Rules to Better Reporting Services

• Do you know how to get maximum logging in Report Server?
• Do you know which reports are being used?
• Do you know the 5 user experiences of Reporting Services?
• Do you know when to use Reporting Services?
• Do you know how to migrate Reporting Services reports?
• Do you use Report Server Project?
• Do you verify that Report Server authentication settings allow a wide range of web browsers?
• Do you know how to subscribe a report?
• Do you check that "Report Server Configuration Manager" is all green ticks?
• Do you check out the built-in samples?
• Do you know your 2 migration options to show your Access reports on the web?
• Layout - Do you print and display your report on the web correctly?
• Layout - Do you include useful information on the footer of reports?
• Layout - Do you avoid using word 'Report' in your reports?
• Layout - Do you underline items with Hyperlink Action?
• Layout - Do you show errors in red?
• Layout - Do you have consistent report name?
• Layout - Do you include feedback information in the report?
• Layout - Do you show which version of Reporting Services you are running?
• Layout - Do you put as little content as possible in a report page header?
• Data Layout - Do you show the past 6 months of totals in a chart?
• Data Layout - Do you show data and chart in one?
• Data Layout - Do you avoid using a single chart when you need it to be scaled?
• Data Layout - Do you use expressions to show the correct scale on charts?
• Data Layout - Do you show change in your reports?
• Data Layout - Do you avoid showing change as a percentage?
• Data Layout - Do you use alternating row colors?
• Data Layout - Do you have nodes count like Outlook?
• Data Layout - Do you avoid using too many decimal places?
• Data Layout - Do you have consistent height of table row across all your reports?
• Data Layout - Do you display zero number as blank in reports?
• Data Layout - Do you show time format clearly?
• Data Layout - Do you show all of the report parameters in body?
• Data Layout - Do you know how to use logical page breaks?
• Data Layout - Do you know how to prevent charts growing with rows?
• Data Layout - Do you take advantage of vertical text to avoid lots of thin columns?
• Data Layout - Do you use gray color for past data?
• Data Layout - Do you use 3D cylinder in column chart?
• Data Layout - Do you center the title in your chart?
• Data Logic - Do you use de-normalized database fields for calculated values?
• Data Logic - Do you use SQL Ranking functions to rank your data?
• Parameters - Do you avoid unnecessary words in the parameter?
• Parameters - Do you avoid showing empty reports?
• Parameters/Internationalization - Do you use the DateTime data type for date parameters?
• Parameters - Do you have consistent parameter names?
• Performance - Do you cache popular reports for better performance?
• Performance - Do you schedule snapshots of slow reports for quicker access?
• Internationalization - Do you use regional friendly formatting?
• Internationalization - Do you make sure your language follows the user's regional settings?
• Internationalization - Do you pay attention to the date format of your parameters?
• Internationalization - Do you make sure your language rule has an exception for Currency Fields?
• Admin - Do you validate all your reports?
• Admin - Do you create a separate virtual directory for Admin access?
• Admin - Do you take advantage of 'Integrated Security' to do Payroll reports?
• Admin - Do you remove @ExecutionTime in subject of subscription email?
• Do you know to embed an RS report in ASP.NET page the right way (using Report Viewer instead of IFrame)?
• Do you know how to get email list of report subscription?
• Do you add report owner in your report?
• Do you use single line box instead of double line box?
• Do you change the name of site settings?
• Do you use the correct authentication for reports?
• Do you have URL Access link for your report?
• Do you have a clear labelling for including / excluding GST?
• Do you have a summary and a detailed version of your report?
• Analysing with Excel - Do you use a live data feed?
• Do you follow the naming convention standards in Reporting Service?
• Do you use SharePoint Integration Reporting Mode over Normal(Native) Reporting Mode?
• Do you know how to display reports in Firefox, Chrome and Safari (SQL Reporting Services 2008R2/2012)?
• Do you know how to display reports properly in Firefox / Chrome (Reporting Services 2005/2008)?
• Do you have a report which refreshes your data source?