Microsoft® SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services Step by Step (Step by Step (Microsoft)) should be the best book in this topic. The reason that made me ranked this book at 4 stars is because this book missed just one sentence to tell their readers the exact folder to copy the source code to or how to modify the path in sql script.

I purchased the book well over a year ago and placed it in my library for future reference. Now that I finally need it to dig into SSRS further, I'm truly disappointed. Besides the well documented script to load the databases not working, I've found plenty of instances where I found myself truly lost in the "Step by Step". I really had to go back time after time to see if I missed something. Low and behold, I didn't miss a thing. This was an extreme waste of valuable time away from projects. What the book is missing is a really good technical review. Long story short, placed this one on the shelf and ordered Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services 2005 by Brian Larson. Now I'm beginning to wonder about my SSAS Step by Step now. Then again, I'll just save my self valuable time and pick up another SSAS anyway. Hope this helps!

I am new to SQL Reporting Services. I found this book very helpful with its step-by-step approach. I would recommend it for beginners.

I agree with the other reviewer that had trouble installing the sample files: there's no excuse that Microsoft Press should have let this book out the door without some basic technical review. In order to successfully install the files, you must manually edit the attach_databases.sql file to map the @physname paths to the .mdf files stored in your My Documents folder rather than c:\rs2005sbs (which is never created by the installer). For the intended audience of this book, that's an unnecessary hastle that the use user should have to go through.

I am migrating our databases from Pervasive to MS SQL. We have a large amount of compiled (V7) Crystal Reports that will need to be updated and I was hoping to use the 2005 SQL Reporting Services instead.

The major problem with this book is the very first script used to load the sample database fails. From this point on you might as well trash the book since none of the exercises will work. To run the first script the author gives you the complete file path for the command and the sample database. This path is 8 layers deep. The actual SQL query used to install the sample database has a completely different path, so the installation fails. Ok....I figured out the path problem and moved the files to where the SQL query wants them to be. I ran the installation script again and now I able to install the sample database. The next problem....the SQL query also configures the user logins to the database.....it fails!!!! I am new to SQL so I am now lost since I can not configure the user logins.

I bought this book as a learning tool!! Now it sits collecting dust!!

In reply to Dr. Ribeiro Silva's comments

Point taken, but you missed the point completely.

I will try to explain it another way. You need to learn how to drive a car. You buy a training package from Eddie's Driving School. It includes a training manual and a used car. The package is delivered by UPS. You stay up all night reading the manual and the next day you are ready to drive. You get in the car and turn the key....nothing happens. The car will not start! You re-read the driving manual and find nothing in it about troubleshooting why your car will not start!!

This is the problem with this book. It is supposed to teach you how to create reports from a 2005 SQL server. It is not a training course on installing and troubleshooting a 2005 SQL database. The book provides a pre-configured 2005 SQL database and the installation scripts to install the database. When you run the installation script, the installation fails with numerous errors. In other words, the provided database "engine" is broken and will not run!! Since the database is not installed properly by the provided software you can not do any of the exercises.

Since I need to learn this subject, I took the official Microsoft SQL Reporting class. I brought the book to my class and the instructor spent his entire lunch hour trying to follow the directions in the book to install the provided 2005 SQL database. He could not.

I am migrating our databases from Pervasive to MS SQL. We have a large amount of compiled (V7) Crystal Reports that will need to be updated and I was hoping to use the 2005 SQL Reporting Services instead.

The major problem with this book is the very first script used to load the sample database fails. From this point on you might as well trash the book since none of the exercises will work. To run the first script the author gives you the complete file path for the command and the sample database. This path is 8 layers deep. The actual SQL query used to install the sample database has a completely different path, so the installation fails. Ok....I figured out the path problem and moved the files to where the SQL query wants them to be. Ran the install command again. Now the sample database is installed. The next problem....the SQL query also configures the user logins to the database.....it fails!!!! I am new to SQL so I am now lost since I can not configure the user logins.

I bought this book as a learning tool!! Now it sits collecting dust!!

In reply to Dr. Ribeiro Silva's comments

Point taken, but you missed the point completely.

