Free SQL Help for Devs, DBAs, and the Curious

Welcome to SQLSupport.org. Today, we're going to discuss and compare two significant reporting tools from Microsoft: SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) and Power BI Paginated Reports. These tools, compatible with several platforms such as SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, MySQL 5.7, DB2 11.1, and Azure SQL, serve as a mainstay for developers and administrators seeking robust reporting solutions.

Let's start with SSRS. Introduced as part of the SQL Server 2005 suite, SSRS has been a preferred choice for creating traditional, paginated reports. SSRS supports a wide array of data sources, including SQL Server, MySQL, and DB2, among others. It allows developers to design pixel-perfect, operable reports for printing or generating in various formats like PDF, Excel, Word, HTML, etc.

-- Example of creating a report using T-SQL in SSRS

-- Declare the report parameters

DECLARE @StartDate DATE = '2017-01-01', @EndDate DATE = '2017-12-31' 

-- Query the data

SELECT SalesOrderID, OrderDate, TotalDue

FROM Sales.SalesOrderHeader

WHERE OrderDate BETWEEN @StartDate and @EndDate

On the other hand, Power BI Paginated Reports, part of the Power BI suite, is a relative newcomer on the scene. Introduced in 2015, Power BI offers a more interactive and user-friendly approach to data visualization. While it also supports paginated reports, Power BI shines in creating interactive dashboards and data exploration tools. It's cloud-based, which means it can easily integrate with Azure SQL and other cloud data sources.

-- Example of creating a report in Power BI Paginated Reports

-- Connect to the Azure SQL database

let Source = AzureSQL.Database("myserver.database.windows.net", "mydatabase")

-- Query the data

in Source{[Schema="Sales",Item="SalesOrderHeader"]}[Data]

Comparing SSRS and Power BI Paginated Reports, there are several key differences to consider. For developers and administrators comfortable with traditional reporting and needing pixel-perfect report layouts, SSRS is the desired choice. However, for a more modern, interactive, and user-friendly approach to reporting and data visualization, Power BI Paginated Reports is the way to go. In addition, Power BI offers a more seamless experience for cloud-based data sources like Azure SQL.

Cost is another factor to consider. As part of the SQL Server suite, SSRS can be a more cost-effective solution, especially for organizations already using SQL Server. On the other hand, Power BI offers a free tier, but more advanced features and larger data volumes require a paid subscription. However, the investment might be justified by the advanced, cloud-based data visualization capabilities.

In conclusion, both SSRS and Power BI Paginated Reports have their strengths and use cases. The choice between the two often depends on organizational needs, cost considerations, and the specific use case at hand. Whichever tool you choose, rest assured that both are capable of delivering powerful, insightful reports that can drive data-driven decision making within your organization.