Get Perplexed and Bursty with SSRS

The Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a web-based platform that organizations utilize to create and distribute complex reports. These reports can be accessed from multiple departments within the organization in various formats, such as Excel, PDF, and HTML. Do you want to create an SSRS report in Visual Studio? Here is a six-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1 – Download and Install Visual Studio & SQL Server Data Tools

To start, you need to download and install Visual Studio and SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), which is available from the Microsoft website. Don’t worry; you can use the free Visual Studio Community edition.

Step 2 – Create a New Report Project in Visual Studio

After successfully installing both Visual Studio and SQL Server Data Tools, proceed to create a new report project by opening Visual Studio, navigating to “File,” and selecting “New, “Project” or by pressing “CTRL + SHIFT + N” on your keyboard. Select “Report Server Project Wizard” under the “Business Intelligence” category and give the report project a name.

Step 3 – Connect to a Data Source

Connect to a specific data source by providing the necessary credentials and connection information. The report wizard allows you to select the data source type of your choice. It includes an array of options such as SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and many others.

Step 4 – Design your Report

Add tables, charts, and other visuals based on the data source to design your report. Report Designer in Visual Studio allows you to add elements to your report. Use the toolbox to add report items, set properties for data sources, and data sets.

Step 5 – Preview and Test your Report

Before deploying the report, be sure to preview and test it. Use the preview tab to see how your report looks like, because first impressions matter. You can also run a report to test its functionality and ensure that it generates the desired results.

Step 6 – Deploy your Report to the Reporting Server

The final step is to deploy your report to the Reporting Server. Click the build menu and select “Deploy Solution” to transmit your report to the server. After that, users can access the report by typing the report URL into a browser or accessing it from a web application utilizing the SSRS API.

Conclusion

SSRS is a robust web-based platform that numerous organizations use for accurate report creation and distribution. By following the outlined six steps, you can create an SSRS report in Visual Studio. As a recommendation, be cautious and thorough when designing and testing your report.