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SSRS Interview Questions and Answers

Updated Jan 09, 2020

What is SSRS?

SQL Server Reporting Service is a server-based software system. It generates reports that Microsoft develops. You can prepare and deliver various printed reports that are interactive. A web-based interface administers the functioning of SSRS and develops customized reports. It is basically a business intelligence tool.

What does SSRS stand for?

SSRS stands for SQL Server Reporting Services.

What are the features of SSRS?

The main features in SSRS are-

  • Excel File Export: You can export files to Excel file formats.
  • XLS Format: Export to XLS format is also possible.
  • Data Alerts: You get alerts for all new data. You can create an alert threshold based on user-defined schedules. There are alerts to notify administrators too.
  • Power View: It is an interactive Business Intelligence feature available for RDLX file formats.
  • SSRS also has drag and drop as well as ad hoc reporting features.
  • It can be used to send e-mails when data changes.

SSRS Interview Questions

How to deploy SSRS reports?

You can deploy SSRS reports using Business Intelligence Development Studio. You can also use third-party products such as RSScripter. You can control the views of the report deployed on reporting service sites using tools like SharePoint.

What is the difference between SSRS and Power BI?

The differences between SSRS and Power BI include:

SSRS

Power BI

It is a reporting service.

It is a business intelligence service.

It generates reports only from the server.

It generates reports from the cloud as well as the server.

SSRS is less user-friendly.

It has graphic components that are easy to use.

It can be accessed through the web or through a desktop.

You can access it through web, desktop or through a mobile app.

It is a paid tool.

You can use it for free.

It deals with structured and semi-structured data.

You can deal with both structured and unstructured data.

What is report builder in SSRS?

Report Builder is an ad-hoc report design client that enables you to create reports using business terms (Report Builder model) it is familiar with. It need not apprehend database schemas or the process of writing SQL or MDX queries. Report Builder can work with SQL Server as well as Analysis Services data sources.

How to give permission to SSRS reports?

To give permission to SQL Server users to view an item, you must open the security properties of the item. You can then add a user, and assign them a role. For folders, you have to assign the role of the user at the top-level folder. The items within the folder will automatically inherit it.

What is matrix report in SSRS?

A matrix report in SSRS is a method of cross-tabulating four sets of data.

What is a subscription in SSRS?

Subscriptions in SSRS is a configuration to deliver reports at a certain time or as a response to certain events, in a file format that you must specify first. There may be multiple subscriptions for one report.

What is SSRS report manager?

An SSRS report Manager is a tool to access reports through the web. It is also a management tool to help you administer a report server from a distant location on the web. It is also used for navigation features and features like report viewer.

What are the different types of reports in SSRS?

The various types of reports in SSRS are:-

  • Parameterized reports
  • Linked reports
  • Snapshot reports
  • Cached reports
  • Ad-hoc reports
  • Clickthrough reports
  • Drill down reports
  • Drillthrough reports
  • Subreports

What is the query parameter in SSRS?

Query parameters are a type of SQL query through which you can to filter results. This parameter is present in the “where” clause of SQL. Through this parameter, you can instruct the SQL server about the records that you want to update, select, or delete.

What is dataset in SSRS?

A dataset embodies report data returning from executing a query on an external data source. It depends on the data connection containing information on the external source. The dataset includes query command, field collection, filters, parameters, and data options including case sensitivity and collation. The two types of datasets are shared datasets and embedded datasets.

What is a dashboard report in SSRS?

A dashboard report in SSRS is an application that allows you to create custom dashboards for use within the GP or in tools like Business Analyser.

What are subreports in SSRS?

A sub-report in SSRS is similar to the main report where the user is also able to pass queries and parameters. Therefore, it is an extension of the main report, consisting of different datasets.

What is drill down and drill through reports in SSRS?

A drill-down report hides the complexity of a report and allows the user to move between report items that are hidden conditonally. This controls the level of details you want in a data. However, the report has to retrieve all possible data.

Drill through reports are useful for reports with lot of data. It can be accessed through a hyperlinked text box in the original report. They work alongside the main report to display in detail depending on the aggregate in the main report. You can filter drill through reports using parameters.

How to change date format in SSRS parameter?

To change the date format in SSRS, you have to right click on the dataset and select Properties. In the parameter tab, go to Your Date parameter. In the value of the parameter, put the expression

=Format(Parameters!YourDateParameterName.value,"yyyy-MM-dd") 

or

=Format(Parameters!YourDateParameterName.value," MM-dd-yyyy ")

How to convert crystal report to SSRS?

The steps to convert crystal report to SSRS are-

  • First, create a new SQL query that can verify the data sets for accuracy.
  • Since Crystal Reports have a banded report design, and SSRS has a Table object, you have to set up the SSRS report layouts accordingly.
  • Include the row-level data and simultaneously build grouping relationships as well as sub-totals.
  • Develop formulas and techniques to develop condensed results from primary data.
  • Generate visual reporting artefacts like matrices, graphs and charts.
  • Set up all necessary sub-reports and linked reports.

What is report rendering in SSRS?

Report rendering is a process where a Report Instance is passed to a particular rendering extension like .html or .pdf. If paging of reports is supported by the output, the instance is paged. In the page header and footer, the expressions of items are evaluated for every page. Finally, the report is rendered to the selected output format.

What is ad hoc reports in SSRS?

Reporting in SSRS are equipped with a built-in tool for modelling reports, the Report Model Designer, which develops impromptu reports known as ad hoc reports. They are created by the end users and not the developers. The main advantage of ad hoc reports is the reduced dependency on the coding.


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