SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Interview questions and answers : 2

What is the report server?

Report server is the server where we deploy the report. I.e. it’s a holding place for reports. Applications access report server to view the report.

What are the different folders on report server?

There are two folders which exist on report server.

1. Report Server: Report server contains the xml code of rdl.

2. Report : Report folder stores the actual RDL file and which can be run by clicking on it on server



What is URL Methods of rendering?

URL Method is report rendering method in which you provide the report details through URL.

URL method contains the report server details, parameter details and login details in the url itself to view the report in report viewer control.

What is report subscription?

Report subscription is to schedule the resource on particular time and to send a mailer to particular users.

You can find this functionality on report server for each report.

What is the RDL file?

RDL File stands for report definition language. It contains the report definition which located on report server.

What is the difference between RDL and RDLC formats?
RDL files are created by the SQL Server 2005 version of Report Designer. RDLC files are created by the Visual Studio 2005 version of Report Designer.


RDL and RDLC formats have the same XML schema. However, in RDLC files, some values (such as query text) are allowed to be empty, which means that they are not immediately ready to be published to a Report Server. The missing values can be entered by opening the RDLC file using the SQL Server 2005 version of Report Designer. (You have to rename .rdlc to .rdl first.)

RDL files are fully compatible with the ReportViewer control runtime. However, RDL files do not contain some information that the design-time of the ReportViewer control depends on for automatically generating data-binding code. By manually binding data, RDL files can be used in the ReportViewer control.

Note that the ReportViewer control does not contain any logic for connecting to databases or executing queries. By separating out such logic, the ReportViewer has been made compatible with all data sources, including non-database data sources. However this means that when an RDL file is used by the ReportViewer control, the SQL related information in the RDL file is simply ignored by the control. It is the host application's responsibility to connect to databases, execute queries and supply data to the ReportViewer control in the form of ADO.NET DataTables.

It contains the report layout and data source and datasets.

What are the Matrix reports and what are their uses?

Matrix reports are the reports which used to generate data dynamically i.e. table structure is not static and it can be changed at run time.

How to pass cascaded parameters in report?

Cascaded parameters are the parameters which are depended on other parameters. These parameters can be created in parameter section in upper window while creating the report.

How to implement group by in report?

Group by can be implemented by adding a group on row in table data part. Adding group will two group rows for this row on above and below of this particular row.

Below row can be used for subtotal of this group which is specified in above row. By repeating the same operation on group row can created a group on group.