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 Kenttim.kent@adatis.co.uk

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

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 Displayof

The most important information needed to achieve objectives

which

Fits entirely on a single screenso 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 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 isn’t 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

It’s OK to only have one type of graph

Don’t 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 don’t 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 what’s important

Sales Sales Sales£565,692 £565,692 £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 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

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services

Questions

Visualising Data with SQL Server Reporting Services

Resources

Resources

Stephen Few – Information Dashboard Design

Edward Tufte - The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

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