Doing BI in the cloud using PowerBI for Office 365

Early last year Microsoft announced the general availability (GA) of PowerBI for Office 365. Office is the most used office program and PowerBI brings in great value by providing a self-service means to discover, analyze and visualize data leading to deep insights.

Using PowerBI for Office 365 one can easily deploy a cloud-based BI application for sharing insights; colloborating and accessing reports from practically anywhere.

Power BI for Office includes the following Microsoft
'Power' tools:

• Power Query, enabling customers to easily search and access public data and their organization’s data, all within Excel (formerly known as “Data Explorer“).
• Power Map, a 3D data visualization tool for mapping, exploring and interacting with geographic and temporal data (formerly known as product codename “Geoflow“).
• Power Pivot for creating and customizing flexible data models within Excel.
• Power View for creating interactive charts, graphs and other visual representations of data.

What are the main capabilities?

PowerBI allows the companies to include the cloud as an arena in which they can share and colloborate. The DataCatalog; Q & A with natural language support; mobile connectivity are unbeatable capabilities.

• Quickly create collaborative BI sites – enable anyone to quickly create a collaborative BI site to share workbooks containing data and insights.
• Keep reports up to date with scheduled data refresh – reports that have been saved to the cloud can now connect back to on-premises data sources to refresh the data and stay up to date.
• Manage data queries for the team – share not only workbooks but also the data queries created in Power Query for Excel. Team members can now build and manage data queries for others to use when creating their own reports.
• Maintain a Data Catalog of searchable data – IT departments can now use the Data Catalog feature to make it easier for everyone to find and connect to corporate data by searching for it from within Excel.
• Ask questions of your data in natural language – with the Q&A features people can type questions they have of the data in natural language and the system will interpret the question and present answers in the form of interactive visualizations.
• Stay connected with mobile access to your reports – stay connected from anywhere with new HTML5 support and the Power BI windows app.

How much does it cost?

First of all you should be Office 365 Enterprise E3 or E4 customers and it was promotional $20 per month per user for the existing customers. Access this link here for reduced new prices.

However you could sign-up for a free-trial of PowerBi for Office 365 here and you will also get a 30day trial of Office 365 Pro-plus.

I do not have the Enterprise edition but just a $10 month subscription and I get only 'Power Map' add-in in my Office 365's Excel application.I have not figured it out how I may be able to use this without the other tools.

Note: Text in italic taken directly from Microsoft sites.

Spin out a cutting edge report with Power BI under 10 minutes

PowerBI presetnly in preview is available free for users in USA. You only have to agree to licese terms and you are on your way to creating a great looking report under 10 minutes. Any programming requirements? None.

What do you need to get this great report going?

You need to get the PowerBI and download it to your machine from here:
http://www.powerbi.com/

PowerBI00.png

Launch it and connect to your data. Here is a screen shot of PowerBi designer right after launching it. It is the starting page. It looks like a Office page with ribbon and a main menu.

PowerBI08
To author a report, you will have to provide information about your datasource. In the present post PowerBI was used to connect to SQL Server 2012. The Sales.SalesPerson table in AdventureWorks2012 database was used to generate the report.

You also have to provide connection information and more importantly information about what you want to report upon. This involves choosing the preferred table or view.There was no programming involved. If you have worked with Power View reports in SQL Server 2012 you sail through very easily, even otherwise it is intuitive.

If you want a thorough grinding in Power View, I have a whole chapter on Power View in my illustrated book, Learn SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services shown below:

As I emphasized earlier you have to know what you are reporting about and server authentication.

Here SalesLastYear and SalesYTD for some of the store personnel is reported. The fields are the ones you choose and voila you a report ready.

PowerBI is still in preview and by the time it gets released it will have gotten input from so many you will be getting a very superior product.

You can find a more descriptive post on my other site in a day or two:
http://hodentekMSSS.blogspot.com

 

Microsoft BI and Power Query

Power Query adds one more arrow to Microsoft's BI strategy. This time around Power Query provides  the hooks to connecting to a variety data sources over encrypted/unencrypted connections. Processing of the raw data from tables can be carried out using the controls on the Query Editor.  Power View if installed can be used to produce dazzling adhoc reports.