I will try to explain it another way. You need to learn how to drive a car. You buy a training package from Eddie's Driving School. It includes a training manual and a used car. The package is delivered by UPS. You stay up all night reading the manual and the next day you are ready to drive. You get in the car and turn the key....nothing happens. The car will not start! You re-read the driving manual and find nothing in it about troubleshooting why your car will not start!!

This is the problem with this book. It is suppose to teach you how to create reports from a 2005 SQL server. It is not a training course on installing and troubleshooting a 2005 SQL database. The book provides a pre-configured 2005 SQL database and the installation scripts to install the database. When you run the installation script, the installation fails with numerous errors. In other words, the provided database "engine" is broken and will not run!! Since the database is not installed properly by the provided software you can not do any of the exercises.

Since I need to learn this subject, I spend another $800.00 to take the offical Microsoft SQL Reporting class. I brought the book to my class and the instructor spent his entire lunch hour trying to follow the directions in the book to install the provided 2005 SQL database. He could not......maybe the authors and Microsoft Press should refund the cost of this training class since a reasonable person would expect their book to provide the necessary training and information. I would rate this book a minus 5 if I could.

I am migrating our databases from Pervasive to MS SQL. We have a large amount of compiled (V7) Crystal Reports that will need to be updated and I was hoping to use the 2005 SQL Reporting Services instead.

The major problem with this book is the very first script used to load the sample database fails. From this point on you might as well trash the book since none of the exercises will work. To run the first script the author gives you the complete file path for the command and the sample database. This path is 8 layers deep. The actual SQL query used to install the sample database has a completely different path, so the installation fails. Ok....I figured out the path problem and moved the files to where the SQL query wants them to be. Ran the install command again. Now the sample database is installed. The next problem....the SQL query also configures the user logins to the database.....it fails!!!! I am new to SQL so I am now lost since I can not configure the user logins.

I bought this book as a learning tool!! Now it sits collecting dust!!

I found the book extremely useful in getting me pointed in the right direction with Reporting Services. I used the book less as a technical reference and more as an overview of how Reporting Services works and what options are available for solving reporting problems in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

I agree with the other reviewers that the book needs additional technical editing. For example, in Chapter 9 Stacia states that the rs.exe utility can be used with C# and that sample scripts are installed with SQL Server 2005. I have not seen a reference anywhere else on the web that states rs.exe can be used with C# and after installing SQL Server 2005 multiple times with every sample database I could find I did not get any sample scripts in the location specified.

If you use the book for an overview of SSRS you will gain many insights into how Reporting Services works but for the detailed technical details I would recommend the MSDN books.

Chapter 1 made several good points. Chapter 2 was more confusing in its presentation but I got something out of it. Chapter 3 began the hands-on so I installed the sample files and sample database contained on the accompanying CD-ROM -- only to find that I couldn't successfully install the database! The CD contains only the ".mdf" file for the sql database (no .ldf), not enough to "restore" or "attach" the database. Their script to install the DB also errored out. I was unable to locate any useful help or errata on the MsPress website. It looks like the authors spent a lot of time and effort developing the step-by-step examples so I'm quite disappointed that I can't proceed further into chapter 3. I'd recommend looking to the Microsoft SSAS tutorial instead of this book.

I am both shocked and surprised at how completely faulty this book is. I have the previous version of this book; Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services Step by Step, and I don't remember it being this bad. Don't get me wrong, I know Reed Jacobson as I had met him at the SQL Server 2005 launch event, and I don't necessarily blame him for the poor standing. I do however blame Microsoft as there is no way they could have performed any sort of Technical Editorial on this book. If you do decide to buy it, watch out for the Writeback partitions exercise in Chapter 10. It blew up my Virtual Server. Twice.

Keeping up the decent tradition of the Microsoft Press SSAS 2000 SBS title, this book represents a great way to start out working with SSAS 2005.

This book is targeted at both the BI neophyte/non-technical professional as well as those with previous BI solution experience with SS2000 (for the latter group, you can pretty much get away with skipping the first two chapters). If you are in the second category, and are not above step-by-step instructions (or are able to check your ego at the door), then you too shall benefit for the most part from this book.

