Chapter 1. Introduction to SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

In This Chapter

• What Is SSRS?

• SSRS for End Users

• Overview of Features

• Enterprise Report Examples

• SSRS in the Report Development Life Cycle

• Editions of Reporting Services

• How Is SSRS Licensed?

Note

This book abbreviates SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services as SSRS and SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services as SSRS2K. New features available in SSRS and not in SSRS2K are labeled with ^{"NEW in 2005"} .

In today's ultracompetitive business environment, having good information is essential. Companies are awash in information, and with the advent of technologies such as RFID, more and more information is coming. Technology has made the job of gathering information trivial, but making sense of it all still remains elusive . This makes good reporting and business intelligence tools essential.

This first chapter is strictly nontechnical. This chapter focuses on the following:

• Capabilities of SSRS

• How it fits into the Microsoft Business Intelligence platform

• Report development life cycle as it relates to SSRS

• Editions of SSRS

• Licensing SSRS