Some details of Power Query were posted here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-microsoft-power-query.html
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-difference-between-ms-query-and.html

After installing the add-in you can easily connect to SQL Server (in this case SQL Server 2012) and generate a query easily as shown in the next image,

 

You can further process the query with built-in controls and save to workbook. The present MS Excel version is 32 bit and Power View is not installed.

Step-by-step procedure working with Power Query can be found here:

http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2013/12/querying-sql-server-2012-with-power.html

Power View, Data Alert and other features with SQL Server 2014 CTP2

Report Integration for SQL Server 2012 and SharePoint 2010 was described comprehensively in my latest book:

The new features Power View and Data Alerts were treated in two complete chapters:

Chapter 6: Power View and Reporting Services
Six hands-on exercises

Chapter 7: Self service Data Alerts in SSRS 2012
Three hands-on exercises

The SharePoint 2010 used in the book should work equally well with SQL Server 2014 CTP2.

SQL Server 2014 CTP1 installation was described here.
http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2013/09/installing-sql-server-2014-ctp1-on.html

Programs have been updated and new versions have appeared.
SQL Server 2014 is now in CTP2

Now how does one start working with features like Power View and Data Alerts?

You need to install and work with recent versions.

You need the following :
Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint®, Community Technology Preview 2 (CTP2)

You can download the above from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40738

Details from the above site are here:

·         The SQL Server 2014 CTP2 Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint technologies deploys the Reporting Services user interface pages and features on a SharePoint web front-end server.

• The SQL Server 2014 CTP2 version of the Reporting Services add-in supports SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2013.
• To use connected mode features of Reporting Services with the 2014 CTP2 add-in, the report server version must also be 2014 CTP2 version.
• For more information on supported versions, see “Supported Combinations of SharePoint and Reporting Services Components”.
• For more information on Local mode and connected mode, see “Use Access Services with SQL Reporting Services”.

After you install the Reporting Services Add-in and configure your servers for integration, you can publish Reporting Services content to a SharePoint library and then view and manage those documents directly from a SharePoint site.

More details here:

 http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2013/11/download-this-sql-server-2014-reporting.html

Packt is having a 4day Columbus day sale, check out.

Explore something new this Columbus Day with Packt’s biggest ever sale

Packt Publishing is giving everyone the chance to explore its full range of over 1600 DRM-free eBooks this Columbus Day at a massive 50% off at www.packtpub.com, for 4 whole days.

Customers simply use the code COL50 in their cart – as many times as they like until Thursday October 17th. The offer even extends to Packt’s bestselling pre-order of 2013, the highly acclaimed Mastering Web Application Development with AngularJS. 

But that’s not all – to mark the transition out of beta stage, the publisher will also be including its Packt Video product range in this limited offer. These practical screencast tutorials give users the working knowledge they need to get the job done, and all videos will be featured in the Columbus Day sale at 50% off – that includes the hugely popular Kali Linux - Backtrack Evolved: A Penetration Tester’s Guide. 

Of course you may also get my following books during this mega sale. God bless Columbus!!

All links to my books are available here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com

New book is being written: SQL Server Querying with SQL Server 2012

Mahalo,

 

Get your discount from here:

http://bit.ly/1bqvB29 and use this discount code: COL50

 

Data Visualization with Report Builder 3.0

In Report Builder 2.0 there were Charts and Gadgets as shown in the following figure of the Ribbon.  . They were classified under Data Regions.

These were fully discussed in my two popular articles.

http://dotnet.sys-con.com/node/982742

http://jayaramkrishnaswamy.sys-con.com/node/1227111

and from my book, first edition of my book on reporting services,

Report Builder 3.0 surfaced with SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 R2. From Report Builder 2.0 to Report Builder 3.0 a few more items have been added to make data visualization more interesting (Map, Data Bar. Sparkline and Indicator) These elements are shown in the following screen shot of the ribbon in Report Builder 3.0. Now they are part of the Data Visualization.

How do you get them on to your report? 

Very easy!!!!.