Professionally speaking, I found useful, helpful and clear coverage on advanced dimension design (especially many-to-many dimensions), account intelligence, special features like localization and proactive caching.

However, with all technical books (it would seem) there are a few warts:

In Chapter 6 (Working with a Finance Measure Group), you may find that you cannot elicit both semi-additive and cumulative behaviour for the Amount measure based on the Account dimension member. Although I was running SP1, the steps in the book only get you 90% of the way home. In order to get the example to work correctly (provided you have followed the example which concludes on page 144), you will need to right-click the project node in BIDS and select "Edit Database". Once you have done so, you can then select the correct AggregationFunction for your AccountTypes. You should find that browsing the cube now reflects the correct aggregation behaviour by Account dimension members.

I also felt a little let down by:

1. In Chapter 9 (Exploring Special Features) A lack of a single example for currency conversions; this book simply discusses it with out providing a step-by-step.

2. In Chapter 10 (Interacting with Cubes), the Writeback example did not work-- although I believe this has more to do with the macros supplied in the sample Excel workbook than SSAS 2005 itself.

3. A bit more coverage of the performance implications to end-users querying a cube configured for proactive caching would have been useful. Although this book clearly shows how it works (in terms of whether you are running HOLAP, ROLAP or MOLAP) it does not dive any deeper.

4. A section devoted to Reporting from SSAS 2005 (creating an SSRS 2005 report from SSAS 2005, using Report Builder, using Excel) would have been nice to have.

5. Another seciton on Programmability (covering AMO, Assemblies, etc.) would have been nice too.

6. Although there is fairly decent coverage of security, there is no discussion of Data Mining.

To be fair, points 3-6 would probably alienate newbies to SSAS 2005-- nevertheless, it would be nice to see an advanced follow up SBS book covering these areas (using a similar approach to the upcoming Database Essentials and Applied Techniques step-by-step books). I also decided to give this book 4 stars over Teo Lachev's book (Applied Microsoft Analysis Services) because, despite the issues listed above, it is still more clear and concise to work with and learn from. Lachev certainly provides the depth I was looking for, but I had great difficulty with the examples he provided (either they didn't work, or were misleading).

In the end, it's not a perfect book, but it is definitely still worth the money to pick it up and get started-- for more in-depth treatments (like the issues I've listed) you can refer to MSDN, check out Lachev's book ( I haven't read the latest SSAS 2005 book from WROX yet, to be fair), or petition Reed Jacobson to add value with an advanced book :-)

I found this book to be very thorough and cover a lot of ground. I only had some minor issues with working the exercises. You do have to remember to read carefully how to go get the download of the code as it is missing off the CD. I got a lot out of working through the whole book.

I looked through this book at a bookstore recently (no insult to Amazon, but I really like have my hands on a book to review it properly). The text is large, and so even though the book is big, one page does not contain much info. I knew I was going to be disappointed when I opened the book halfway and there was an introduction to using paramaterized queries. I needed a book that assumed that I already knew basic SQL, .NET progrmming, and SQL Server 2000, and was already familiar with the basic Microsoft products.

This was not quite it. It seems to be written for people with less hands-on experience developing reports, likely written for people who want to decide whether to use Reporting Services, and at a high-level, what RS is capable of. I needed something that could give me a quick understanding of the essentials, and then help me to start cranking out real solution.

Initially, I was disappointed by the fact that key files for the book's examples were not available on the accompanying CD.

Within a week, Microsoft posted a download link for the outstanding files. Most pleasant.

In keeping with SQL Server Analysis Services Step-by-Step and DTS Step-by-Step, this book is a fantastic way to pick up the necessary skills to work with Reporting Services. Like the other Step-by-Steps, this book takes a very practical approach to teaching the subject matter. For those of us with a backgound in .NET development, the CD contains 3 additional bonus chapters neat topics on (among other things) extending and customizing Reporting Services for our appplications.

Like I said in an earlier review for DTS Step-by-Step, I hope Microsoft keeps up this great trend going forward with publications covering SQL Server 2005.

ACD (MCDBA)