Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 15-1.
BI Reporting Categories
Application
Description
Pros
Cons
Excel 2010
he core spreadsheet
application includes
more reporting features
than ever. Microsoft now
considers this a vital part
of its BI applications
stack.
Easy to learn, and earlier,
similar versions have been used
for more than a decade.
Must be purchased and
installed on all PCs and is
designed to be a single-
user application.
PowerPivot
A free add-on to Excel
2010 and SharePoint
2010. It adds quite a
number of advanced
reporting features to
both applications.
Easy to install and use. It allows
for professional-looking ad hoc
report building.
Must have Excel 2007 or
2010 installed on all PCs
and is designed as a single-
user application.
Visual Studio
A professional
development tool for
creating server-based
reports.
Provides full development tools
for creating web-based reports.
Comparably steep learning
curve similar to learning
SSIS and SSAS.
Reporting
Builder
A free application that is
a simplified development
tool for creating
Reporting Server
reports.
Easy to install and use.
Cannot do as much as
Reporting Server's full
development tools.
SharePoint
Allows users to share
documents and develop
custom applications and
components for, among
other things, reporting.
Anyone with a web browser can
build and view reports from
SharePoint.
Comparably high setup
requirements.
Provides a comprehensive tool
set for creating an organization's
internal web portal.
Comparably steep
learning curve similar
to learning SSIS and
SSAS.
Performance
Point
Discontinued as a
stand-alone application
and is now included in
SharePoint 2010.
Adds a lot of advanced reporting
features to SharePoint.
Comparably high setup
requirements.
Anyone with a web browser can
build and view reports from
SharePoint.
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