Right click a data region on a table and click insert as shown. Also you may directly click the menu item Insert and pick the visualization you want to add.

The following post shows how you may add data bars easily and how they are related to your experience in MS Excel. Data bars are very similar to conditional formatting in Microsoft Excel.

http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/07/what-are-data-bars-in-sql-server.html

You can jump start on using all the data visualization options in Report Builder 3.0 as well as Power View in my new book on SQL Server Reporting Services.

http://goo.gl/aXPZU

Mahalo,

Jayaram Krishnaswamy

How do you add a database connection to Server Explorer in VS 2012?

Report authoring is perhaps one of the most frequently required activities in an enterprise. Knowledge of report authoring is an invaluable asset when one is looking for a job in an enterprise. Before you can write a report you will have to know where your data is and how to get connected to it from your authoring software. Report authors who are not very comfortable with using data on a back end server could use the more powerful and highly interactive Power View reports, but this requires a developer in your organization to create a model for you to work with. Once the model in place it is super easy to create stunning reports. This is only possible on SQL Server 2012 with the reporting services installed in SharePoint integrated mode.

The following is specific to SQL Server Reporting Services, but this is important for any authoring tool. In the following Visual Studio 2012 is presumed and a web project is to be created to demonstrate the use of Report Viewer Control.

Presently the Server Explorer has the following items:

 

If you do not see Server Explorer you click View in the main menu and click Server Explorer as shown:

Presently there is a connection established with the Adventure Works 2012 database on the SQL Server 2012 named Kailua.

Click Connect to Server item on Server Explorer tool bar shown.

The Add Server window is displayed as shown.

The name of the computer is provided (you provide the name of your computer). Click OK.

Adding a Data Connection

Click Connect to Database toolbar item as shown.

Or you can right click Data Connection and start as well.

Assume that we clicked Connect to Database.

The Add Connection window is displayed as shown.

This is because before getting to the database you must first get connected to the server. Notice that the Microsoft SQL Server (SqlClient) is the default. It can be changed to others by hitting the Change... ellipsis button and following the wizard.

For now accept the default. Click on the handle for Server Name after hitting the Refresh button. You see three servers, a SQL Server 2012 (Kailua); a SQL Server 2008 R2 (Maui) and a SharePoint Server.

Click HODENTEKWIN7\KAILUA to choose the server. The Add Connection window is updated as shown. We accept the default authentication, Windows Authentication.

Click on the handle for the Select or enter a name for the database field to display the drop-down list as shown.

Click Northwind. It could be another database in your case. Click the Test Connection button and verify that the connection was successful as shown.

Click OK on the above message window and click OK on the Add Connection window. The new database connection will be added to the Visual Studio 2012’s Server Explorer as shown.

That is all for now.

Mahalo

My new book uses images / screenshots such as the above to guide you through the learning process. The instructions are very simple and most of the steps are described.

http://www.packtpub.com/learning-sql-server-2008-reporting-services/book

http://www.packtpub.com/learning-sql-server-reporting-services-2012/book

Learn SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services is released

Learning SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services was released today by Packt publishers. This is my second book on Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (which may be called a second edition). It is enlarged to include Reporting Services Integration with SharePoint 2010. With 566 pages it is somewhat thicker than the first edition (Learning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services). However, the book has a large number of screen shots like my first book and is somewhat thinner than most other books in this genre. The reviewers and technical editors have put in a lot of effort and time to make this happen.

I take this opportunity to thank the reviewers (Satya Shyam Jayanty and Ritesh Shah) for their meticulous reading of the manuscript; the technical editors, Azharuddin Sheik, Mausam Kothari, Varun Pius Rodrigues, and Lubna Shaikh and many others at Pakct Publishing for their excellent editing and Microsoft Forums' (MSDN, TechNet and SharePoint) help for answering so many of my questions.

