Installing SSRS Integration on a Reporting Services server
Installing the OfficeWriter Designer (Microsoft Office plugi-in) on a client machine
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.
Reporting Service Integration consists of two components:
The OfficeWriter renderer runs on the Reporting Services server.
The renderer takes a template RDL file that was designed using the OfficeWriter Designer, and populates it with data supplied by Reporting Services.
The OfficeWriter Designer is a toolbar add-in for Microsoft Excel and Word.
With the OfficeWriter Designer, you design a report in Word or Excel. Any formula, charts, or other advanced Office functionality will be present in the output file when the report is run.
Benefits over the native SSRS Renderers
Full Excel Rendering
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.
Full Word Rendering
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.