Top 50 MSBI Interview

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Top 50 MSBI Interview Questions and Answers

1. Define the Characteristics of MSBI

Criteria Result

Analytics Dashboards, guided navigation and drill down

Type of Solution End-to-End Business solution with extended ETL

User-friendly Ease of installation, use, maintenance

2. Define Query parameter in SSRS?

Query parameters is revealed in the query of the datasources that are to be

included into the SQL script’s where clause of the SQL that can accept
parameters. Query parameters begin with the symbol @.

3. What are the Reporting Service Constituents in SSRS?

A. Report Manager : A Web-based administration tool for managing the

Report Server.
B Report Server : Provides services for implementation and delivery of
reports.
C. Report Designer : A place where we can create report.

4. What do you understand by matrix in SSRS?

A matrix is a data region related to a report set. Matrix permits us to create

crosstab reports with the report variables showing on rows and columns. It
allows us to drag.

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5. What do you mean by sub reports and how we can create them?

A sub report is like any other reports which can be termed in main report
and can be generate through main report. Parameters can be conceded
from main report to sub report and basis of that report can be created.

6. Define report model project?

Report model project is used for creating Adhoc reporting. We can create
the adhoc reports over report builder. Report model project can be
created on bids or report server. This model can have simple view.

7. What do you understand by report server project?

Report Server Project comprises of RDL le and it need to be deployed on

report server to view the report les to application and user. It is a
solution where we can design our reports. We can add it by going into
BIDS clicking on new item and then selecting reports server project. Once
the solution is formed we can start forming reports.

8. Explain report builder?

Report builder is used to create small reports and it is a de ne interface.

We can’t change the report interface in report builder it pre designed. We
can just drag columns in the report. It creates reports on database objects
available with report model project.

9. In which SQL Server type report builder introduced?

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Report builder presented in SQL Server 2005. While creating or arranging

report model project on report server we can get error or it might not get
formed. For this we need to check whether the service pack 22 is installed
or not.

10. How to organise the Report?

Report can be organized in three ways :

1. Using visual studio : In visual studio we can directly deploy the

report through solution explorer by providing the report server URL in
project properties at Target Server URL. This will organize entire
project or single report as per our selection.
2. Using report server : We can directly go to the report server and
deploy the report by looking the report from the disk location on
server.
3. Creating the utility : SQL server provides the utility which can be
used to create a modify utility for our report deployment in bulk.
11. Define RS.exe utility?

Rs.exe utility is used for organizing the report on report server. It comes
with the report server and can be modify accordingly.

12. What is the name of reporting services con g le and what it is used
for?

Reporting service con g le is used for report con guration details. It

contains the report format and also the report import types. Report
service config exist in ISS.

13. What are the three different part of RDL file elaborate them?

In visual studio RDL files has three parts.

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1. Data : It covers the dataset on which we write the query. Data set is
associated with data source.
2. Design : In design we can design report. We can create tables and
matrix reports. We Drag columns values from source.
3. Preview : It ia used to check the preview after the report run.

14. Which language rdl files made of?

RDL files are printed in XML.

15. What do you understand by chart in report?

Chart reports are for graphical representation. We can get pie charts
columns harts and various other options. 3d charts are also presented in
reporting services.

16. Define Data Set in report?

Data set are the set of data which we want to show in report. Data creates
on data source. Data source is the source of data from where we are
receiving this data i.e. database server and database name joining string.

17. Name different types of data sources in SSRS?

Some of them are listed below.

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OLEDB.
SQL Server SAP Net weaver BI.
Oracle.
Report Server Model.
SQL Server Analysis Service OLEDB.
ODBC.
SAP Net weaver BI.
Hyperion.
Teradata.
XML

18. What is the web service used for reporting services?

Reporting Service Web Service used in SSRS. By retrieving this web service
we can access all report server section and also get the report organized
on report server.

19. How to enhance the custom code in Report?

To enhance the custom codes in report go to report tab on top then

properties and there you will find the selections for custom code.

20. Define cache in SSRS?

Report server can lay up a copy of processed report in a memory and

return the copy when a user opens the report. This server memory is called
as cache and the process is known as caching.

21. Elaborate Web service task in SSIS?

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First we con gure HTTP Connection manager which will point to

WSDL of a web service.
Web service task customs this HTTP Connection manager and let us
invoke methods in it.
It return values of method value we can store it in some variables and
can use as input for some other tasks.

22. Explain transfer SQL Server object task?

It allows us to allocate di erent SQL server objects between di erent

instances of SQL Server.Object incomes from table, stored procedures,
user defined functions etc.

23. In SSIS is it conceivable to communicate with MSMQ?

Yes, it is possible for that we have Message Queue task. It contract us send
messages to MSMQ and receive message from MSMQ.

24. What is the advantage of using MSMQ?

MSMQ helps in communicating two applications with each other

asynchronously. Specialty is two application may be built using dissimilar
technology and it works even o ine messaging. Sender will stock
messages inside queue and reader reads it wherever required.

25. What are the Different Lookup Cache Modes Available in SSIS?

There are basically 4 Cache Modes:

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1. Full Cache Mode.

2. Partial Cache Mode.
3. No Cache Mode.
4. Full Cache Mode

26. Differentiate between SSRS 2005 and SSRS 2008

The major differences between SSRS 2005 and SSRS 2008 are as follows:
SSRS 2005 report server requires IIS, whereas SSRS 2008 comes with a
build-in web server and hence does not require IIS.

