SSW Rules to Better SQL Reporting Services 2005

 

Rules to Better SQL Reporting Services

1. Do you know the 4 user experiences of Reporting Services: Vanilla, Website, Email, Windows?
2. Do you know when to use Reporting Services?
3. Do you check that "RS Configuration Manager" is all green ticks?
4. Do you check out the built-in samples?
5. Do you know your 2 migration options to show your Access reports on the web?
6. Layout - Does your report print and display on the web correctly?
7. Layout - Do you include a useful footer at the bottom of your reports?
8. Layout - Do you avoid using word 'Report' in your reports?
9. Layout - Do you underline items with Hyperlink Action?
10. Layout - Do you show errors in Red?
11. Layout - Do you have consistent report name?
12. Data Layout - Do you show the past 6 months of totals in a chart?
13. Data Layout - Do you show data and chart in one?
14. Data Layout - Do you avoid using a single chart when you need it to be scaled?
15. Data Layout - Do you use expressions to show the correct scale on charts?
16. Data Layout - Do you show change in your reports?
17. Data Layout - Do you avoid showing change as a percentage?
18. Data Layout - Do you use alternating row colors?
19. Data Layout - Do you have nodes count like Outlook?
20. Data Layout - Do you avoid displaying decimal places?
21. Data Layout - Do you have consistent height of table row across all your reports?
22. Data Layout - Do you display zero number as blank in your reports?
23. Data Layout - Do you know the best way to show your data?
24. Data Layout - Do you show time format clearly?
25. Data Logic - Do you use de-normalized database fields for calculated values?
26. Parameters - Do you avoid showing empty reports by at least setting Default parameters?
27. Parameters - Do you avoid showing empty reports by the most intelligent default?
28. Parameters - Do you use the DateTime data type for date parameters?
29. Parameters - Do you have consistent parameter names?
30. Performance - Do you cache popular reports for better performance?
31. Performance - Do you schedule snapshots of slow reports for quicker access?
32. Internationalization - Do you keep use regional friendly formatting?
33. Internationalization - Do you make sure your language follows the user's regional settings?
34. Internationalization - Do you make sure your language rule has an exception for Currency Fields?
35. Admin - Do you validate all your reports?
36. Admin - Do you create a separate virtual directory for Admin access?
37. Admin - Do you take advantage of 'Integrated Security' to do Payroll reports?
38. Admin - Do you remove ExecutionTime in Subject of Subscription email?

Source: SSW Rules to Better SQL Reporting Services 2005