Sql server Reprting Services interview Questions

1.What is difference b/w matrix, tabular and list ?
Tablular report: A tabular report is the most basic type of report. Each column corresponds to a column selected from the database.
Matrix report: A matrix (cross-product) report is a cross-tabulation of four groups of data:
a. One group of data is displayed across the page.
b. One group of data is displayed down the page.
c. One group of data is the cross-product, which determines all possible locations where the across and down data relate and places a cell in those locations.
d. One group of data is displayed as the “filler” of the cells. Martix reports can be considered more of a Pivot table.
List:A list data region is a data-bound report item that contains a single column of multi-instance data on a report. A list can be used for free-form reports or in conjunction with other data regions. You can define lists that contain any number of report items. A list can be nested within another list to provide multiple groupings of data.
To read on more on List data region click the below link. this one is official microsoft link
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms251742.aspx
2.What is shared datasource and embedded datasource?
in SSRS 2008 mainly two types of Data connections or datasources available.
1.Shared datasource
2.Embedded datasource
Shared Datasource:A shared data source is defined as a separate item and can be used by multiple reports.
Embedded Datasource:An embedded data source is defined in a report definition and used only by that report
For more details click the below link
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms159165.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd239381.aspx
3.What is Running Value?
Returns a running value of all non-null numericvalues specified by the expression, evaluated for the given scope.RunningValue is an SSRS expression that aggregates values at runtime.
This function takes 3 parameters
Syntax: Runningvalue(expression,function, scope)
Ex: -=runningvalue(Fields!Dailysales.value, sum,”table1_details group”)
4.What is report viewer controller?
with the report viewer we can see list of available reports . If we click on single report it will open from report server.
5.What is documentation map?
Documentation map provides set of navigation links to report items in a rendered report 6.What is data driven subscriptions?
Reporting Services supports 2 types of subscriptions

1. Standard subscriptions:  created and managed by individual user. It consists of static data
2. Data-driven Subscriptions : data can be change at run time.

These are two types

• E-mail subscriptions
• File share subscriptions

7.What is report builder?
Report Builder provides individuals with a quick and easy way to create attractive and ad-hoc reports.
8.What is default size memory on report server?
Report and model size is based on the size of report definaition and report model files(.smdl). however the report server doesnot limit the size or model of the report that we publish in report server. But ASP.NET imposes the size of the model or report that posted to the reportsever. By default server size 4MB.
9.How will integrate dot net dll into reports?
open the Report properties dialog box from the the visual studio designer and select refernces tab.
Browse and select the custom code .dll file and preview it , we will get error. Take the .dll file and copy in
C:ProgramFiles/Microsoft visual studio 9.0/Common/IDE/PrivateAssemblies
10.How do you provide data source security?
Goto reports in the reports select particular report and click on properties there we can select security and assign roles.
11.Types of Reports?
Types of Reports:

• Parameterized reports

     A parameterized report uses input values to complete the report. With the parameterized reports , report can be varied depending upon the input variable we assign. Parameterized paramters used in Drill through Reports.

• Linked Reports

A linked report is a report server item that provides an access point to an existing report.
A linked report is derived from an existing report and retains the original report definition.

• Snapshot reports

A Report snapshot is a report that contains layout information and query results that were retrieved at a specific point of time.

• Cached Reports

A cached report is a saved copy of a processed report. Cached reports are used to improve performance by reducing the number of processing requests.

• Adhoc Reports

Adhoc Reports are useful for end users to develop and design report in their own format.

• Click through Reports

A clickthrough report is a report that displays related data from a report model when you click the interactive data contained within your model-based report. These reports are generated by the report server based on the information contained within the report model. The person who created the model determines which fields are interactive and which fields are returned when a clickthrough report is opened. These field settings cannot be changed in the report authoring tools.

• Drill Down reports

Drilldown reports initially hide complexity and enable the user to toggle conditionally hidden report items to control how much detail data they want to see. Drilldown reports must retrieve all possible data that can be shown in the report.

• Drill Through Reports

Drillthrough reports are standard reports that are accessed through a hyperlink on a text box in the original report. Drillthrough reports work with a main report and are the target of a drillthrough action for a report item such as placeholder text or a chart. The main report displays summary information, for example in a matrix or chart. Actions defined in the matrix or chart provide drillthrough links to reports that display greater details based on the aggregate in the main report. Drillthrough reports can be filtered by parameters, but they do not have to be. Drillthrough reports differ from subreports in that the report does not display within the original report, but opens separately. They differ from clickthrough reports in that they are not autogenerated from the data source, but are instead custom reports that are saved on the report server. They differ from drilldown reports in that they retrieve the report data only for the specified parameters or for the dataset query.

• Sub Reports

A subreport is a report that displays another report inside the body of a main report. Conceptually, a subreport is similar to a frame in a Web page. It is used to embed a report within a report. Any report can be used as a subreport. The subreport can use different data sources than the main report. The report that the subreport displays is stored on a report server, usually in the same folder as the parent report. You can set up the parent report to pass parameters to the subreport.
Although a subreport can be repeated within data regions using a parameter to filter data in each instance of the subreport, subreports are typically used with a main report as a briefing book or as a container for a collection of related reports
For more information click on the following link
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630404.aspx#Click
12.What are all the ways we can provide security for report?
we can provide security in 3 types
1. Datasource Level
2. Dataset Level
3. Report Level
13.What are the gauges available in reports?
there are two types of Gauges in SSRS 2008
1.Radial Guages
2.Linear Guages
14.What are the charts available in reports?
They are 8 different charts are available
They are

1. column
2. Line
3. Shape
4. Bar
5. Area
6. Range
7. Scatter
8. polar

15.What are the sections available in charts?
3 sections available in charts

1. Category field( x-axis)
2. Data field (y-axis)
3. Series field