Introduction To Report Builder in SQL Server Reporting Services

Introduction

Report Builder is a tool for reporting services. It is a free stand-alone application from Microsoft that everyone can use to create reports from data.

Basically, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Report Builder is a report authoring tool. The main and basic feature of Report Builder is that spark line, data bar, data visualization, save reports, a wizard for creating maps, charts and so on. Report Builder is a dynamic reporting tool that creates on-demand reports to improve your business intelligence.

When we create reports with Report Builder we should consider the following points.

• Adding a connection to data source
• Creating or importing a dataset
• Arrange fields
• Choosing a layout
• Choosing a preliminary style

About Report Builder

• It is a fully-featured graphical solution of reporting.
• Easy to use Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• It provides always open database connectivity
• It easily integrates with team developer

Install Report Builder

The following is the link for installing Report Builder.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Report Builder 3.0

Report Builder provides everyone an efficient and easy way to create reports and also creates ad-hoc queries for databases. Report Builder has the power to create reports for your team, your management and also for individual customers.

Features of Report Builder

The following are the main features of Report Builder.

• Work Smarter: By using Report Builder, employees retrieve information efficiently and improve decision making processes.
  
• Access accurate information: Users can access the right information about the report using Report Builder.
  
• Add value to existing offering: Users can easily embedded Report Builder into existing solutions.
  
• Database Query: Report Builder supports various types of database sources like SQL Server, Oracle and ODBC, OLEDB connections. With a few simple clicks the query is generated easily.
  
• Flexible formatting: Report Builder enables easy formatting of reports.
  
• It supports all types of graphics and pictures.
  
• Easy to use dynamic database reporting.

Benefits of Report Builder

There is only one and major benefit of Report Builder as in the following:

• Easy database queries for great looking data: Report Builder supports various types of database. With a few simple clicks the database queries are generated. Point and click is the easy way to create user-friendly database queries.
  
  The result of the reports are always returned by database queries. Database queries are integrated smoothly into reports.
  
• Report Builder can be used for a better graphical presentation.

Software Specification of Report Builder

In Report Builder we consider the following two types of software.

• Supported database
• Technical Specifications

Supported Database

It supports various types of database.

• Microsoft SQL Server
• OLEDB connection
• ODBC connection
• Oracle
• SQLBase

Technical Specifications

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012

Summary

This article provided an introduction to Report Builder and also described the features and benefits of Report Builder.