SSRS(Tutorial)- Learn SSRS Step By Step

This SSRS tutorial serves as a comprehensive roadmap, guiding you through the intricate landscape of data visualization and reporting. From the basics of setting up data sources to the nuances of crafting visually engaging reports, this guide aims to demystify the functionalities of SSRS. So, Let’s dive into it!

Prerequisite for SSRS Hands-On:

1. Install SSMS

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms?view=sql-server-ver16#download-ssms

2. Install SQL Reporting Service

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/reporting-services/install-windows/install-reporting-services?view=sql-server-ver16#install-your-report-server

3. Install SQL Server locally

https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-sql-server-2022.html?culture=en-us&country=us

What is SSRS?

SSRS stands for SQL Server Reporting Services. It is a Microsoft-based reporting tool that allows users to create interactive, tabular, graphical, or free-form reports from relational, multidimensional, or XML-based data sources.

With SSRS, users can design and deploy reports that draw content from a variety of data sources, including relational databases, multidimensional databases, and XML. SSRS also provides a set of tools that work within the Visual Studio environment, allowing for the creation of reports in a variety of formats, including HTML, PDF, CSV, Excel, and more. Reports can be published to a centralized server for easy access and management by others in the organization.

SSRS is commonly used in organizations that rely on Microsoft technologies, especially those that use SQL Server for their database management. It provides a powerful and flexible platform for creating and sharing meaningful reports that can help in making informed business decisions.

Some of the reasons why SSRS is commonly used include

1. Seamless Integration: SSRS seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft tools and applications, particularly the SQL Server suite. This makes it an attractive choice for organizations already utilizing Microsoft technologies, ensuring a smooth and efficient data reporting process.
2. Robust Report Authoring: With SSRS, users can create a wide variety of reports, including tabular, graphical, and free-form reports, using a range of data sources. This flexibility allows for the creation of dynamic and interactive reports that can cater to various business needs.
3. Centralized Report Management: SSRS allows for centralized management of reports, making it easier for administrators to control access and ensure data security. It enables the deployment of reports to a centralized server, making them accessible to authorized users throughout the organization.
4. Customizable Report Formatting: SSRS provides a range of formatting options, allowing users to customize the appearance of reports to meet specific branding or presentation requirements. This includes the ability to export reports to various formats such as PDF, Excel, and Word.
5. Scheduled Report Delivery: SSRS allows for the scheduling and automatic delivery of reports via email or a SharePoint site, ensuring that stakeholders receive timely and relevant information without the need for manual intervention.
6. Data Visualization Capabilities: SSRS enables the creation of visually appealing and insightful reports, making complex data easier to understand and interpret. It offers various data visualization tools that help in presenting data in a meaningful and comprehensible manner.

Hands-On

Hope you’ve downloaded all the tools which were mentioned above in prerequisites.

Create Your First SSRS Report

Step 1) Create a new database “Reports” in SSMS.

CREATE DATABASE Reports;

Step 2) Create a table called “Players” and Insert some values into it.

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Players](
 [PlayerId] [int] PRIMARY KEY,
 [PlayerName] [varchar](50) NULL,
 [Skills] [varchar](50) NULL,
 [Gender] [varchar](50) NULL
) 

INSERT INTO [dbo].[Players]
           ([PlayerId]
           ,[PlayerName]
           ,[Skills]
           ,[Gender])
     VALUES
           (1,'Rohit Sharma','Batting','M'),
     (2,'Virat Kohli','Batting','M'),
     (3,'Sewag','Baller','M')
GO

Step 3) Open Report Builder Dashboard

Step 4) Right click on Data Sources -> Add Data Source

Data sources in Report Builder define the connection information needed to access data from an external data source. They typically contain the information required to establish a connection to a database, such as server name, database name, and authentication details. Report Builder supports various types of data sources, including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, ODBC, OLE DB

Datasets on the other hand, are specific data queries or commands that retrieve data from the defined data sources. They represent the result set returned by a query executed against the data source. Datasets allow users to define the exact data to be used in a report, including filtering, sorting, and grouping of the data

Step 5) Tick on “Use a connection embedded in my report” -> Click on “Build”

Enter your Server Details, As I’m using local server so I used server name as “.”

Select our database “Report”

Click on “Test Connection”

Our connection is successfully configured.

Step 6) Add Datasets. Right Click on Datasets -> Add new Dataset

Select “Use a dataset embedded in my report”

Select Data Source and In Query Type select Text. Write the query as below

SELECT * FROM Players;

Then click on OK.

Step 7) Right click in the blank window Insert -> Table

Click on Table, A blank table will be added to our dashboard.

Right Click on first column and add the column names which you need to generate your reports

As this is our first reports, I have added all the columns

Now click on “Run”.

Yayy!!! Your first report has been generated successfully.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed your first SSRS report. By following this step-by-step tutorial, you’ve gained valuable insights into the fundamentals of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and how to create and design your own reports.

Stay tuned for more in-depth tutorials and guides on leveraging the power of SSRS for comprehensive data reporting and analysis!

Happy Learning :)