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

1st October 2010

Save the Pies for Lunch!Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services

Tim [email protected]

@timk_adatishttp://blogs.adatis.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

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


SSRS as a Visualisation Tool?


Definition of a Dashboard

Visual Displayof

The most important information needed to achieve objectives

which

Fits entirely on a single screenso it can be

Monitored at a glance


Definition of a Dashboard


Brrrm Brrrm


Keep everything on one screen


Demo

Output Control


Meaningless without context

Compared to what?

Avoid too much context!


Use the correct measure Actual vs Budget isn’t always useful


Use the correct measure Use Labels appropriately

Think about what you are trying to tell your user


Demo

Variance Graphs


Use Effective Display Media

Avoid Variety for the sake of variety

It’s OK to only have one type of graph

Don’t be frightened of tables

What type of graph should I use?


What type of graph? Bar – show values with categorical axis

Line – show trends with interval axis

Pie – always something better


What type of graph? Sparklines – ensure detail is available

Gauges – rarely appropriate

Exception is bullet graphs


What type of graph?

Scatter Graphs – use for showing spread\correlation of data

Bump graphs – for showing wins and losses over intervals


What type of graph? Lattice Charts\Small Multiples


What type of graph?

Heatmaps

Icon Charts


What type of graph?

Radar Graphs \ Polar Graphs

Box Plots


Demo

Bump Charts


The Data-Ink Ratio

Remove all unnecessary non-data pixels

De-emphasize any non-data pixels that remain

Remove all unnecessary data pixels!


Avoid “Decoration”

Statistics don’t have to be boring!


Avoid “Decoration” Colour


Avoid “Decoration” 3d


Avoid “Decoration”

Gridlines and Borders


What remains?

Use legible fonts

Avoid excessive detail or precision

Drill to detail where required

Highlight what’s important

Sales Sales Sales£565,692 £565,692 £565,692


Demo

Indicators


Summary

Consider your display Media

Remember your user’s 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


Questions


Resources

Resources

Stephen Few – Information Dashboard Design

Edward Tufte - The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

Adatis Blogs – blogs.adatis.co.uk

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

Documents

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