Exporting SSRS reports to excel without formatting

Something that we’ve done for the standard reports is to create a second hidden table with differing Data Output properties on the same report.  For the visible layout, the DataElementOutput property for all elements is set to “NoOuput”.  For the hidden table (not visible to a “display format” like PDF or HTML), the DataElementOutput is set to Output, and the table is flattened so no grouping is returned in the data format (CSV or XML).

I usually go on the premise that the reports that I build are designed to be printed and not exported. With that being said, the first question that I ask when designing a new report is, Are your plans to export this report to Excel? If they answer yes, I then will build a second report named raw where all I am doing is returning the data from the procedure with no formatting. Although I still might do some grouping depending on how I am returning the data. The "raw" report is usually pretty simple to do since I already have the procedure and only takes a couple more minutes.

If you have to do this all in one report, Create a parameter that is a checkbox name something like "Raw Version" In the details of the report, create one table with the formatting and grouping and second table with the raw version, then set the hidden property on the tables based on the parameter value.

Marty

From: Tessitura Technical Forum [mailto:forums-technical@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Brian Graham
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 2:20 PM
To: Martin A. Jones
Subject: [Tessitura Technical Forum] Exporting SSRS reports to excel without formatting

We're starting to convert local InfoMaker reports to SSRS as well as creating any new reports in SSRS. The issue we're running into is that many of our users are accustomed to saving a report to excel where they can view and manipulate the raw rows and columns of output from the stored procedure. It seems when you saved an IM report, the rows and columns all displayed as if the sp had just been run - no formatting or grouping that happened in the report. 

But the SSRS reports are different. When I export a report to excel, it preserves formatting and groupings. Has anyone discovered a way to get the raw data behind a report into a plain ol' spreadsheet after it runs in Tess?

thanks,

Brian

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Something that we’ve done for the standard reports is to create a second hidden table with differing Data Output properties on the same report.  For the visible layout, the DataElementOutput property for all elements is set to “NoOuput”.  For the hidden table (not visible to a “display format” like PDF or HTML), the DataElementOutput is set to Output, and the table is flattened so no grouping is returned in the data format (CSV or XML).

I usually go on the premise that the reports that I build are designed to be printed and not exported. With that being said, the first question that I ask when designing a new report is, Are your plans to export this report to Excel? If they answer yes, I then will build a second report named raw where all I am doing is returning the data from the procedure with no formatting. Although I still might do some grouping depending on how I am returning the data. The "raw" report is usually pretty simple to do since I already have the procedure and only takes a couple more minutes.

If you have to do this all in one report, Create a parameter that is a checkbox name something like "Raw Version" In the details of the report, create one table with the formatting and grouping and second table with the raw version, then set the hidden property on the tables based on the parameter value.

Marty

From: Tessitura Technical Forum [mailto:forums-technical@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Brian Graham
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 2:20 PM
To: Martin A. Jones
Subject: [Tessitura Technical Forum] Exporting SSRS reports to excel without formatting

We're starting to convert local InfoMaker reports to SSRS as well as creating any new reports in SSRS. The issue we're running into is that many of our users are accustomed to saving a report to excel where they can view and manipulate the raw rows and columns of output from the stored procedure. It seems when you saved an IM report, the rows and columns all displayed as if the sp had just been run - no formatting or grouping that happened in the report. 

But the SSRS reports are different. When I export a report to excel, it preserves formatting and groupings. Has anyone discovered a way to get the raw data behind a report into a plain ol' spreadsheet after it runs in Tess?

thanks,

Brian

This message was sent automatically to you by www.tessituranetwork.com because you subscribed to the Tessitura Technical Forum. You may reply to this message to post to the Technical forum or visit the site to search, read and post to the forums. In the interest of keeping the forum posts from becoming cluttered, we encourage you to delete previous message text from your reply before sending. Thank you!

This message was sent automatically to you by www.tessituranetwork.com because you subscribed to the Tessitura Technical Forum. You may reply to this message to post to the Technical forum or visit the site to search, read and post to the forums. In the interest of keeping the forum posts from becoming cluttered, we encourage you to delete previous message text from your reply before sending. Thank you!