What is needed to write complex Reports

There have been a number of people asking me what they need to install in order to get up and running with report writing using the "Business Intelligence Development Studio". Here is what I send them.

1) Install Visual Studio 2005. This step is optional.

2) Install "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit" which gives you the "Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS)"

3) Read Buck's blog and download the attached documentation to get your data sources setup and an initial report written.

4) Obtain a PHD in Computer Science if you have to write any MDX queries.