Create PDF via SQL Server Reporting Service or Report Viewer Control. Data driven PDF creation via SSRS 2. Report viewer Control, plus comparison of the two approaches. Introduction. This article explains how to create data driven PDF in two approaches: SSRS 2. Reporting Viewer Control. I also explain and compare the basic similarities and differences of the two.
Please note, this article is about how to use SSRS or Report Viewer Control as back- end rendering engine. This article is NOT about how to use SSRS or RVC as UI control to show the real report. If you are interested in that topic, there is a very useful MSDN link comparing both features for you, it's here. Background. Back in 2. I wrote a Code. Project article .
It was for VS 2. 00. SQL 2. 00. 5. I originally thought of just revising that article for VS 2.
SQL 2. 00. 8, but there was too much content to fit in a revision, so I decide to create brand new demos and an article to explain them. Live Demos. SSRS installation and configuration are not trivial efforts, so before you dive into the code, check the live demo first: SSRS PDF approach (Note: The first click might spin for 1. Report Viewer Control PDF approach (Note: The first click might spin for 1. Using the Code. Report. Viewer. 2Pdf. zip is for Report Viewer Control approach.
You need VS 2. 01. NET 4. 0 to run it. In addition, you need Report Viewer Control 2.
Export Reports (Report Builder and. From the Reporting Services web portal Home page. Hard page-break: The PDF rendering extension renders a report to files that can be opened in Adobe Acrobat and other. Pagination in Reporting Services (Report Builder. If you export the same report to PDF, for.
PC (when you deploy the solution to server, you need to have RVC installed on the server as well). The Microsoft link to install RVC 2. Now let's talk about the SSRS approach: Ssrs. Pdf. zip is a web application solution for SSRS approach. You need VS 2. 01.
Many of us who have to develop a Reporting Services. If you export a report to. Suppressing page breaks upon exporting a Reporting Services. So when exporting my list of locations for a customer to PDF. Browse other questions tagged reporting-services ssrs-2008 export-to-excel page-break or ask. In one sub report i added page break on the group start and end of the group instance. Page break is not working in sub report while exporting to PDF. What's the version of your reporting services? Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.Utilities.ErrorStrings.resources.Strings. Reporting Services Tips and Tricks. Because most users export reports to PDF if they're going to be printed or emailed. Reporting Services 2008, group by export to excel. Financial reporting would be a good start. But in my case the problem is in Export to PDF only,export to Excel and export to CSV is file.
NET 4. 0 to open it. Plus, you need to have SSRS 2. PC or Server because the solution needs to have a SSRS web service reference. How to setup SSRS 2.
MSDN, here. Ssrs. Pdf. You need VS 2. Business Intelligence Studio template to open it. Business Intelligence Studio Template is installed when you installed your SQL server 2. Note: You still need SSRS 2. RDL. I named the RDL I named it as . From the web application part, I also hard coded it as below: Rse.
Execution. Info ei = rs. Exec. Load. Report(. Just don't forget to change your SSRS setup as well. The web service link in my example is like this in web. In addition, launch IE and Visual Studio in “run as administrator” mode before you debug. Otherwise, you are likely to get .
Again, SSRS configuration is tedious, I suggest you try the live demo to feel it first. Points of Interest.
As for back- end report rendering, you might wonder what are the Pros and Cons of the two approaches, or when to use which. I had the same doubt before. After digging and testing for a while, and applied for several projects, I came across some personal thoughts about the question. To explain it better, I compiled a FAQ list below to explain some basic terms and concepts about the SSRS and Report Viewer Control. My FAQ List for SSRS and Report Viewer Control======================================================Claim: The following FAQs are just my personal understanding about the SSRS and Report Viewer Control. I can’t guarantee its technical right, so please take it as is. But one thing I can guarantee is that these understandings serve my projects very well.
In addition, these FAQs are far from a real introduction of the two software, because the topic is just too big to cover in this article. If you are really interested to know further, go to MSDN to find out more.======================================================1. Q: What are the installation and configuration differences between the two? A: SSRS is a much bigger software application.
Microsoft SQL Reporting Services Suggestions. When I export my report to pdf, appear me weird page breaks. SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services with Custom Viewer.
SSRS is part of SQL server since SQL 2. MBs and take around half hour or even hours to install and configure properly. Report Viewer Control is much smaller, it’s either already part of your . NET 3. 5 or 4. 0 environment, or you can install it separately.
You can download Report Viewer Control 2. Redistributable Package from Microsoft (here), only 4. MB. The installation will put necessary DLLs to GAC (usually c: \windows\assembly). You could install this RVC package on your local developer PC or production server in about 5 minutes. Q: Can SSRS be installed stand alone (without SQL database in one physical box)? A: Yes. The SSRS installation doesn’t need to have SQL Database in one box, but SSRS still needs to “point” or “link” to an existing SQL server database instance. Because all the configurations and reports definitions are eventually saved in the database, the configuration database for SSRS by default named as “Report.
