SSRS Integration 8.0 Documentation

OfficeWriter Reporting Services Integration enhances Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services by allowing users to design and deliver their reports in native Word and Excel. Reporting Service Integration is a two part solution:

• The OfficeWriter Designer
  The OfficeWriter Designer is a toolbar add-in for Microsoft Excel and Word. It allows the user to design a report template in Excel or Word instead of Visual Studio. The template is then integrated into the Reporting Services xml-based Report Definition File (RDL) format for publishing on the reporting server.
  * The OfficeWriter Renderer
  The renderer runs on the Reporting Services server. The renderer interprets the template information that was added to the RDL file with the OfficeWriter Designer and populates the template with data supplied by Reporting Services.

Using Reporting Services without OfficeWriter, the report designer uses a tool such as Visual Studio to design queries, specify data sources, and generate an RDL file that will be published on the Reporting Services server. Since Visual Studio is a development tool, designing a report likely requires a developer. Using OfficeWriter Reporting Service Integration, two workflow options exist:

Option 1: Adding a Template to an Existing Report

The OfficeWriter Designer can open existing RDL files. When a user opens an RDL file in Word or Excel, only its database queries are available for use. The query fields appear in a drop-down list on the OfficeWriter toolbar. The user can insert these fields as data placeholders in the report template and cannot create additional queries. When the user saves the file, the OfficeWriter template information is added to the RDL file. The advantages of adding a template to an existing RDL file are: * Two Display Formats Render the original report design or view the report as a Word or Excel file.
* Separation of Report Design Roles A developer may be responsible for creating shared data sources on the server and defining SQL queries in RDL files. A business user can then open an RDL, insert field placeholders from the predefined queries, and design a report.

Option 2: Create a New Template Report

When you create a new template report without an existing RDL file, the OfficeWriter Designer allows you to set a data source and create database queries in Word and Excel. With this approach, the business user can be entirely responsible for both creating queries and designing the report. This option is not enabled by default by security reasons, but can be enabled by changing a single registry key value.

Benefits of ExcelWriter Renderer over Native Excel Renderer

• OfficeWriter allows Microsoft Excel users to maintain and create spreadsheets that contain:
  ** Pivot tables
  ** Interactive charts
  ** VBA and macros
  ** Advanced formulas
  * OfficeWriter allows you to separate roles of query developer and report designer. A developer can create shared data sources and build queries, and a business user can design the report in Word or Excel.
  * OfficeWriter delivers reports directly from Excel or Word. Use the OfficeWriter toolbar to browse the Reporting Services server and display the OfficeWriter rendered reports directly in Office.
  * The familiar Word and Excel design environments eliminate the learning time required by more complex development environments like Visual Studio .NET.
  * Avoid the cost of additional Visual Studio licenses by using the freely-distributed OfficeWriter designer in Word or Excel.
  * OfficeWriter generates real RDL files, allowing you to take full advantage of Reporting Services' report management, security, and delivery options.

Benefits of WordWriter Renderer over Native Word Renderer

• The Microsoft Word format has only limited support in Reporting Services 2008 and no support in Reporting Services 2005 without the use of OfficeWriter.
  * OfficeWriter delivers reports directly from Excel or Word. Use the OfficeWriter toolbar to browse the Reporting Services server and display the OfficeWriter rendered reports directly in Office.
  * The familiar Word and Excel design environments eliminate the learning time required by more complex development environments like Visual Studio .NET.
  * Avoid the cost of additional Visual Studio licenses by using the freely-distributed OfficeWriter designer in Word or Excel.
  * OfficeWriter generates real RDL files, allowing you to take full advantage of Reporting Services' report management, security, and delivery options.