Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
OLAP Reporting
Decision-support databases come in many sizes and shapes. In its simplest form, a reporting data source
can be a relational database with a few tables that can be queried more easily with some joins to other
tables. Unlike transactional databases (often called Online Transaction Processing, or OLTP, systems),
OLAP databases are designed for efficient read-only access and reporting.
Large-scale OLAP databases require special storage and retrieval engines. Data may be managed in a
cube structure, which enables values to be summarized and aggregated into slices and pivots. Microsoft
provides SQL Server Analysis Services as its OLAP database product. Integration with Analysis Services
has been significantly improved in Reporting Services 2005. When querying an Analysis Services 2005
database, you can use the Analysis Services provider to invoke the new MDX query editor. The MDX
query editor allows you to visually create queries, add parameters, and display Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs).
You can also use the OLE DB provider for OLAP to query both Analysis Services 2000 and 2005. Using
the OLE DB provider requires coding of MDX in Reporting Services generic query designer. It is a bit
more complicated than the MDX query designer, but it does allow much more control over the query
sent to the Analysis Services database.
Using Business Intelligence Development
Studio
The Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) leverages Visual Studio 2005. When you launch
BIDS, you might notice that the application title bar actually displays Visual Studio 2005. BIDS is freely
available with the installation of SQL Server 2005. It contains project templates for creating Reporting
Services Reports and Reporting Services Report Models as well as other BI-related projects. Unlike the
full Visual Studio 2005 product, it does not include templates for creating Windows- or Web-based appli-
cations using languages such as C# and VB.NET. It replaces several different development tools in previ-
ous versions. BIDS is the main developer tool available to design and build reports for SQL Server
Reporting Services. Because of the extensibility of Reporting Services and the RDL XML grammar, other
design tools are available from third parties.
Report Wizard
The Report Wizard is a simple way to get started creating reports. It leads a designer though all of the
steps necessary to build a simple report interface. New designers will find it an easy, uncomplicated tool
for creating or choosing a data source, creating a query, selecting fields for the header and grouping and
displaying values, and choosing report styles and format options. After completing the wizard, the
report design may be extended and tuned to provide more functionality.
Experienced designers will likely not find the wizard helpful as they become more
familiar with the design process and may prefer to have more control of these
options.
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