a Tablix Item ; Assigning Fields to a Chart ; Previewing a Chart |
Editing Charts | Parts of a Chart ; Changing Chart Properties ; Adding and Removing Elements in a Chart | |
Chart Colours | Choosing a Colour Palette ; Creating a Custom Palette ; Calculating Colours ; Synchronising Colours in a Table | |
Using Multiple Value Fields | Adding Multiple Value Fields to a Chart ; Multiple Value Axes ; Using Different Chart Types | |
Sparklines | Adding a Sparkline to a Report or Tablix Item ; Editing Sparklines | |
Databars | Adding a Data Bar to a Report or Tablix Item ; Editing Data Bars | |
Matrices (7 pages) | Overview of Matrices | Adding a Matrix to a Report ; Assigning Fields to a Matrix |
Editing a Matrix | Changing the Aggregate Function ; Replacing Empty Cells ; Displaying Row and Column Totals | |
Sorting a Matrix | Sorting by Row and Column Fields ; Sorting by Values | |
Matrix Headers and Titles | Inserting the Extra Row ; Controlling the Height of the Header Row | |
Repeating and Scrolling Headers | Making Row and Column Headers Repeat | |
Multiple Grouping Levels | Creating Multiple Grouping Levels | |
Lists (4 pages) | Introduction to Lists | What a List Really Is |
Creating a List | Inserting a List into a Report ; Adding Fields to a List ; Adding Labels to Fields | |
Grouped Lists | Adding a Group to a List | |
Subreports (6 pages) | An Overview of Subreports | |
Creating the Child Report | Step 1 - Create the Dataset ; Step 2 - Create a Parameter ; Step 3 - Filter the Dataset ; Step 4 - Design the Report | |
Creating the Parent Report | Step 1 - Create the Dataset ; Step 2 - Design the Report | |
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 | |
Drillthrough Reports
(6 pages)
Download this chapter |
Overview of Drillthrough Reports | The Example for this Chapter |
Creating the Child Report | Step 1 - Create the Dataset ; Step 2 - Hide the Parameter ; Step 3 - Design the Report | |
Creating the Parent Report | Step 1 - Create the Dataset ; Step 2 - Design the Report | |
Creating Report Actions | Step 1 - View the Action Properties ; Step 2 - Configure the Action to Open a Report | |
Using Drillthrough Reports | Running the Parent Report ; Returning to the Parent Report | |
Multiple Parameters | Creating Child Reports with Multiple Parameters ; Creating the Parent Report | |
Maps (8 pages) | Maps in SSRS | Map Data |
Creating a Map Report | Creating a Dataset ; Inserting a Map into a Report | |
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 | |
Editing Maps | Map Options and Properties ; Map Layers | |
Colour Rules | Controlling Colour Bands ; Types of Colour Rules | |
Deploying Report Projects (4 pages) | What is Deployment? | |
Preparing for Deployment | Finding the URL of the Report Server ; Setting the Target Server for a Report Project ; Choosing Whether to Overwrite Data Sources | |
Deploying the Project | Deploying a Report Project | |
The Reporting Services Web Portal (13 pages) | Overview of the Web Portal | |
Getting to the Web Portal | Finding the Web Portal URL ; Browsing to the Web Portal | |
Using the Web Portal | The Web Portal Menu ; Viewing Item Options ; Finding Items ; Using Favourites | |
Working with Reports | Viewing and Exporting Reports ; Downloading Reports ; Moving and Deleting Reports ; Managing Reports | |
Report Builder | Editing Reports in Report Builder ; Viewing Windows in Report Builder ; Inserting New Items in Report Builder ; Saving the Report | |
Uploading Items | Uploading Files in the Web Portal | |
Security in Reporting Services | Users, Groups and Roles ; Assigning Users to System-Level Roles ; Assigning Users to Item-Level Roles ; Creating New Roles | |
Managing Data Sources and Datasets (7 pages) | Deployed Data Sources and Datasets | Viewing Shared Data Sources and Datasets |
Managing Data Sources | Editing Data Sources ; Creating a New Data Source | |
Data Source Credentials | Viewing Credential Options ; Storing Credentials in a Data Source ; Prompting for Credentials | |
Managing Datasets | Creating a New Dataset ; Viewing a Dataset’s Data ; Editing a Dataset | |
Schedules, Snapshots and Subscriptions (11 pages) | Alternative Ways to Run Reports | |
Schedules | Running the SQL Server Agent ; Managing Shared Schedules ; Configuring a Schedule | |
Caching Reports and Datasets | Enabling Caching ; Cache Expiration Settings ; Cache Refresh Plans ; Setting Parameter Values ; Running a Report from a Cache Snapshot | |
Report History Snapshots | Creating a History Snapshot Manually ; Creating Scheduled History Snapshots ; Retaining History Snapshots | |
Subscriptions | Types of Subscription ; Creating a Subscription ; Using a Windows File Share Destination ; Using an Email Destination ; Assigning Parameter Values ; Managing Subscriptions | |
KPIs and Mobile Reports (10 pages) | Other Types of Report | |
KPIs | An Example KPI ; Creating a KPI Dataset ; Creating a KPI ; Setting the Value Field ; Setting the Goal Field ; Setting the Status Field ; Setting the Trend Set Field ; Related Content | |
Mobile Reports | Choosing to Create a Mobile Report ; Adding and Editing Visualisations ; Formatting Visualisations ; Viewing a Visualisation’s Data ; Adding Data to a Mobile Report ; Changing Report Settings ; Saving a Mobile Report |
