SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Templates and Styles

When using SQL Server Reporting Services as a platform you like your report builders to all work with the same style and report template’s. While browsing the internet i found the answer is pretty simple:

There are two files that maybe of interest to you; StyleTemplates.xml and Report.rdl.  If you are familiar with style sheet concept of web development then the function of the StyleTempletes.xml is basically the same.  StyleTemplates.xml is responsible for the default font color, size, etc… of the report.  This file is used when you are selecting the style on the “Choose the Table Style” window of the report wizard.  You are able to create several different styles within this one file.  This makes it convenient especially if you are a consultant and developing reports for your customers, that use different fonts, colors, etc…

The Report.rdl you can setup headers, footers and any standard controls.  I’ve setup a report.rdl file that contains my company’s standard report header along with report details such as report run date, run by, etc…  One unfortunate downside of this is that you can only have one active default report.rdl file used by the wizard.  So if you have modified the report.rdl file with you a standard configuration, but need to create many reports with a different configuration utilizing the report wizard, it gets a little tricky.  First of all, you need to determine if taking the time to create multiple report.rdl templates is worthwhile.  If so, the only way I know of right now to utilize more than one report.rdl file for the report wizard is to create several of them and manually rename the files when you need a different configuration.

These files are typically located at:

• Typically located at: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Visual Studio 9.0Common7IDEPrivateAssembliesBusiness Intelligence WizardsReportsStylesenStyleTemplates.xml
• Typically located at: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Visual Studio 9.0Common7IDEPrivateAssembliesProjectItemsReportProjectReport.rdl

 

So all you have to do install your newly designed template on you report builders develop machine.

 Thx to:
http://beacspeak.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!69043F34B6D40843!125.entry
http://blogs.msdn.com/bimusings/archive/2005/12/06/500462.aspx
http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/jhermiz/archive/2007/08/14/60283.aspx