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