Server” and “Report. Server. Temp. DB”.
This is very good for multitier enterprise solution (data is at the safest place, Report engine and/or report definitions & web pages are at web server). Q: Does SSRS need IIS? A: In SQL 2. 00. 5, it does need IIS to be together in one box because it needs IIS to host its web service interface and web portal interface (although you can hide both UIs from the end users). In SQL 2. 00. 8, SSRS has its own embedded web server, and doesn’t need IIS anymore.
Q: Does SSRS need Active Directory or Domain? A: Not necessary. SSRS can be setup as totally independent server, no AD/Domain at all, although AD/Domain setup can bring it to normal enterprise security level. Q: License or cost of the two? A: Mean and lean speaking, both solutions are free. If you are just using the free edition of SQL server, SQL server express edition, SSRS is licensed free.
Report Viewer Control is always free to use and distribute. Q: What is RDL (Report Definition Language) or RDLC and how does it apply to two software? A: RDL is a file extension, such as “rpt. It’s a pure text XML file. Basically, RDL is the skeleton, layout and structure of the report, data (from query against the SQL DB) is the meat. SSRS + RDL + Data will give you a rendered report either in HTML or other formats (PDF, WORD, Excel).
RDLC is pretty much the same as RDL (slight different, explained more at 8. Q), “C” means “client” or something similar. RDLC usually is applied to Report Viewer Control, but still served the same purpose as RDL as a skeleton of the report. So Report Viewer Control + RDLC + Data will also render you a report.
By the way, Report Viewer Control can also link to RDL on SSRS. Q: Where is RDL or RDLC physically sitting.
A: RDL and RDLC are pure text XML files. RDL can be deployed to SSRS server. Deployment can be done via Visual Studio or SSRS web management portal (see 9. Q). RDLC can be part of your ASP. NET web application or Windows Form application (either in file system or resource file).
Q: What are the tools to create RDL or RDLC A: RDL is created from Visual Studio Business Intelligence Project Template (sometimes, it is referred as Business Intelligence Studio or BI studio). As for PC development, you install Visual Studio first, then install SQL server (Any edition). The Business Intelligence template is in the SQL server installation package.
This template is very sensitive to VS versions , which means, You can only use VS 2. SQL server 2. 00.
BI studio to create RDL for SSRS 2. VS 2. 00. 8 + SQL server 2. BI studio to create RDL for SSRS 2. No VS 2. 01. 0 template at the moment. RDLC is much easier, because you can directly create it from normal Visual Studio project (either win form or web application). Q: What are the URLs for SSRS web management and SSRS web service? A: SSRS web management portal is for admin works (such as setup data source, online folders, security, adjust reports parameters, schedules, etc.).
Usually the local installation URL is like: http: //localhost/Reports. You can open it and do most SSRS admin works. SSRS web service is for rendering reports during the run time. SSRS web service URL is like: http: //localhost/Reportserver/Report. Execution. 20. 05.
SSRS 2. 00. 8, you will still have to use Report. Execution. 20. 05. When you deploy RDL from VS 2.
BI studio (i. e. Business Intelligence Project Template), you setup the deploy folder to http: //localhost/Reportserver/< your report folder>. Q: How does SSRS or Report Viewer Control create PDF under the hood? A: SSRS creates PDF or other format of the report through Report. Execution. 20. 05. You can do the same in your code. By calling functions in Report.
Execution. 20. 05. SSRS process to render certain report for you. Actually SSRS process will run in a separate process than your main code, either in the same machine or other physical server wherever it’s installed. Report Viewer Control on the other hand is in the same process as your main code, either it would be your ASP. NET process or your Win. Form main process. Of course, you can make it fancy to spawn it into other thread, it’s all up to you.
Q: What are the IDE tricks when using SSRS approach to develop report. A: Due to UAC and IIS 7. Windows 7 or Vista environment, you’d better start IE “run as administrator” to get it open your local PC SSRS web management and web service URL. Even further, you might have to make sure your “localhost” is in your IE’s intranet sites list (IE\Internet Options\security\Local Intranet).
In addition, before you debug your web service calling code from Visual Studio, you’d better start VS in “run as administrator” mode. Otherwise, you will always get error like “The permissions granted to user are insufficient for performing this operation”.
Report viewer control doesn’t need this trick if it’s not connecting to SSRS. Q: When to use SSRS and when to use Report Viewer Control to render PDFA: It depends (as usual).; -)Reporting Viewer Control + RDLC is simple and easy to program with.
Especially if you are a one- man- show for a reporting project, this is the way to go. Reporting Viewer Control can open either RDLC saved in the file system or RDL saved in SSRS database.
However, you have to deal with databinding and user access control from your code. On the other hand, SSRS is much more complicated: you need multitier configuration/setup, believe me, it’s not trivial work.