1 st October 2010 Save the Pies for Lunch! Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Tim

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Agenda Definition of a dashboard\report Principles of good design SQL Server Reporting Services demo 2008 R2 Maps Report Management Report Builder

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS as a Visualisation Tool?

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Definition of a Dashboard Visual Display of The most important information needed to achieve objectives which Fits entirely on a single screen so it can be Monitored at a glance

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Definition of a Dashboard

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Brrrm

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Keep everything on one screen

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Demo Output Control

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Meaningless without context Compared to what? Avoid too much context!

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Use the correct measure Actual vs Budget isnt always useful

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Use the correct measure Use Labels appropriately Think about what you are trying to tell your user

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Demo Variance Graphs

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Use Effective Display Media Avoid Variety for the sake of variety Its OK to only have one type of graph Dont be frightened of tables What type of graph should I use?

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Bar – show values with categorical axis Line – show trends with interval axis Pie – always something better

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Sparklines – ensure detail is available Gauges – rarely appropriate Exception is bullet graphs

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Scatter Graphs – use for showing spread\correlation of data Bump graphs – for showing wins and losses over intervals

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Lattice Charts\Small Multiples

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Heatmaps Icon Charts

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What type of graph? Radar Graphs \ Polar Graphs Box Plots

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Demo Bump Charts

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services The Data-Ink Ratio Remove all unnecessary non-data pixels De-emphasize any non-data pixels that remain Remove all unnecessary data pixels!

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Avoid Decoration Statistics dont have to be boring!

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Avoid Decoration Colour

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Avoid Decoration 3d

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Avoid Decoration Gridlines and Borders

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services What remains? Use legible fonts Avoid excessive detail or precision Drill to detail where required Highlight whats important Sales £565,692

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Demo Indicators

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Summary Consider your display Media Remember your users objectives Everything on a single screen Information at a glance Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity Reporting Services is a fully featured visualisation tool Good dashboard design is a hard sell

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Questions

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services Resources Stephen Few – Information Dashboard Design Edward Tufte - The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Adatis Blogs – blogs.adatis.co.uk