Microsoft Report Builder 2.0

Who should read this information?

For users with more advanced reporting skills, the combination of Microsoft Report Builder 2 and IRIS Practice Reporting allows you to create reports from any field on the database.

Where do I get Report Builder 2 from?

You can download it free of charge from Microsoft’s website:

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/report-builder.aspx

You must be using .NET framework 3.5 and above to run it.

Must I have SQL Reporting Services to use it?

SQL Reporting Services is the preferred method of delivering reports built in Report Builder 2.0 to staff members in your practice.

How do I launch it once it is installed?

Report Builder 2 can be launched from the Windows Start menu in the normal way as a standalone application.

What do I gain by using it?

Report Builder 2, like Microsoft Office 2007, uses the intuitive Ribbon interface. There are easy to use wizards for creating table or matrix and chart data regions.

It also allows rendering in Microsoft Word for the first time as well as improved rendering in Microsoft Excel.

People with a SQL reporting background will be delighted to see that SQL queries can be written in Report Builder 2 and the flexible layout data region allows multiple parallel row/column members at each level, a mix of dynamic or static members on both rows and columns and optional omission of member headers.

Report Builder 2 also brings rich data visualization, with improved graphs and a new gauge control. Here are some sample screen shots of what you can achieve by way of a management dashboard built using sub-reports.

Am I licenced to use it?

Whilst Microsoft Report Builder 2.0 is free to download from the Microsoft web site you must be aware of which version and edition of SQL Server you are using to avoid breech of the licence agreement.

Licenced for*	Create & modify reports in Report Builder 2.0	Run but not create or modify Report Builder 2.0 reports
SQL 2005 Express	X	X
SQL 2005 Workgroup	X	X
SQL 2005 Standard	X	X
SQL 2008 Express	X	√
SQL 2008 Workgroup	√	√
SQL 2008 Standard	√	√

* Where you have a Microsoft SQL Server Maintenance Contract you are licenced to use SQL Server 2008 and are therefore entitled to use Report Builder 2.0 even if you use SQL Server 2005.