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In the world of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), one of the most powerful features that can be used to create highly reusable and modular reports is the subreport. This feature is available in versions of SQL Server 2012 and SQL Server 2014, as well as in MySQL 5.6, DB2 10.5, and Azure SQL. This article will provide an overview of how to use SSRS subreports to create reusable output blocks.

A subreport in SSRS is simply a report item that points to another report. This can be beneficial if you have sections of your reports that are common among different reports. Instead of recreating the same sections for every report, you can create a subreport and use it in multiple parent reports. This leads to easier maintenance and consistent report layout.

To use a subreport in SSRS, you first need to create a standalone report. This report will serve as your subreport. Here is an example of creating a standalone report in T-SQL for SQL Server 2012 or 2014:

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.GetCustomerOrders @CustomerId INT AS
BEGIN
  SELECT OrderId, OrderDate, ProductName, Quantity
  FROM dbo.Orders
  WHERE CustomerId = @CustomerId;
END;

This standalone report retrieves customer orders based on a specific customer ID. You can then use this report as a subreport in your parent report. After creating your standalone report, you can create your parent report and add the standalone report as a subreport.

The process is similar in MySQL 5.6. You first create a standalone report, which you can then use as a subreport in your parent report. Here's an example of how to create a standalone report in MySQL:

CREATE PROCEDURE GetCustomerOrders(IN customerId INT) 
BEGIN
  SELECT OrderId, OrderDate, ProductName, Quantity 
  FROM Orders
  WHERE CustomerId = customerId;
END;

Subreports are also supported in DB2 10.5. The process of creating a subreport in DB2 is similar to SQL Server and MySQL. You first create a standalone report, which you can then use as a subreport in your parent report.

Azure SQL also supports subreports. If you are using Azure SQL, you can use the same process as mentioned above to create and use subreports. The T-SQL syntax used in SQL Server 2012 and 2014 is also applicable in Azure SQL.

In conclusion, using subreports in SSRS can significantly increase the reusability and modularity of your reports. It can also lead to easier maintenance and a more consistent report layout. Whether you are using SQL Server 2012 or 2014, MySQL 5.6, DB2 10.5, or Azure SQL, you can benefit from using subreports in your SSRS projects.