Introduction
One of the reasons people find SSRS and other reporting tools difficult to work with is their rigid workflow. In SSRS, to create a report, you must follow the steps exactly in the prescribed order. Specifically, you first need to have a datasource. Once you have set up the datasource, you can then set up the dataset. After the dataset is set, you can begin laying out various elements, such as text fields. This strong dependency—where users cannot lay out interface elements until the dataset is set, and cannot create a dataset until there is a datasource—makes the tool difficult to work with and counterintuitive compared to traditional reporting steps used before the process was computerized.
Pixel Perfect Reports does not have this strong dependencies. You can lay out interface elements without a datasource. Or you can set up a datasource first and then lay out the interface elements. In other words users have complete freedom in the order of steps to accomplish the task of creating reports.
Conclusion
People often find SSRS and similar reporting tools challenging because of their rigid, step-by-step workflow. In SSRS, you must:
1. Set up a datasource → 2. Define a dataset → 3. Design the layout—with no flexibility in order.
This strict dependency makes the process unintuitive compared to traditional (pre-digital) reporting methods.
In contrast, Pixel Perfect Reports allows complete freedom—users can:
Design the layout first or
Set up the datasource first
This flexibility makes report creation more intuitive and user-friendly.