Digital Dashboard Question

I’m not sure if this is the right topic for this particular forum but here goes anyway…

Okay, admittedly, I am not really familiar with MS SQL Server (I’m Oracle, actually) but I am investigating a possible implementation on a relatively small scale.I am sure that MS SQL Server will handle all the database functions I need and will leave plenty of room for future growth.That really isn’t the issue.What I am trying to figure out is how the Digital Dashboard I’ve read about works.Of particular concern is the apparent connection between the Dashboard and Share Point.My first question is this:Is Share Point required to use the Digital Dashboard?

My next question is actually a bit easier… Is there a sample site I can access that shows some of the capabilities of a Digital Dashboard implementation?I’d like to make sure that the kinds of displays I am trying to build are actually available using this feature…

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Try searching around on the MS newsgroups. From what I read on there Digital Dashboard has long been superceeded by WSS.

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?query=%22digital+dashboard%22&dg=&cat=en_US_8BC69AC3-3D05-041E-84C8-501EAB19564E&lang=en&cr=US&pt=&catlist=&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us

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Probably we should start with some understanding about what you are reading. Searching on "digital dashboard" reveals that it's been announced several years ago and a lot of things have changed since

Next, tell us a bit more about your high-level requirements. I guess the most important question is does your dashboard have to be web-based? If so, SharePoint v. 3.0 will definately help since you will get so much "dashboard" plumbing essentially for free, e.g. page personalization. In addtion, since you are posting your question to this forum, SQL Server 2005 SP2 will allow you integrate SSRS reports seamlessly with SharePoint. You will be able to bring in other report views, e.g. Excel spreadsheets, KPIs from SSAS. etc. Yet, you don't have to use SharePoint if for some reason you don't want to. Alternatively, you can whip out a custom ASP.NET-based app.

About your second question, we are still waiting for the AdventureWorks dashboard demo. The Office newsgroups will be a better vanue to ask this question.

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Okay...

High Level Requirements - We are a large Army Hospital. The types of data that I need to display include financial, productivity, manpower, and HR data. We currently have several MS Access databases that are handeling the analysis and reporting of this information but because of the large amounts of data, they are begining to stretch the file size limitations of Access. The specific reports that I will want to display are various bar charts, line charts, spreadsheet-type reports and possibly other forms based on the requirements determination that we are still putting together. I will need to use drill down for two reasons: First, each user will need to see primarily that data which pertains to their specific work center. Second, some users will need to move up and down the data chain to gather and analyze information across the enterprise.

Web-based - Well, I think this would work best. Idealy, I'd like to be able to create a mobile version that key staff members can access via their Blackberry devices. This will allow them to take certain data with them to meetings, while traveling, etc... I would be reluctant to put together something that required a client installation on the local PC. There are a lot of people who would need the information and installing and maintaining each one would be difficult.

Share Point - Well, my only problem with this is that we do not currently have Share Point implemented (I know... wake up and smell the technology).

Custom App - Well, the obvious drawback here is development and maintenance. I really don't have the resources to commit to a complex development and maintaining it would be equaly problematic. This is why I think a pre-designed thin client of some kind would work best for my situation. I am not familiar with ASP.NET so I don't really know the level of complexity involved.

I am not necessarily committed to MS SQL Server, if there is another option out there, I'd be happy to hear about it...

Again, thanks in advance for your assistance.

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1. Start by implementing the SSRS reports you need.

2. If you need to display reports side-by-side consider installing SQL Server 2005 SP2 to surface the SSRS reports to SharePoint If you don't need side-by-side reports and web parts, you may find that the Report Manager (a web application that ships with SSRS) is all you need. The Report Manager will allow your users to access reports on the web.

Drillthrough reports are supported by SSRS.