Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
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A standard web request using a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
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A report embedded into a Windows or web application using an IFrame, Browser control, or
ReportViewer control.
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A programmatic web request using the Simple Object Application Protocol (SOAP).
The first option is much easier but may be used in a variety of different ways. In its simplest form, a
hyperlink is used to open the report in the web browser. The user uses a standard toolbar to provide
parameters for filtering and other report options.
Launching Reports from an Application
Hyperlinks and application shortcuts can easily be added to documents and custom applications. Using
this simple technique, report links can be added to Windows forms, documents, and web pages.
Much of the standard report viewing environment may be controlled using parameters passed to the
report server in the URL. By incorporating these commands into a hyperlink, reports may be displayed
with or without toolbar options and features. You can change the zoom factor and modify the rendering
format. For example, clicking a link for one report may open it as a web page in HTML, and another link
for a different report may open it in Excel or the Adobe Reader.
Reports may be designed to prompt users for parameter values used to filter data and to modify the
report format and output. These parameters may also be incorporated into a URL string. This way one
hyperlink will display a report with one set of data, and another hyperlink will display the same report
with different data. Parameters can even be used to change display attributes such as font sizes and col-
ors, and to hide and show content.
User Interaction and Dynamic Reporting
There are many opportunities to use report features to provide a rich user experience. In the past, many
reports were nothing more than a list of values with totals. Now reports can be a starting point that can
guide users to the information they need to make decisions. Report elements, such as text labels, column
headers, and chart points can be used to navigate to different report sections and to new reports. Since
navigation links may be data-driven and dynamically created based on program logic, report links (see
Figure 1-5) may also be used to navigate into business applications. Imagine using your reports to
launch programs and to navigate to document libraries and online content!
Dynamic reporting means that the content and layout of a report can change as the user selects parame-
ter values or clicks on different items. Summary headers, shown in Figure 1-6, may be used to expand
and collapse detail sections, giving users the ability to drill down to more specific information.
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