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Lesson 1: Creating a Report Server Project (Reporting Services)

To create a report in SQL Server, you must first create a report server project where you will save your report definition (.rdl) file and any other resource files that you need for your report. Then you will create the actual report definition file, define a data source for your report, define a dataset, and define the report layout. When you run the report, the actual data is retrieved and combined with the layout, and then rendered on your screen, from where you can export it, print it, or save it.

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a report server project in Business Intelligence Development Studio. A report server project is used to create reports that run on a report server.

To create a report server project

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2008, and then click Business Intelligence Development Studio.

  2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.

  3. In the Project Types list, click Business Intelligence Projects.

  4. In the Templates list, click Report Server Project.

  5. In Name, type Tutorial.

  6. Click OK to create the project.

    The Tutorial project is displayed in Solution Explorer.

To create a new report definition file

  1. In Solution Explorer, right-click Reports, point to Add, and click New Item.

    Note

    If the Solution Explorer window is not visible, from the View menu, click Solution Explorer.

  2. In the Add New Item dialog box, under Templates, click Report.

  3. In Name, type Sales Orders.rdl and then click Add.

    Report Designer opens and displays the new .rdl file in Design view.

Report Designer is a Reporting Services component that runs in Business Intelligence Development Studio. It has two views: Design and Preview. Click each tab to change views.

You define your data in the ReportData pane. You define your report layout in Design view. You can run the report and see what it looks like in Preview view.

Next Task

You have successfully created a report project called "Tutorial" and added a report definition (.rdl) file to the report project. Next, you will specify a data source to use for the report. See Lesson 2: Specifying Connection Information (Reporting Services).