Microsoft has released the first service pack (SP1) for Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services. Reporting Services is an open and extensible reporting platform that can increase business insight by providing real-time information from any data source to any device. Reporting Services SP1 is available to SQL Server 2000 customers free via Web download and includes enhancements that increase functionality, performance and security. Key features of SP1 include support for exporting reports to Excel 97 and 2000, improvements in the PDF rendering extension for pagination and matrix performance, and control over series and data point styles in charts. These changes enable companies to get even more out of their SQL Server 2000 investments.

Since its launch in January, there have been more than 75,000 downloads of Reporting Services by customers looking for an easy way to deliver critical business information. With Reporting Services SP1, customers can continue to experience enterprise-level performance, flexible and dynamic reporting options, and ease of use at no additional cost. Reporting Services combines a report generation engine with manageability features that make it easy to provide compelling reports to end users. By leveraging a familiar design environment, Reporting Services also enables companies to free up limited developer and database administration resources to be spent on other projects, which creates a more efficient and cost-effective reporting system. With the addition of Reporting Services, SQL Server, part of Windows Server System, offers a comprehensive data management and business intelligence (BI) platform.

Microsoft SQL Server, part of Windows Server System, is the complete database and analysis offering for rapidly delivering the next generation of scalable e-commerce, line-of-business and business intelligence solutions. Microsoft Windows Server System is an integrated and interoperable server infrastructure that reduces IT complexity to enable IT professionals to deliver innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of business. With Windows Server 2003 at the foundation, Windows Server System is engineered from the ground up for XML Web services based on Microsoft .NET technologies to connect information, people, systems and devices.

• Learn SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services