SSRS Basic Interview Questions And Answers - Part 1

Q: How many ways are there for deploying the SSRS report ?
 

It is possible to deploy the SSRS reports in 3 ways:

·          Using the BI Development studio.

·          Using the SQL Server Management Studio.

·          Programmatically. [Using the RS.EXE utility].

SSRS

Q: How many Types of SSRS Reports ?

we can create following types of SSRS reports :

·                     Parameterized reports

·                     Linked reports

·                     Snapshot reports

·                     Cached reports

·                     Ad hoc reports

·                     Drilldown reports

·                     Drillthrough reports

·                     Subreports

Parameterized reports: A parameterized report uses input parameter to complete report processing. With a parameterized report, you can filter report data based on the values that are set at run time. Parameterized reports are frequently used for filtering reports data.

Linked reports: A linked report is a report that provides an access to an existing report. It is similar to a hiperlink that we use to open a page. A linked report is derived from an existing report and retains the original report definition. We can create a linked report on the report server when we want to create additional versions of an existing report. We can create linked reports whenever we want to deploy an existing report with different settings. 

Snapshot reports: A snapshot report contains query results that were retrieved at a specific time. Unlike on-demand reports, which get up-to-date query results when we run the report, snapshots reports are processed on a schedule and then saved to Report Server. When we select a report snapshot to view, Report Server retrieves the stored report from the report server database and shows the data and layout that were captured for the report at the time the snapshot was created.

Report snapshots serve three purposes:

1.            Report history - by creating a series of report snapshots, we can build a history of a report that shows data changes over time.

2.            Consistency - use report snapshots when you want to provide consistent results for multiple users who must work with identical sets of data. With volatile data, an on-demand report can produce different results from one minute to the next.

3.            Performance - by scheduling large reports to run during off-peak hours, we can reduce processing impact on the Report Server during core business hours.

Cached reports: A cached report is a saved copy of a processed report. These reports are used to improve performance by reducing the number of processing requests to the report processor and by reducing the time required to retrieve large reports.

Ad hoc reports: An ad hoc report can be created from an existing Report Model using Report Builder. Ad hoc reports refer specifically to Report Builder reports. Ad hoc reports leverage report models and pre-defined templates to enable information workers to quickly and easily explore business data using familiar terminology and data structures that have been implemented in the report model. Ad hoc reports can be saved and run locally or published to a report server, just like other Reporting Services reports.

Drilldown reports: Drilldown reports initially hide complexity and enable the user to toggle conditionally hidden report items to control how much detail data they want to see. Best example of Drilldown report is Sale information for the Year, then drill down for Quarters followed by Months and week. Other example is Sale by Region then drilldown by Countries followed by State and Cities.

Drillthrough reports: Drillthrough reports are standard reports that are accessed through a hyperlink on a report item in the original report. Drillthrough reports work with a main report and are the target of a drillthrough action for a report item such as placeholder text or a chart. The main report displays summary information, for example in a matrix or chart. Actions defined in the matrix or chart provide drillthrough links to reports that display greater details based on the aggregate in the main report. Drillthrough reports can be filtered by parameters. 

Subreports: A subreport displays another report inside the body of a main report. A subreport is used to embed a report within another report. Any report can be used as a subreport. The subreport can use different data sources than the main report. We can set up the parent report to pass parameters to the subreport. Although a subreport can be repeated within data regions using a parameter to filter data in each instance of the subreport, subreports are typically used with a main report as a briefing book or as a container for a collection of related reports. 

SSRS

Q:What is SQL Server Reporting Services?

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server-based report generation software system from Microsoft. It can be used to prepare and deliver a variety of interactive and printed reports.

Q: What is the extension for report file?

Report file saves with the extension of .rdl and same file exist at report server.

Q: What are the shared data sources in SSRS?

A shared data source is a set of data source connection properties that can be referenced by multiple reports, models, and data-driven subscriptions that run on a Reporting Services report server.

Shared data sources are optional for reports and data-driven subscriptions, but required for report models. If you plan to use report models for ad hoc reporting, you must create and maintain a shared data source item to provide connection information to the model.

Q: Life cycle of SSRS?

Creating Reports

Managing Reports and Other Items

Accessing and Delivering Reports

Q: What is report manger?

Report Manager is a Web-based report access and management tool that you use to administer a single report server instance from a remote location over an HTTP connection. You can also use Report Manager for its report viewer and navigation features. You can also use Report Manager for its report viewer and navigation features. You can use Report Manager to perform the following tasks:

• View, search, print, and subscribe to reports.
• Create, secure, and maintain the folder hierarchy to organize items on the server.
• Configure role-based security that determines access to items and operations.
• Configure report execution properties, report history, and report parameters.
• Create report models that connect to and retrieve data from a Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services data source or from a SQL Server relational data source.
• Set model item security to allow access to specific entities in the model, or map entities to predefined clickthrough reports that you create in advance.
• Create shared schedules and shared data sources to make schedules and data source connections more manageable.
• Create data-driven subscriptions that roll out reports to a large recipient list.
• Create linked reports to reuse and repurpose an existing report in different ways.
• Launch Report Builder to create reports that you can save and run on the report server.
  

Q: What is report server?

A report server is a stateless server that uses the SQL Server Database Engine to store metadata and object definitions. It consists of a pair of core processors plus a collection of special-purpose extensions that handle authentication, data processing, rendering, and delivery operations. Processors are the hub of the report server.