Summary of Hands-on tasks you learn:

• Install SQL Server 2012, SharePoint Server 2010, and configure Reporting Services both native and SharePoint Integrated on Windows 7
• Install SSDT and author reports, both local and remote, and deploy them to report servers
• Develop desktop and web applications by using Report Viewer controls
• Author different kinds of reports with the latest gadgets by working with Report Builder
• Manage access to the report server, report scheduling, report delivery, report uploads, and downloads with Report Manager
• Create Tabular Models with SQL Server Analysis Services and deploy them to SSAS Server using SSDT
• Author Power View Reports from your SharePoint Site and export them as Power Point files
• Learn to create Data Driven alerts in SharePoint and monitor them on SQL Agent on SSMS
• Work with Windows Azure Reporting Services using Windows Azure Portal and SSMS
• Write applications in SSIS and WPF to access reports and access native server reports from SharePoint Site

I hope this book is appreciated as much as the earlier one.

Hyperlinks referenced in my new book

My new book on SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 is about to be released and this post provides a list of links referenced in the book, sorted chapter wise.

Hyperlinks provide a gateway to the extensive literature that can be accessed on the Internet. They provide information (collective knowledgebase) above and beyond what one finds in a single article,book,blog or other media formats. However links in a printed book are useful to only those readers who would go to any lengths to find information but irksome, frustrating and almost useless to the others. They are of course useful in online formats such as eBooks.

In order to conform to page count limit set by the publishers (as you might have noticed computer books have become heftier and heftier) and yet provide guidance to the readers there is no better way than publishing a list of links that is chapter-wise sorted and placed in a location that is easy to access. This post is an attempt to do just that. However some essential information from Microsoft Documentation is used as is in the book in some of the chapters.

Chapter 1: Overview and Installation – SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

Operating System Requirements
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144275.aspx.

Software requirements (Power Shell)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff637750(v=azure.10).aspx

Finding processor cores of the computer
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-do-i-find-number-of-cores-in.html

Download link for SQL Server2012 Enterprise Evaluation x64 bit
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29066

Options for SharePoint Integration
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh213532.aspx

Distributed replay controller
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff878183(v=SQL.110).aspx

Configuring reporting services 2012
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc281311.aspx

SQL Server 2012 Security related link
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144228.aspx

Setting up IE browser to start with Administrator Privileges
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-start-ie-browser-with.html

SQL Server 2000 database files
 http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=23654

Attaching and detaching databases
http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/workitem/19203

Attaching/Detaching step-by-step
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/search?q=Sample+databases

Running script files, step-by-step
http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-do-i-install-sample-database-using.html

Choosing SharePoint Server for SQL Server 2012 Integration
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dc6a3372-db26-43f0-b7aa-f725acc635c2

Installing SharePoint 2010 on Windows 7(x64)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee554869(office.14).aspx

SharePoint 2010 hardware and software requirements
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288751(v=office.14).aspx

Download link SharePoint2010 Trial
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16631

Installing Microsoft Sync Frame work 1.0(x64)
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=141237

Get Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Native Client MSI
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123718

Download and Install Windows 6.1-KB974405-x64.msu
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17331

Get Microsoft Chart Controls for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 (KB2500170).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2500170

SharePoint2010 and SQL Server 2012 choice
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dc6a3372-db26-43f0-b7aa-f725acc635c2

Reporting Services 2012 Add-in for SharePoint 2010
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29068

Making changes to application pool identity
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-do-you-make-changes-to-application.html

Chapter 2: SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Projects with Visual Studio 2012

SSDT and SQL Server 2012
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh272686(v=vs.103).aspx

SSDT first time problems
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/jamesserra/2012/04/13/ssdt-installation-confusion/print/

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2012/06/06/getting-started-with-localdb-debugging-using-ssdt.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

SSDT and SSRS 2012
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlreportingservices/thread/1f005f31-82a6-4e1c-b221-cb2c798c4caa

SSDT December 2012 update
hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2012/12/december-update-to-ssdt.html
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/hh297027

Report Designer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms173745.aspx

Problem with report preview in VS Designer
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlreportingservices/thread/41d46c69-5a18-4915-8b5e-fc3c19da8db9

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlreportingservices/thread/38ff8d54-06aa-40c3-8916-378d5185320e

First edition
Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2008, ISBN: 9781847196187, Packt Publishing, 2009
Export problem to MS Access
http://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/735375/business-intelligence-bids-ssdt-missing-referenced-assembly

Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate download site
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads

Report Viewer Controls
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms251671.aspx

Visual Studio 2010 download site
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=12187

Detailed description of Report Builder 2.0
http://dotnet.sys-con.com/node/982742   Part 1

http://jayaramkrishnaswamy.sys-con.com/node/1227111  Part 2

RDL and RDLC Schemas
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms252109.aspx

Report Viewer Runtime 2008 version
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6576

Report Viewer Runtime 2010 package
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6442

Report Viewer Runtime 2010 SP1
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6610

Report Viewer Runtime 2012
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35747

Chapter 3: Overview of SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Architecture, Features, and Tools

Major Components of Native Mode installation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157231.aspx

SharePoint Standalone Deployment for SQL Server 2012 Integration
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb510781(v=sql.105).aspx

Reporting Services 2012 Configuration details
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155866.aspx

Regarding Report Parts and their usage
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee635721.aspx

ESRI Shape Files
http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/shapefile.pdf

Regarding Report scheduling
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=232473

Creating, modifying and deleting Schedules
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155897.aspx

Power View Features
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/power-view-explore-visualize-and-present-your-data-HA102835634.aspx

Authentication – Report Servers
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb283249.aspx

URL access parameters
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1c3e680a-83ea-4979-8e79-fa2337ae12a3

Reporting Services Default Extensions
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157231.aspx

Security, Data Processing, Rendering, Report Processing and Delivery Extensions
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh213576.aspx


Chapter 4: Working with Report Manager

Report Manager 2012 - Overview
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157147.aspx

Configure a Report Server for Local Administration on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630430.aspx

Tasks and permissions on Native mode report server
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms159840.aspx

Launch error from while launching Report Builder from Report Manager
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/enUS/sqlreportingservices/thread/ec0a6b15-1816-4d6c-87c0-b2f1f28f3d04

Report Manager Site Settings
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181194.aspx

Report Manager F1 Help
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189690.aspx

System Role assignments (New/Edit)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186541.aspx

Clickthrough Reports (SSRS)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345252.aspx

Exporting Reports (Report Builder and SSRS)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd239307.aspx

Caching Reports (SSRS)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155927.aspx

Chapter 5: Working with Report Manager
Learning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services, Jayaram Krishnaswamy, Packt publishing, ISBN: 9781847196187, 1st Edition, March 2009
http://www.packtpub.com/learning-sql-server-2008-reporting-services/book/mid/010409ofvkyp

Chapter 5: Working with Report Builder 3.0

Report Builder: ENU\x86\ReportBuilder3.msi (24.8 MB) file download link
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29072

Report Builder 2.0 Interface description
http://dotnet.sys-con.com/node/982742   Part 1

Authoring Reports with Report Builder 2
http://jayaramkrishnaswamy.sys-con.com/node/1227111 Part 2

Data source properties - credentials
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178308.aspx

Chapter 7: Report Authoring with Report Builder 2.0
Learning SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services, Jayaram Krishnaswamy, Packt publishing, ISBN: 9781847196187, 1st Edition, March 2009
Report Parts in Report Designer (SSRS)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee635721.aspx

Chapter 6: Power View and Reporting Services

Business Intelligence Semantic Model
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/analysisservices/archive/2012/03/09/xvelocity-and-analysis-services.aspx

What’s new in Power View
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/whats-new-in-power-view-in-excel-2013-and-in-sharepoint-server-HA102901475.aspx

Comparison of Multidimensional and Tabular Model
http://www.jamesserra.com/archive/2012/04/sql-server-2012-multidimensional-vs-tabular/

Overview of Power View
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3726.power-view-overview.aspx#Useful_links_for_Project_Crescent_and_SQL_Server_Denali

Power View Visualization
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/power-view-explore-visualize-and-present-your-data-HA102835634.aspx

Practicing Power View online
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oneclickbi/archive/2011/12/27/more-demos-of-power-view-available.aspx

News about Windows Azure HDInsight; and Power View/Power Pivot
http://redmondmag.com/blogs/the-schwartz-report/2013/03/big-data-fray.aspx

Tabular Model and default field set
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh479569.aspx

