Learning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Book Review

The reporting service of SQL Server is one of the most explored features of the database server. As a web based feature, developers could create custom reports according to their needs which enables them to access the data they need from the server without clutter caused by unnecessary data. Although the reporting services feature of the SQL Server is very powerful as it is, some of the data may not be useful in some environments especially organizations who only requires minimal data. When the developer harnesses this particular feature in SQL Server, real time and useful information could be accessed on platforms preferred by the designer.

This book will try to explain the services offered by SQL Server 2008 with regards to their reporting feature. To be specific, the book discusses Microsoft’s version of SQL Server 2008.

The Author

This is the author’s second book with Packt Publishing and could be regarded as the follow-up for the first book. The first book provides a step by step guide on how to customize the experience with SQL Server using Visual Studio 2005. The first book clearly establishes the author’s expertise with SQL Servers as the book provides a guide on how to use the features of SQL Server and porting the said features to Visual Studio 2005.

Aside from the Author’s previous book, his education and experience is very impressive. With more than 10 years of experience in IT, the author is also known for his involvement in physics. All of these is done with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He is currently associated with a good number of IT related websites particularly to programming and web development.

His authority in SQL Server is from his experience with companies with regards to their Siebel-related products.

First Impressions

As a step-by-step guide, the book is expected to be relatively big. Browsing through the chapters will immediately give an impression of a careful presentation on how to use SQL Server or more particularly, SQL Server’s reporting services. Of course, the relative background on why should this be the choice for developers is also explained.

The book is pretty straightforward in the sense that it helps the users deal with the application immediately. Although a small background information exists, readers will be able to use the application soon enough. The book has 10 chapters and 4 appendices that will complement the information provided in the chapters.

The challenge for this book is basically on how it will guide the user even those who are not familiar with SQL Servers. As it deals with a particular feature of the application, you can expect a detailed explanation on certain features that may affect the general outcome of the application.

The Step by Step Process

As already indicated, the book aims to be a beginner’s guide on this specific feature of the SQL Server 2008. To help the reader use the feature immediately, a step-by-step guide on how to implement the reporting services is immediately provided.

The book presupposes the user to have a clean slate on how to use the reporting services of SQL Server. Detailed information on how to install and explore the basic services offered by this feature is also included. This could be found in chapters 1 through 7 wherein each function of the application is explored and explained.

Also added in these chapters is the integration of the SQL Server 2008 with Visual Studio 2008. Like its 2005 version, Visual Studio 2008 has very impressive features that deal directly with SQL Server 2008.

Integration

The rest of the chapters are focused on how could the reporting services be integrated with various programming techniques. Although the available programming languages that could work well with the reporting services of SQL is limited, these programming languages could provide extensive customization with regards to the experience users could get when using the said application. Aside from integration, maintenance and updates on the side of SQL, the programming language used is also explained.

There are two particular discussions on the book that could certainly help current developers. First is on how to use Crystal Reports 2008. As one of the most popular reporting tool to be integrated with SQL Server, a chapter dedicated to this feature is worth it. The second discussion that should interest developers in this book is on how to take advantage in using API. Instead of the traditional update using manual coding, API could be integrated for faster development and easier access.

Focusing on Beginners

The book has a particular leaning towards beginners who wanted to know more about this feature on SQL Server 2008. However, it’s a great companion book for those who wanted to have the basics in one book with a few advanced discussions especially on how to use the latest version of Crystal Reports as well as APIs.

This book is available for purchase at Packtpub.com Leaning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services

Click here to read Sample Chapter 6 Working With Report Builder