This book got me up to speed very quickly on developing my first SQL reports. I was able to read the first half of the book and use the exercises to build my reports within the first day. I've also skipped around to various sections, which I found easy to do because of the clearly outlined contents, in order to fill in my knowledge gaps on deployment and management of reports. As a result, within a single work day I was able to dazzle my superiors with a completed project. Suddenly I look like a genius & a workhorse combined!

This was my first purchase of a Rational Guide, but based on this overall positive experience I will definitely consider purchasing more titles in the future.

This book got me up to speed very quickly on developing my first SQL reports. I was able to read the first half of the book and use the exercises to build my reports within the first day. I've also skipped around to various sections, which I found easy to do because of the clearly outlined contents, in order to fill in my knowledge gaps on deployment and management of reports. As a result, within a single work day I was able to dazzle my superiors with a completed project. Suddenly I look like a genius & a workhorse combined!

This was my first purchase of a Rational Guide, but based on this overall positive experience I will definitely consider purchasing more titles in the future.

I enjoyed the book very much. I have been researching for more efficient methods to create and maintain data driven reports. "The Rational Guide To: SQL Server Reporting Services" provided an excellent feature and technical overview allowing me to make a well informed decision to move forward with implementing Reporting Services. The book answered many questioned I had such as creating and maintaining reports, SharePoint integration, security, multiple data sources, and many more. I also liked the numerous demonstration "steps", easy to read shorter format with examples and details, extremely well organized, called out "Notes", bonus material, and effective screenshots.

It is refreshing to finish a technical book wanting more rather than feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, allowing me to spend more time working with the product.

I am looking forward to reading "The Rational Guide To: Building SharePoint Web Parts".

I enjoyed the book very much. I have been researching for more efficient methods to create and maintain data driven reports. "The Rational Guide To: SQL Server Reporting Services" provided an excellent feature and technical overview allowing me to make a well informed decision to move forward with implementing Reporting Services. The book answered many questioned I had such as creating and maintaining reports, SharePoint integration, security, multiple data sources, and many more. I also liked the numerous demonstration "steps", easy to read shorter format with examples and details, extremely well organized, called out "Notes", bonus material, and effective screenshots.

It is refreshing to finish a technical book wanting more rather than feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, allowing me to spend more time working with the product.

I am looking forward to reading "The Rational Guide To: Building SharePoint Web Parts".

This book is an excellent resource to get up to speed and productive fast! It's clear, concise, and gives you exactly what you need to start using Reporting Services today!

This book is an excellent resource to get up to speed and productive fast! It's clear, concise, and gives you exactly what you need to start using Reporting Services today!

As the sole SQL Server DBA in a 1500 person company a lot of technology changes are left to me to get started. Tony's book helped tremendously to get me up to speed, which allowed me to teach others and we're now in the process of converting our Crystal reports to Reporting Services.

Thanks, Tony!

As the sole SQL Server DBA in a 1500 person company a lot of technology changes are left to me to get started. Tony's book helped tremendously to get me up to speed, which allowed me to teach others and we're now in the process of converting our Crystal reports to Reporting Services.

Thanks, Tony!

As a SQL Server DBA I normally don't deal with reporting tools at all. Since this one is branded and bundled with Microsoft SQL Server I was naturally expected to pick this up and run with it. I needed a crash course. The Rational Guide to: SQL Server Reporting Services seemed like a natural fit. Quick, concise, and to the point it only took a couple of nights to read the book and a couple more to work through some basic exercises and get up to speed. Inside a week I had the basic skills and was able to show the value of this product. Anthony Mann continues to do what he does best, break what could be a very complicated subject into small digestible chunks to get you started and comfortable with the subject quickly. This book doesn't aim to be the end all be all well of knowledge, it is meant to get you started working with the product quickly so you can be as productive as you can be. If you haven't started working with SQL Server Reporting services, or find that you have just started and don't normally work with these kinds of tools, this book is absolutely for you.

I had no clue about what reporting services are! After reading this book it gave me a quick overview of what it is all about. Then I bought another book to go into the details..

I had no clue about what reporting services are! After reading this book it gave me a quick overview of what it is all about. Then I bought another book to go into the details..

Concise, yet thorough, introduction to SQL Server Reporting Services. Just right for getting me started and helping me determine how I want to approach an implementation.

I have found it to be easy reading and to the point. It is laid out well and I especially like the notes, tech tips and bonus information.

While not a deep technical treatise on the topic, this book will get those just starting with reporting services working quickly. If your evaluating RS for use and don't have the time for full fledged training, this book will allow you to install the server, configure basic security, and start generating simple reports. Keeping in mind that you will not find all the answers here, this book is succinct and delivers the essentials.

Let's face it, saying that Microsoft's BOL tutorials or "getting started" lessons are cumbersome is an understatement. If you have a busy schedule and you need to get a "quick handle" on what Reporting Services is all about, you will find Anthony Mann's SQL Server Reporting Services a great read. Go ahead. Get a cup of coffee, kick back and I guarantee in an hour you will be able to perform an initial assessment of Reporting Services and how it could fit in with your enterprise needs. This is a great concept. Do not let the price mislead you. We need more textbooks like this - A quick synopsis on new development platforms that gives you just enough screen shots of the GUI to give you an idea of how it works.

If you're unfamiliar with SQL Reporting Services, this book provides a quick overview. You can get the idea without being overwhelmed or bogged down in details. If time and money are precious, this is the book for you!