1. Optimizing Reporting Services
Bob Duffy

2. Speaker Profile – Bob Duffy
Senior SQL Consultant with Microsoft
Database Architect at Prodata SQL Centre Excellence, Dublin
Analysis Services Maestro
One of about 25 MCA for SQL Server globally
SQL Server MVP, 2009+
MCM on SQL 2005 and 2008
@bob_duffy

3. Agenda Architecture & Internals Logging and Monitoring Parametrisation
Connections
DataSets
Optimising Grouping and Pivoting
Drill down and Navigation
Top Issues

4. Architecture & Internals 2005=>2008+
Data
Table
Matrix
List
Chart
Tablix
Calcs
Soft Page
Layout
HTML
Webforms
Group
HTML
Excel
Chart
Winforms
Data
CSV
Image
ROM
Storage
XML
Step though this build slide as follows:
In SSRS 2005:
When data was received, each data region processed data and performed calculations.
The results were stored in an intermediate format. The problem was that all data had to be processed before you could start rendering.
Each rendering extension read off of Report Object Model and did pagination.
Output of rendering extensions was either the Webforms control consuming HTML, or, consuming a serialized format or image renderer, the Winforms control or the Print control.
In SSRS 2008:
1st change
Grouping of data was pulled out of the data regions which results in consistent grouping.
All data regions replaced with Tablix.
Chart data region kept separate due to additional properties required for visualization.
2nd change
Results of processing the data regions stored in intermediate format before calculations.
Calculations can be calculated on-the-fly because raw data is always available.
3rd change
Rendering object model invoked by rendering extension for a specific page.
Only have to calculate expressions on requested page – iterative process based on grouping in scope on that page.
Report object model abstracted into 3 module types
Soft Page Layout - interactive rendering in which there is no concept of a page
Data – outputs data directly
Hard Page Layout – PDF and image files will always have same pagination
4th change - Offload of some rendering to client as HTML or Image
Rendered at DPI of server, but higher DPI on client caused problems – now resolved
Performance improved by offloading from server
Hard Page
Layout
Image
Print
PDF
Image

5. Logging and Monitoring
Data Logged to “ExecutionLog” and related views
Data retention is 60 days by default
2008R2+ includes much more details

6. Parameters

7. Why is the DatePicker slow?
314k for the calendar
195k per click on the calendar!
No Caching

8. More bad news Why is the HTML very “fat” – only 31 days!
Poor use of CSS and markup

9. Why does screen “freeze” (postback)
We need to eliminate the cascade parameter

10. What’s wrong with multi-select?
For list of stores page size grew 800KB
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color:window;">
                                                                                        <tr>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl00" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnSelectAllClick(this);" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00">(Select All)</label></span></td>
                                                                                        </tr><tr>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl01" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl01" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl01">Total Store</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl02" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl02" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl02">0     - Unknown</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl03" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl03" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl03">11    - O'LEARYS HEAD OFFICE - CELEBRIDGE</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl04" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl04" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl04">12    - RATHBEALE - GARRIGAN</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl05" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl05" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl05">16    - ROCHFORTBRIDGE - KEN FENNELL</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl06" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl06" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl06">24    - UNKNOWN-24</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl07" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl07" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl07">27    - UNKNOWN-27</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl08" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl08" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl08">31    - BIRR - LOUGHNANE</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl09" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl09" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl09">32    - NEWCASTLE - G & L CENTRA</label></span></td>
                                                                                                <td nowrap="nowrap"><span><input id="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl10" type="checkbox" name="ctl31$ctl04$ctl11$divDropDown$ctl10" onclick="$get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11').control.OnValidValueClick(this, $get('ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl00'));" /><label for="ctl31_ctl04_ctl11_divDropDown_ctl10">33    - GOREY - WHELAN</label></span></td>

11. Parameter MDX Revisited
WITH MEMBER [Measures].[ParameterCaption] AS
[Store].[Store].CURRENTMEMBER.MEMBER_CAPTION
MEMBER [Measures].[ParameterValue] AS
[Store].[Store].CURRENTMEMBER.UNIQUENAME
MEMBER [Measures].[ParameterLevel] AS
[Store].[Store].CURRENTMEMBER.LEVEL.ORDINAL
SELECT {
[Measures].[ParameterCaption],
[Measures].[ParameterValue],
[Measures].[ParameterLevel]
} ON COLUMNS ,
[Store].[Store].[Store]
ON ROWS
FROM
[CUBE]
where
([Store].[Active].&[Y])
Parameter MDX Revisited
What’s Not optimal here ?
Cell by Cell Mode
Query Scope Cache
Discuss – The All Member!
SELECT {} ON COLUMNS,
[Store].[Store].[Store]
DIMENSION PROPERTIES MEMBER_CAPTION,UNIQUE_NAME
ON ROWS
FROM
CUBE]
where
([Store].[Active].&[Y])

12. Parameters Summary Avoid Calendar Control Avoid Multi Select
Avoid “Cell By Cell” parameters
Avoid gratuitous post backs
Cache where possible (no security)
Seriously consider OLEDB
It handles the “All Member” better

13. Connections Choose Between Native and OLEDB
OLEDB Can be faster and return properties
But has no GUI
Decide if Trusted v Delegated
Don’t forget Kerberos
Log will spit warnings

14. DataSets Usually the slowest part of reports For DBEngine
Stored Procs or Inline TSQL?
Avoid TempDB
Are we missing a star schema ?
Consider Analysis Services and MDX
Consider Shared / Cached DataSets
Eliminate Redundant DataSets
Eliminate Hidden DataSets

15. Grouping and Pivoting

16. Waste Disposal
Drill Down/Through

17. Improving Rendering Use Matrix sparingly Avoid Footer on each page
Avoid Can Grow Setting
Use Rectangles as containers
Avoid Chart inside Tables if possible
For HTML, set the InteractiveHeight to 0
Avoid TotalPages
Avoid sub-reports on large lists
Images
Avoid large number of images. Use built in images where possible
Set AutoSize to “fit”

18. Using New Features to Improve Performance

19. New Features for Performance
Use a Semantic Model
Subscriptions and ing of PDFs
Shared Datasets
Cache Execution
Faster Servers
Load Balancing

20. The SSRS Checklist Ensure MDX Optimised Parameters Optimised
Parameters shared where possible
Only pivot within MDX where makes sense
Do no return large result sets
Use Drill Down Actions

21. Top Issues in the Field Parameterisation Too much IO on query
Use of Spooling to #tempdb
Too Many Results
Grouping or Drill Down in Report

22. References Reporting Services Log Viewer