Integrating Reports (using Reporting Services) with your application

By this time, I assume that you have tried your hands with reporting services in SQL Server 2005. Good to know that you are also aware of local mode and server mode. Now, next question is how do you integrate your application with these reporting services?

Integrating Windows application with Reports
All you have to do is to use ReportViewer control provided by Microsoft and you can also redistribute it. Just drag and drop the control on your Winform and start looking for the properties. Rest of the things you can easily figure out. And if the report is remotely hosted then you can also provide the report server URL.

Integrating Web Applications with Reports
Again, you can use the same ReportViwer control in your web application. You just have to drag-n-drop the control on your Web form.

Integrating with SharePoint
This is the most interesting part. If you have hosted the Sharepoint site for your organization and it is likely that you want to publish some reports on it. Integration of Reporting Services with Sharepoint allows you to do the same. For this kind of integration, you have web components like: ReportManager and ReportViewer. Additionaly, you also have access to Reporting SOAP Services API.

You have all the capabilities to do what you want with the Reporting Services. But hey do not forget to keep your design simple. ;)

Cheers,
Amol