SQL Reporting and Analysis Tools

SQL for data analysis and reporting is arguably one of the most popular uses for SQL today. This language is widely used, flexible, and has a rather accessible learning curve. All this makes SQL a language of choice when it comes to creating easy-to-use yet functionally complex dashboards and tools for data analytics and reporting.

This is where dbForge Studio becomes an invaluable SQL analytics tool with data visualization, well-suited for data analysts and business intelligence consultants. It is the perfect solution for interactions with data. It is an advanced data visualization tool for SQL with a consistent GUI. It helps you keep your performance high at all times.

How to Create SQL Reports

dbForge Studio for SQL Server offers the possibility of creating SQL data reports implemented in the well-known and user-friendly interface. With dbForge Studio for SQL Server, the routine of SQL data analysis and report creating is simplified to several clicks — that means you won't have to spend a lot of time and efforts for SQL report-making any more.

To start generating SQL reports, go to the Start page and select Data Analysis.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server enables to create various kinds of reports, namely:

Data Report
Chart Report
Master-Detail Report
Pivot Table
Label Report
Static Report

Let's take a closer look at each type of data reports, available in dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

Creating SQL reports with SQL data analysis tools

Generate reports from SQL databases with a handy wizard

Data Report

Data report is a formatted representation of SQL data that can be displayed on a screen, printed or saved to a file. SQL reports allow getting the needed data from a database and representing it in a human-readable form, and also providing a lot of capabilities for SQL data generalization and analysis.

When printing tables and query results data is presented in nearly the same form as it is stored. So, it is often necessary to present it in the form of a report that has traditional appearance and is easy to read.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server provides easy-to-use and fast solution for this goal which includes the fully-functional report builder, SQL Data Report Wizard for creating different types of reports, and a lot of report examples.

You can start creating SQL Server data reports by going to the Data Analysis tab of the Start Page, or from the Database Explorer window, the Query Builder tool and from the Data Editor tool.

With this feature you can generate a table, a chart or a list report by means of the controls collection.

You can create an SQL report, based on a table, view or a query, and set up the output settings.

For example, let's create the department sales report with the help of the Report wizard. We need to select the Data Report feature, located under the Data Analysis tab of the Start Page. Then we need to select Standard Report, set up a database and the query text, select the mapping levels of the output data, select query style, formatting, set up the report title.

Here is our result.

Report-writing tools for SQL - data report preview

You can output an SQL Server report as an HTML file, save it in several popular formats or e-mail it at once. The generated report can be printed out. The search through the ready report is available as well.

Chart Designer

Charts are visual illustrations of your SQL data. In one glance, a viewer can come to an immediate understanding of the numbers.

Chart Designer, implemented in dbForge Studio for SQL Server, includes a rich chart collection, that will help you to select the best presentation for any purpose.

SQL tools for data analysis - Chart Designer overview

SQL data visualization tool - chart report

You can output the percentage-based data and choose the quantity of the displayed items (the rest of the items will be organized and be shown as Others).

You can start working with the Chart Designer form the Database Explorer window, the Query Builder tool and the Data Editor tool. The image below illustrates, how to start creating a chart from Query Builder.

SQL data visualization tool - chart from a query

Master-Detail Report

Master-Detail report is a data analysis tool, used to display data from a hierarchical data source. Master-Detail report represents a detail report within its master and can be used if a report's data source implements a master-detail relation between an object bound to a parent report and an object bound to a child report.

By setting up the parent table you can see the data from the child tables in the same window.

For example, with the data from Emp and Dept tables, we can get the information about employees from each department. To do that, you will need to create a report containing both of the tables.

Report-making tools - adding tables for a master-detail report

In Data Source, select Edit Relations and set up the key, master and detail tables.

In Designer, double-click Detail Tasks, click Insert Detail Report and select "FK_DEPT_EMP" from the drop-down list.

Then drag the FK_DEPT_EMP table from Data Source and drop it on the created Detail Report Band.

There can be any number of detail tables, and you can also set up any nesting if such is needed.

Insert detail report via our reporting tool for SQL Server

Pivot Table

Pivot Table is a data analysis tool that converts large amounts of data into compact and informative summaries ? pivot tables. You can rearrange your data by a simple drag of a mouse until you get the layout for the best for understanding of the data relations and dependencies.

With the Pivot Table feature implemented in dbForge Studio for SQL Server, you can create SQL summary reports, analyze statistic information using specific criteria, view graphic interpretations of SQL Server reports, output summary information etc.

For example, let's create the Sales by Department and Employees report for the Emp and Dept tables, and create a chart showing Sales by Employees.

You can create an SQL report based on a table, query or view - just setup it as Data Source.

How to create a pivot table report

In Toolbox, double-click Cross Tab.
Open the Data Source pane.
Next, set up a data source for the pivot table.
To add fields to the pivot table, drag them from the Data Source pane to a required cross tab area.
On the Data Report ribbon, you can customize the report appearance: set up font, its size and color, text alignment, foreground and background color.

Preview and export a pivot table report

After the report has been created, you can review how the report looks before you save it. To preview a report, switch to the Preview mode at the bottom of Report Designer.

The obtained report can be printed out, exported to various document formats and even e-mailed in the required format in a couple of clicks.

To export a report:

On the ribbon, click Export Document
In the Text Export Options dialog that opens, provide all the necessary export settings
Click OK

Label Report

The Label Report option allows you to create SQL reports containing labels of the specified type. For example, we can output information about Employees as a card.

You can add output settings for any report. To do this, in the Data Source window, right-click Parameters and select Add Parameter.

To enable a filter, click the triangle in the top-left corner of the Report Designer to invoke Report Tasks. Then add a filter to the Filter String.

Here is our result.

As you can see, you can define separate settings for even and odd records. Label reports can be printed out, exported to various document formats and even e-mailed in a required format.

Static Report

A Static Report contains some static information and does not need a data source.

To create a static report, in the File menu, choose New, then select Blank Data Report.

To proceed with report creation, open the Toolbox window by pressing the Toolbox icon on the Data Report toolbar. Then double-click the selected control and type the necessary text.

With the help of the Rich Text control you can upload RTF files to Data Report. Simply drop a Rich Text control onto the report's Detail band, and modify the control's content (either by using the default editor or by loading data from an external RTF file).

The obtained SQL static report can be printed out, exported to various document formats and even be e-mailed in a required format in one click.

Conclusion

dbForge Studio for SQL Server provides a powerful set of tools that make use of SQL for data analytics as well as comprehensive reporting tools that schedule and automate routine tasks. A wide range of available report types, data visualization tools, and rich controls will make your data speak for you. SQL data reports can be exported in 14 most popular file formats (including text, MS Excel, PDF, HTML, XML, DDBF, JSON, RTF, and CSV) and be e-mailed in one click.

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