I’ve been learning and working with IBM Cognos since it arrived on my desk in 1999. It was an ugly brown box labeled Cognos 5.5. Since then I’ve studied and learned 6.x then 7.x and finally made the painful transition to 8.x.
Now I’m studying both the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack (SSAS, SSIS and SSRS) along with learning the new Cognos 10.
I just want to list two WROX titles which are the best I’ve found for getting up to speed quickly.
For learning SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) go get the Professional series book ‘Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services’. I know the name is so creative, but it does cover the main areas of how to get started, do report design and enable end user reporting. It also has several good chapters on administering reporting services and integrating with SharePoint.
Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)
The other good book is Knight’s 24 Hour Trainer on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services. I’m a visual guy so any book that includes a DVD with demos is really going to help me. The book and videos cover using the wizard for basic data moving and then goes in depth to cover every major component for data moving tasks. This book won’t make you a guru, but it will get you up to speed quickly.
Knight's 24-Hour Trainer: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)