Measures: Tabular Data Model
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh230824.aspx

Power View with Multidimensional model
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/analysisservices/archive/2012/11/29/power-view-for-multidimensional-models-preview.aspx

Chapter 7: Self-service Data Alerts in SSRS 2012

Data Alerts details
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg492252.aspx

Setting up content types in SharePoint site
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb326289.aspx

SharePoint Integrated Reporting Services proxy site
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg492284.aspxhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg492284.aspx

About alert Rules and Alert Scheduling
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg492254.aspx

Chapter 8: Reporting Services and Programming

URL Access
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1c3e680a-83ea-4979-8e79-fa2337ae12a3

Deprecated prefixes (DSU and DSP) in SQL Server Reporting Services 2012
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlreportingservices/thread/72f83019-9d2b-4ede-a526-e096a0cabc5b/

URL Access syntax for SharePoint Integrated Reporting Services server
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms153586.aspx

Report Viewer: CodePlex Site link
http://reportviewer.codeplex.com/

Stream callback and Report Viewer
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.reporting.winforms.createstreamcallback.aspx

Report Server Web Services Management Endpoints
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155398.aspx

ReportExecution2005 end point
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms154052.aspx

SharePoint proxy endpoints
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155398.aspx

SharePoint Integrated mode ReportService2006
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/reportservice2006.reportingservice2006

Windows Management Framework 3.0 (PowerShell) download
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34595

Power Shell quick reference (Cheat sheets)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30002

PowerShell script for getting all Prerequisites to install SharePoint server 2010
http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/bcf3332d-f726-4ac7-b01a-eeda4b7ece8e

Making changes to Application Pool
http://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-do-you-make-changes-to-application.html

Power Shell – In depth link
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg492249.aspx

System.Management namespace details
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa719480.aspx

RSS disambiguation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(disambiguation))

Configuring Reporting Services URL
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630447.aspx

Writing custom code for reports
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms156028.aspx

Chapter 9: Windows Azure SQL Reporting

Windows Azure SQL Reporting Services limitations
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/gg430132.aspx

Pricing for hosting reports on Windows Azure SQL Reporting
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/thread/fecb288a-d1a8-4eda-b6f7-85f6dc1e4b4e

Main link for pricing
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/details/

MSDN Forums
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsazureplatform

Technet forums
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/threads

Windows Azure Portal- link to old portal
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/home/features/portals/

Windows Azure Service - known issues
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh667464

Comprehensive reference to SQL Azure with hands-on examples
Microsoft SQL Azure: Enterprise Application Development, ISBN:9781849680806, Packt Publishers, 2010
https://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-sql-azure-enterprise-application-development/book

Chapter 10: Applications Accessing Report Servers

Windows Presentation Foundation in Visual Studio
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb546194(v=vs.90).aspx

Web Browser Class (.NET Framework 4.5)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.controls.webbrowser.aspx

Browser WebBrowser.Navigate () method
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.webbrowser.navigate.aspx

View and Explore Native Mode Reports Using SharePoint Web Parts (SSRS)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms159772.aspx

SQL Server Integration Services
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms141026.aspx

Chapter 14: Web Service task to convert miles to kilometres
SQL Server Integration Services Using Visual Studio 2005, ISBN: 9781847193315, Packt Publishers, 2007
http://www.packtpub.com/sql-server-integration-services-visual-studio-2005/book

Hekaton becomes SQL Server 2014

Blocking and Locking will be a thing of the past

In-memory OLTP Processing:
SQL Server 2014 (former codename Hekaton) has built-in, in-memory capability for OLTP Transactions with not so expesnive hardware requirements. The release date of SQL Server 2014 was annonuced at its TechEd conference in New Orleans this week.

The ink is still fresh on my new book, Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 and Microsoft has announced another version already. Well, Microsoft is known for its relentless offerings. Transactions can be disk/memory based which does not require expensive boxes and with this feature Microsoft tries to distinguish itself from the likes of SAP Hana (Oracle Database with its Exadata and Exalytics). The performance is very fast but only 50 times faster but not Hekaton faster (Hekaton means 100!!!).

