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In Reporting Services. When I drag in a matrix, am I effectively dragging in a tablix? A tablix is a hybrid of table, list, and matrix. I understand (at least I think I do) the difference between a table and tablix, but not matrix and tablix.
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A matrix report looks like a grid that contains a row of labels, a column of labels, and information in a grid format related to both the row and column labels. These reports are sometimes referred to as "crosstab" reports.
The main difference between table and matrix visualizations is that tables are two-dimensional. This means they display data only in two dimensions. On the other hand, matrix visualization gives you the option to specify multiple variables in rows and columns.
In Report Builder, the tablix data region is a generalized layout report item that displays paginated report data in cells that are organized into rows and columns. Report data can be detail data as it is retrieved from the data source, or aggregated detail data organized into groups that you specify.
A Matrix is very similar to a table, but it is configured to show data grouped by columns and rows, with aggregate data at the intersections. Some of the data you might expect to see in a row can actually become a column header. This is similar to using a pivot table in a spreadsheet.
As Gabriel said, in SQL 2005 Table and Matrix were both available as data region options and they were two distinct objects with different properties.
In SQL 2008 onward, Table and Matrix were replaced by a new object of "Tablix", which combined the properties of both the older objects. However the design interface still shows Table and Matrix on the available tools, these are both Tablix under the hood but with different default configurations (the "Matrix" shows column groups but the "Table" does not).
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I can't see any difference anymore.
I think they still exist because on SSRS 2005 they were very different, and now they joined both by allowing you to use groups more freely, however to not confuse people they left the designer with both controls instead of creating a new one.
However as RDL is a XML (e*X*tensible *M*arkup *L*anguage) based language you can still use the old controls, as SSRS 2008 is a new version of the old pattern, and this is why your old reports would work out of the box without any conversion, only Visual Studio replaces both controls for the new tablix when you insert it through the new VS 2008.
Hopes this makes things clearer.
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