27. Explain architecture of SSIS?

SSIS architecture involves four key parts :

a) Integration Services service :

It monitors running Integration Services packages and accomplishes the
storage of packages.

b) Integration Services object model :

It contains managed API for reading Integration Services tools, command-
line utilities, and custom applications.

c) Integration Services runtime and run- time executables :

It keeps the layout of packages, runs packages, and provides support for
logging, breakpoints, configuration, connections, and transactions.

d) Data flow engine :

It provides the in-memory bu ers that move data from source to
destination.

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28. How we can do Logging in SSIS?

Logging Con guration provides an inbuilt feature which can log the detail
of various events like onError, onWarning etc .

29. How we can do Error Handling?

SSIS package contain mainly have two types of errors :

a) Procedure Error : It can be handled in Control ow bythe precedence
control and redirecting the execution flow.
b) Data Error : it is handled in DATA FLOW TASK by redirecting the data
flow using Error Output of a component.

30. How we can pass property value at Run time?

A property value like connection string for a Connection Manager can be

passed to the pkg using package configurations.

31. How can we organize a SSIS Package on production?

A)Through Manifest we can organize it :

1. Create deployment utility by setting its properties as true .

2. It will be formed in the bin folder of the solution once package is
build.
3. Copy all the les in the utility and use manifest le to display it on the
Prod.
B) Using DtsExec.exe utility.

C)Import Package directly in MSDB from SSMS by logging in

Integration Services.

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32. Define Execution Tree?

Execution trees demonstrate how package uses bu ers and threads. At run
time, the data ow engine breaks down Data Flow task operations into
execution trees.

33. Differentiate between Unionall and Merge Join?

a) Merge transformation can take only two inputs whereas Union all can
take more than two inputs
b) Data has to be sorted before Merge Transformation whereas Union all
doesn’t have any boundation like that.

34. How we can restart package from previous failure point? De ne

Checkpoints and how they are implement in SSIS?

When a package is arranged to use checkpoints, material about package

execution is written to a checkpoint le. When the failed package is rerun,
the checkpoint le is used to restart the package from the point of failure.
If the package runs e ectively, the checkpoint le is deleted, and then re-
created the next time that the package is run.

35. Where do you store SSIS package in the SQL Server?

MSDB.sysdtspackages90 stores the original content .

36. What are the three stages of Enterprise Reporting Life Cycle ?

a. Management
b. Authoring
c. Access and Delivery

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37. What are the apparatuses included in SSRS?

1. A Complete set of Tools that can be used to generate, succeed and

view reports.
2. A Report Server component that hosts and processes reports in many
formats. Output formats include HTML, PDF and more.
3. An API that allows developers to mix or spread data and report
processing in custom applications, or create custom tools to build and
manage reports.

38. What are the benefits of using embedded code in a report?

The benefits are:

1. Reuseability of Code: function created in embedded code to achieve a

logic can be then used in manifold expressions
2. Centralized code: it helps in better manageability of code.

39. Which programming language can be used to code embedded

functions in SSRS?

Visual Basic .NET Code is used to code embedded fuctions in SSRS.

40. What important terms can be used in the reporting services?

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1. Report de nition: A report de nition contains information about the

query and layout for the report.
2. Report snapshot: A report snapshot is actually a report de nition that
contains a dataset instead of query instructions.
3. Rendered report: A fully processed report that contains both data and
layout information, in a format suitable for viewing (such as HTML).
4. Parameterized report: A published report that accepts input values
through parameters.
5. Shared data source: A prede ned, standalone item that contains data
source connection information.
6. Shared schedule: It is a prede ned, standalone item that covers
schedule information.
7. Report-speci c data source: Data source information which is de ned
within a report definition.
8. Report model: A semantic description of business data, used for ac
hoc reports created in Report Builder.
9. Linked report: It is a report that derives its de nition through a link to
another report.

41. What are the Command Line Utilities available in Reporting Services?

Rscon g Utility (Rscon g.exe): encrypts and stores connection and

account values in the RSReportServer.config file.
RsKeymgmt Utility: it is used to Extracts, restores, creates, and deletes
the symmetric key used to protect sensitive report server data against
unauthorized access
RS Utility: this utility is mainly used to automate report server
deployment.
42. How we can know Report Execution History?

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We can know Report Execution History as the execution log table in report
server database contains all the logs from the last two months so we can
see it from there.

43. Differentiate between Tablular and Matrix report?

1. Tablular report: It is the most basic type of report. Each column

corresponds to a column selected from the database.
2. Matrix report: A matrix report is a cross-tabulation of four groups of
data:
a. One group of data is displayed across the page.
b. One group of data is displayed down the page.
c. One group of data is the cross-product.
d. One group of data is displayed as the “filler” of the cells.

44. How we can create Drill-through reports?

By Using Navigation property of a cell and scenery child report and its
parameters in it we can create Drill-through reports.

45. How to create Drill-Down reports?

1. By grouping data on essential fields

2. Then toggle reflectivity based on the grouped filed
46. How we can schedule a SSIS packages?

Using SQL Server Agent we can schedule a SSIS packages.

47. Define Asynchronous transformation?

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Asynchronous transformation have various Input and Output buffers and it

is up to the component designer. It provide a column structure to the
output buffer and hook up the data from the input.

48. How we can achieve parallelism in SSIS?

Parallelism is achieved using MaxConcurrentExecutable stu of the

package. Its default is -1 and is calculated as number of computers + 2.

49. How we can do incremental load?

Accurate and fastest way to do incremental load is by using Timestamp

column in source table and then storing last ETL timestamp.

50. How we can handle Early Arriving Facts.

Early Arriving Facts sometime get unavoidable because delay or error in

Dimension ETL or may be due to logic of ETL. To handle Early arriving Facts,
we can create dummy Dimension with natural/business key and keep rest
of the attributes as null or default.

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