Advanced SSRS courseware
Here is a list of all of our Advanced SSRS manual chapters (you can download the ones marked):
Chapter | Sections | Subsections |
---|---|---|
Advanced Expressions (7 pages) | Scope | Dataset Scope ; Data Region Scope ; Row and Group Scope ; Entering Aggregate Formulae |
Row Numbers | The RowNumber Function ; Numbering over Groups ; The Nothing Scope ; Alternate Row Colouring | |
Running Totals | ||
Extra Functions | ||
Variables (5 pages) | Using Variables | The Need for Variables ; Creating a Variable ; Referencing Variables |
How Variables are Calculated | ||
Group Variables | Creating a Group Variable ; Referring to Group Variables in Expressions | |
Embedding Code (7 pages) | Overview – Ways to Reuse Code | Our Example ; Strategies to Use ; Writing your Expression in SQL ; Writing an Expression in SSRS |
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 | |
Other Ways to Write Code | Writing Code within RDL ; Writing Code within a Class Library | |
SQL Server Database Access (4 pages) | Server Explorer / Management Studio | Comparison of SSMS and Server Explorer |
Accessing Server Explorer | ||
Accessing Management Studio (SSMS) | Starting to Use Management Studio ; Object Explorer ; Useful Start-up Options | |
Views (12 pages) | The Need for Views | |
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 | |
Scripting Views | Creating a New View ; Changing an Open View in Script ; Changing a View’s Script from Object Explorer | |
Switching between the Designer and Scripting | ||
Using Views in Datasets | ||
Using Views to Rename Columns | ||
Pros and Cons of Views | Advantages of Views ; Disadvantages of Views | |
Stored Procedures (9 pages) | Introduction to Stored Procedures | |
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 | |
Altering a Stored Procedure | Altering an Open Stored Procedure ; Altering a Procedure in a Database ; The Need to Refresh Fields | |
Executing Stored Procedures | Refreshing your Local Cache ; Altering and Executing a Stored Procedure Together ; Selecting a Stored Procedure Name to Run It | |
Renaming and Deleting Stored Procedures | Renaming/Deleting a Procedure with the Menu ; Deleting a Procedure in Script ; Renaming a Procedure in Script | |
The Cheat’s Stored Procedure | ||
Parameters in Stored Procedures (11 pages) | Overview | Syntax of Parameters ; Parameters and SSRS Reports |
Creating Procedures with Parameters | Step 1 – Specifying the Parameters ; Step 2 – Coding the Parameters ; Step 3 – Referencing the Parameters ; Using Text Wildcards with Parameters | |
Testing Procedures using Parameters | Passing Values to Parameters in Order ; Testing a Procedure using Parameter Names ; Right-clicking to Test a Procedure | |
Stored Procedure Parameters in SSRS Reports | ||
Allowing Null Values | How Null Values are Passed from SSRS ; The Workaround – Trap Nulls in your WHERE Condition | |
Parameter Data Types (Numbers) | Integer Data Types ; Decimal and Numeric Types ; The Float Type | |
Parameter Data Types (Text) | Types of Character Storage ; Variable Length Data Types ; Fixed Length Data Types | |
Parameter Data Types (Dates/Times) | ||
Stored Procedures and Dropdowns (6 pages) | Basic Dropdowns using Stored Procedures | Step 1 – Creating the Two Datasets Needed ; Step 2 – Adding the Datasets ; Step 3 – Configuring the Dropdown Parameter |
Cascading Dropdowns | The Datasets and Parameters Needed ; The Three Stored Procedures Needed | |
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 | |
Multivalue Dropdowns and Procedures (8 pages) | Multivalue Parameters | How Multivalue Parameters are Stored |
Splitting Comma-Delimited Strings | Creating a Table-Valued Function to Split the Parameter String ; Testing the Table-Valued Function | |
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 | |
Coping with Multivalue Choices | Intercepting SELECT ALL ; Setting a Maximum Number of Choices | |
Improving Report Navigation (7 pages) | 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 |
Navigation Maps | Creating a Document Map ; Nested Document Maps ; Exporting Document Map Reports to Excel ; Setting Titles | |
Dynamic Reports (Data) (4 pages) | Dynamic Data Sources | |
Dynamic Datasets | Step 1 - Creating the Base Report ; Step 2 - Creating the Parameter ; Step 3 – Make the Report Variable | |
Dynamic Stored Procedures | Vary the Name of the Stored Procedure ; Passing a Value to a Stored Procedure Parameter | |
Dynamic Reports (Design) (11 pages) | Examples in this Chapter | |
The Underlying Principle | ||
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 | |
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 4 – Changing the Grouping Fields ; Step 5 – Update other References | |
Example – Choosing the Data Field | Creating the Dropdown Parameter ; The Data Field and Title Expressions ; The Number Formatting |
Notes:
- Since Wise Owl print courseware double-sided to save trees, the number of physical pages in each chapter is roughly half of the number of sides quoted.
- Downloads are provided as examples only, and should not be used or distributed in any way or form without the prior written permission of Wise Owl.
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