Data Visualzation

6/27/2009

Rich Data Visualization with Reporting Services 2008
M. Choirul Amri Senior Consultant Trainer, Avantus Training Microsoft MVP (SQL) http://choirulamri.org choirul@mvps.org
SingaporeSQL Server User Group Microsoft Singapore June 26, 2009

Session Takeaway
• Styling management for SSRS • Data visualization features in SSRS 2008
– Gauge – Chart – Trend

• Not goals:
– BasicReporting Services – Reporting Services Management

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Agenda
• Why visualize your data? • Build your own “CSS” in SSRS • Data Visualization:
– Gauge – Charting – Spark lines andTrend

Why Visualize your data?
• Improve user experience…. • Create business dashboard

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STYLE MANAGEMENT

Where is my CSS?
• Formatting and styling reports is time consuming• SSRS does not have CSS like features • Solution:
– Create your own code or assembly for report formatting – Call formatting function from report

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Simple Style Function
• CreateVB function and embed inside the report • Call function from report

Calling Simple Style
• Write expression inside text or report item properties
– – – – Font color Background color Font styleetc

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demo
Simple SSRS Styling

Simple Styling Caveats
• Embedded VB function has to be copied to every report file • No centralize style management • No integrated debuggingcapability • Solution:
– Move styling function to separate assembly ☺

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Advanced SSRS Styling
• Build an assembly to encapsulate all formatting and styling function • Use VB or C#,not limited to VB ☺ • Deploy assembly to:
– C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies – C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\ReportingServices\ReportServer\bin

• Deployment location may vary, depend on how VS and SSRS installed in the machine

Typical Style Assembly

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Calling Style Assembly
• Add reference to assembly • Call...