Database Reference
In-Depth Information
original Report Builder (version 1.0) in favor of a completely different tool in
the SQL Server 2008 release. Ultimately, Report Builder in the current version
is a solid tool for report design, and, in many cases, it offers additional value-
added features not found within BIDS.
The report code
developed when
using either Report
Builder or Business
Intelligence Developer
Studio (BIDS) is identi-
cal, and as a result,
reports authored in
either tool are fully
compatible with both
report design tools.
Report Builder offers a more guided path for developing certain reporting
features through the use of wizards. For example, when starting a new report
in Report Builder, a sophisticated getting started wizard, shown in Figure 8-4,
immediately assists in getting the report design started.
FIguRe 8-4
Report Builder Getting Started Wizard
One of the key differences is that Report Builder creates report datasets
through the use of a query designer (wizard), as shown in Figure 8-5, that is
reminiscent of those in Microsoft Access, thus affording the report designer a
much more managed path to complete this common report design activity.
Of the more frustrating differences, Report Builder does not offer intelligence
built into the expression editor. As a result Report Builder does not offer assis-
tance in completing the expressions by showing prompts indicating the parts
of the expression required for completion.