In-memory Buisness Intelligence:
This is already a reality. Look at the terrific features of Power View. You can go two ways with Power View: Power Pivot via EXCEL or Tabular Model with SSAS.

Get a jump start from scratch on your acquaintance  with Power Views with my forhtcoming book,
Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/05/some-details-of-my-book-on-sql-server.html


Read more on SQL Server 2014 here->

http://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2013/06/03/sql-server-2014-unlocking-real-time-insights.aspx
http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/news/2240185188/SQL-Server-2014-due-out-in-late-2013-in-memory-OLTP-a-big-feature
http://www.techweb.com/news/240062566/microsoft-in-memory-move-challenges-sap- tiwht wyaoracle.html.

Some details of my book on SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

This book is totally hands-on, you learn by doing it all by yourselves in record time.

Install SQL Server 2012, SharePoint Server 2010, and configure Reporting Services both native and SharePoint Integrated on Windows 7

Install SSDT and author reports, both local and remote, and deploy them to report servers

Develop desktop and web applications by using Report Viewer controls

Author different kinds of reports with the latest gadgets by working with Report Builder

Manage access to the report server, report scheduling, report delivery, report uploads, and downloads with Report Manager

Create Tabular Models with SQL Server Analysis Services and deploy them to SSAS Server using SSDT

Author Power View Reports from your SharePoint Site and export them as Power Point files

Get a first hand experience with Power View Reports, get the full breadth and width of features

 Don't know Power Shell. OK. Learn it here and apply it to SharePoint and Report Server APIs and WMI

Learn to create Data Driven alerts in SharePoint and monitor them on SQL Agent on SSMS

Work with SQL Azure Reporting Services using Windows Azure Portal and SSMS. Start signing up for the service end up enjoying the reports

Write applications in SSIS and WPF to access reports and access native server reports from SharePoint Site

 For details follow this link here:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-next-book-sql-server-reporting.html

Browsers and SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

I am grading the browsers, guys.

Criterion is how reporting services 2012 reports display in the browsers. I am considering both Native and SharePoint Integrated mode of operation.

Grading is as follows:

IE 9.0.8112.16421                                       A+

Mozilla  (Firefox) 19.0.2                             A+

Google Chrome  Version 26.0.1410.64 m    B

Safari 5.1.7(7534.57.2)                                 D
Report Manager at:  http://hodentekWin7/Reports_HI

SharePoint site at:  http://HodentekWin7/



Here are the screen shots:

RS Native Mode:

 Toolbar items missing in Google Chrome : RS Native mode

RS SharePoint Integrated (Power View)

 

 

 

My next book SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 will be published soon

In the present day information-centric world we live in, the success of an enterprise depends enormously on how its information is generated, handled, and disseminated. With ample screenshots and over 65 hands-on exercises, this book will guide you effortlessly through creating cutting edge reports using SQL Server Reporting Services 2012, native and fully integrated with SharePoint Server 2010 including new features like Power View and Data Alerts.

"Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012" will get you started right from installation and then move on to configuration of SQL Server Reporting Services 2012. Start learning right from Chapter 1 and build your skill to create reports using the latest tools and deploy them to the latest servers, both Native and SharePoint. No guessing; you will learn all—Power View, Data Alerts, SQL Azure Reporting,the latest Reporting Services Gadgets, and more.

"Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012" is a definitive guide to a step-by-step, metered approach to get a jump start on the latest features in SQL Server Reporting Services.Reporting Services in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is more tightly integrated not only with the Microsoft Business Stack but also with SharePoint, Windows Azure, and the Visual Studio suite of products, with many new features.

You will install and configure the toolset to work with SSRS 2012 integrated with SharePoint 2010. Using SQL Server Data Tools, you will author reports and deploy. You will learn about security to work with Report Manager and Central Administration in SharePoint. Using Report Builder, you will learn about authoring cutting edge reports. You will create Tabular Models and begin experiencing the thrill of creating Power View Reports.

Review this link for more details:
http://www.packtpub.com/learning-sql-server-reporting-services-2012/book

The first edition, 'Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2008', ISBN: 9781847196187 was published in March 2009