Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Report Builder
The Report Builder application provides a simple way to create and edit RDL files. Report Builder is designed to
be user-friendly, and its GUI interface is designed to have the look and feel of Microsoft Office so that developers
accustomed to building reports in either Microsoft Access or Excel will feel right at home (Figure
16-2
).
Figure 16-2.
The Report BuilderIU
Unlike Visual Studio, Report Builder is not automatically installed when you install SQL Server 2012. It must
be downloaded from the Internet and installed separately. The download and installation are both small and
simple. Within a few minutes you have Report Builder installed, and you can start building new RDL files or edit
existing ones.
Report Builder is designed for casual developers. It provides most, but not all, of the features that come with Visual
Studio. For example, Report Builder is designed to work with only a single RDL file at a time, while Visual Studio can
manage multiple files. Also, Report Builder is not a Visual Studio project type. The significance of this is that you cannot
add Report Builder to your existing Visual Studio solution like we have with our SSIS and SSAS projects.
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Much of what we discuss in this chapter is the same information used to work with Report Builder. Therefore,
as you work through this chapter, you are effectively learning both tools. For additional help, Microsoft offers several
Report Builder video tutorials on the Internet.
Tip
Visual Studio
Visual Studio's Reporting Services project provides full-featured development. With it you can accomplish
everything that can be done in Report Builder, plus you have the ability to manage multiple files concurrently,
work directly with source control, and include the Reporting Services project in the same solution as your SSIS
and SSAS projects.
