Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

V.4.1. Tying Reports Together with SharePoint

SharePoint is a group of technologies tied together that is gaining quite a bit of popularity in enterprises today. Users can easily share information with SharePoint.

A common question is, "What is SharePoint?" Depending on whom you ask, expect different answers. It isn't that people are confused; it's that SharePoint is so versatile that it fills many different needs, on many different levels.

Two SharePoint families exist, and people might be referring to either one when they say, "SharePoint."

• Windows SharePoint Services (WSS): This is a free product available as a download. It can be installed on a server product, such as Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003.

• Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS): This is a full server product just like SQL Server 2008. It builds on WSS and adds significant functionality and capabilities.

SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services can be integrated into either WSS or MOSS.

V.4.1.1. Understanding Web Parts

SharePoint displays Web pages, but it puts the Web pages together as separate Web Parts. Web Parts can be a task list, news item, discussion pane, or even a SQL Server Reporting Services report.

Developers are able to lay out Web pages by adding Web Parts to the page and even making them user selectable.

You've probably seen the same Web Part concept on the Internet. Some Web sites allow you to customize what you see. If you're interested in news headlines, you can add the news Web Part. If ...