SQL Server Reporting Services best practices

SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) Best Practices

Data Sources

1.     Use shared data sources even if there is only dataset

2.     In case of providing fixed credentials, use read-only user accounts

3.     Do not create report using SSRS Report Builder

Data Sets

1.      Try to keep report fields in single dataset. If the parameters are being populated from dataset then that dataset must be kept separate.

2.      Do not hard code anything either in the query or calculated dataset fields. Use parameters instead of hardcoding values

3.      Instead of filtering data in the dataset filters, filter the same in query

4.      Do not pull unnecessary fields

5.      Do not call queries that updates data in the data source objects e.g. Database Table

6.      Avoid usage of shared datasets

7.      Avoid usage of VB code i.e. report code

8.      If report is based on database then use stored procedure or views

Parameters

1.     Use appropriate data types

2.     Use report code or dataset queries to populate dynamic and custom parameters

3.     Provide default values to parameters

4.     Configure the default value of parameters in deployed report from configuration option without actually editing the RDL

5.     If users are not supposed to update parameter values then use internal parameters instead of keeping the parameters hidden

Report code

1.     Use modular approach (Create separate function even for small requirement)

2.     Do not hard code

3.     Commenting is must for every function

Expressions

1.     Do not use ReportItems!Fields as it might get changed and also it is difficult to maintain over the time

2.     Use ReportItems!Fields only for cell formatting for that particular cell

Report Area

1.     If report shows same static values at multiple places, then create parameter of the same and use it everywhere

2.     Remove unwanted white space from the report

Performance and optimizations

1.     Do not pull unnecessary data

2.     If possible then perform aggregations at the query level and only rendering related customizations at the report level

3.     If the source of the report does not change frequently, then use SSRS caching feature and also set the processing options accordingly

4.     If you use sub reports/ drill down reports then in child reports, do not add logic of populating parameters which are consuming values of parent report

5.     Try to use SSRS parameter sniffing

SSRS Coding Standard

Naming conventions

1.     Data sources

a.      Follow [server].[database/ cube] naming convention

2.     Data sets

a.      Provide meaningful names to datasets

b.     Prefix the names with 'ds'

c.      Give proper names to dataset fields

3.     Parameters

a.      Provide meaningful names to datasets

In the prompt field, put proper phrase or text that you want to show in parameter