Laurie, Janice,
Reporting Services is Microsoft's solution for enterprise reporting and is
part of its Business Intelligence platform. It is a fully scaleable
"web-based" environment where you can use it as a workgroup tool to an
enterprise level solution or even part of your intranet portal.
Its first major advantage is that it's free for any site that already has a
SQL Server (2000 & 2005) running, which the Data Repository runs on. It
doesn't mean that you have to have the DR - Only a SQL Server. It's
entirely web-based so for the most part, there isn't any need for client
component installations. It works seamlessly with Microsoft Office, so
documents, spreadsheets PowerPoint presentations and even MapPoint maps can
be made interactive with Reporting Services. It also allows interaction
with PDF files and even Crystal Reports.
As time goes on, more and more Business Intelligence vendors are developing
integration linkages with Reporting Services. Multidimensional tools like
ProClarity (now owned by Microsoft), Business Objects and others are able to
be launched via Reporting Services.
>From my experience, I've found Reporting Services to be a stable platform
for departmental or enterprise reporting with any of the facilities that
I've deployed. Each facility has different reporting requirements, but with
the flexibility of Reporting Services, I haven't found any issues that has
created issues. Standard Windows Network user and Security Roles are the
primary level of security for R.S. You can, however, incorporate other
table-based SQL security into the reports to strengthen access.
Reporting Services report development is relatively simple as it
incorporates wizards to help with the building process. Alterations are
easy to make and deployment is straight forward. Sub-reports can be
incorporated along with graphs to provide better functionality. Hyperlink
activity can be included on fields in a report to allow report users to
launch another report or even an internet web page. You are not restricted
to SQL Server data sources. Most of the common data sources (Access, Excel,
flat files, Oracle, etc.) can be used in reports.
Once reports are deployed onto Reporting Services, they can be launched
directly by the user via a web folder. Other functionality is through
subscriptions. Subscriptions provides you with the ability to execute and
e-mail a copy of the report to someone or simply send an announcement e-mail
specifying the URL link they can click on to run the report after it has
been built. You also have the ability to render the report in various
formats including PDF and Excel. These are also viewable via Palms and
Blackberries.
Essentially, your creativity is the limit with what you could do with
Reporting Services. I have set up R.S. that launches reports from in-house
single-sign-on portals for things like report running, dictionary lookups
[GL Account, MM Stock Items, etc.] to Physician current Inpatient lists,
System "Down-Time Demo Recall Name Searches", etc.. Deploying interactive
GL Financial Statements and other organizational reports are possible
providing drill-down capabilities and multi-period viewing. These reports
eliminate the need to print, sort and mail paper copies throughout the
organization. You can incorporate historical user access and data selection
criteria capturing to help with your HIPPA compliancy for information viewed
reporting.
Reporting Services 2005 has built on the 2000 platform providing additional
functionality and integration. 2005 has been tightly integrated with SQL
Server and Analysis Services making development and administration easier to
manage. If there is ANY issue I've found with Reporting Services is the
report designer isn't quite at the caliber that Crystal Reports is at. It
is, however, very functional and as new service packs and revisions come
down the line, that gap is quickly being shrunk.
If you wish to talk about it further, feel free to give me a call!
Good luck !!
gmc
_____
Garry McAninch
Principal
Dimensions Analysis
Phone: 905-704-1356
Mobile: 905-941-1356
Fax : 905-688-2256
e-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
web : www.dimensionsanalysis.com
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_____
_____
From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Johnson, Janice
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 10:02 AM
To: Lemons, Laurie; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [MEDITECH-L] DR & SQL Server Reporting Services
I also would appreciate seeing the replies on this.
Janice Johnson
Applications Specialist
Stillwater Medical Center
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
_____
From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Lemons, Laurie
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 8:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MEDITECH-L] DR & SQL Server Reporting Services
We are just beginning to utilize our Data Repository and are faced with
finding a solution for writing/distributing reports. Can anyone share their
experiences, good or bad, with SQL Server Reporting Services (either 2000 or
2005)?
Thank you,
Laurie Lemons
Information Services
Analyst/Programmer
ACMH Hospital
One Nolte Drive
Kittanning, PA 16201
724-543-8517
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