Use Cases for Reporting Services

Overview

• Report Viewer Control
• Reporting Services (Standalone)
• Reporting Services (SharePoint-Integration)
• Reporting Builder

Types of files used

.RDLC No Reporting Services installation required Takes .NET DataSet (object in code) as a data source / dataset. Code change required to update DataSet. Report is generated by the hosted application Can be referenced by Report Viewer Control Requires .NET application Use newest version of Visual Studio to create report User Parameter GUI is manually created by developer on page.

.RDL Requires Reporting Services installation DataSet is defined using GUI, not code No code changes required to update DataSet. Report is generated by Reporting Services Can be referenced by Report Viewer Control .NET application is optional Use Business Intelligence Studio to create report. User Parameter GUI is automatically generated by Reporting Server or manually on page.

Report Viewer Control

• Generates a preview of the report for users
• Allows user to print or save reports in different formats including PDF, HTML, DOC, etc
• Requires a .NET application to host the ASP.NET Server control
• Can use .rdlc and .rdl

Reporting Services (Standalone)

• Useful when wanting to add Reporting Services to a .NET application because permissions can be managed using Active Directory groups/users or using service account (and delegating permissions to the .NET application).
• Serves up .RDL files.
• Generates preview of .RDL files
• Provides UI to manage
• Permissions on report
• Individual accounts
• Active Directory Groups
• Schedule delivery of report
• DataSource

Reporting Services (SharePoint Integration)

• Useful when wanting to add Reporting Services to a SharePoint site because permissions can be managed using SharePoint groups instead of Active Directory groups as with the standalone installation of Reporting Services.
• Serves up .RDL files still done by Reporting Services
• Generates preview of .RDL files still done by Reporting Services
• SharePoint provides the following UI (instead of Reporting Services) to manage
• Permissions on report
• Schedule delivery of report
• DataSource

Report Builder

• Report Builder can be used to edit .RDL files (not .RDLC)
• Report Builder is almost identical in functionality to BIDS (Business Intelligence Development Studio). 
• The most noticeable difference is the lack of Intellisense.
• The UI is also more geared to be more end user vs. developer friendly.
• Report Builder is available as an install or as a ClickOnce installation.