Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services

Chapter 14

Report Builder Solution Strategies

What's in this chapter?

Planning a self-service reporting strategy

Report ownership

Data governance

Folder management and report branding

Semantic models

Using shared data sources and datasets

Using report parts

User report migration strategies

Since Reporting Services 2008, Report Builder has become the primary method for report designers to create standard RDL-based reports. As you know, two report design tools are targeted to serve different report design audiences, but they share a lot of the same functionality and capabilities. In short, SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is primarily for IT professionals and developer teams to collaborate and design report solutions. Report Builder is for business-focused report designers to create individual reports using published resources on the server. However, both tools support basic and advanced report design capabilities. One doesn't replace the other, and one isn't necessarily better than the other. It depends on the needs and the person performing the task.

Figure 14.1 shows the major feature differences and similarities between the Report Builder and SSDT design tools.

Figure 14.1

As you can see, these design tools share core capabilities, making them suited to mainstream report design. Many professional designers don't have a strong preference. Some who do simply prefer to use the tool ...