Professional SharePoint 2013 Development

Chapter 16

Integrating Reporting Services

WHAT’S IN THIS CHAPTER?

• Working with new and improved features in SQL Server Reporting Services 2012
• Caching and snapshots in SQL Server Reporting Services
• Reporting on SharePoint lists
• Creating reports

Business intelligence (BI) is an umbrella term that refers to several technologies, applications, and a number of exercises an organization may undertake to deploy shared business processes across multiple business units. BI empowers users with the right insights and enables them to make better, faster, and more relevant decisions when the users come together and collaborate in getting there.

The focus of this chapter is on the reporting part of BI and in particular a product called SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Perhaps the most glaring advantage of using SSRS is its integration with Office and SharePoint products and technologies. This chapter starts you on your journey by explaining how SSRS and SharePoint can be integrated as well as showcasing some of the new features in the current wave of products with Office 2013, SharePoint 2013, and SQL Server Reporting Services 2012.

THE HISTORY

Reporting is the blood and heart of many organizations. If you have ever done a BI project, chances are that your first assignment was to turn a paper-based form into an electronic report. Regardless of the technology you used to deliver your first project, the joy of eliminating an inefficient manual process stayed with you for a long time — ...