Tips for overcoming your problems working with SSRS Reports

Recently I have worked on some complex Fetch XML based SSRS reports, below were some basic tips to be kept in mind when you were working on a similar reporting project.

Things to take a note:

1. When working with Prefiltered reports, make sure you add the prefilter at the beginning of the report dataset query.

2. Download report from CRM

Wondered how to edit an existing report, you can download the same from CRM, add it to your visual studio and edit your fetch xml report.

3. Missing reports for other users

Make sure you set the Report viewable by for the report.

4. Report missing records:

Tip: check if all main report and sub report parameters are same…even verify if multiple values are enabled for parameters is enabled for main report, it should be enabled for sub report parameters also.

5. Use Lookup and Lookupset necessarily accordingly to the need, do note its drawbacks before confirming your design and proceeding with development as it wont allow nested lookups…etc.

6. When comes to Testing the reports, test the report is CRM and not in the Visual studio.

7. Reports were run on the browser and they were browser specific, based on the user’s region, it will be rendered.

8. Make sure to add the same queries used in the main report to the sub report for Production uses.

9. Apply row or column grouping accordingly based on the requirement.

10. If data is being missed in some of the columns, make sure you check if there is any issue with the parameters, try to verify the sub report by validating the queries from the query designer and passing appropriate values to the parameters as and when required.

11. As we cant troubleshoot the SSRS Reports, the only way we can check and verify if by printing values obtained from the datasets.

12. Double check the Dataset properties if you still see any discrepancy with the parameters and their order as this is important when you have dependent parameters for executing your dataset.

13. You can add filters to your dataset from the dataset properties itself if required.

14. Make sure to click of refresh fields in the dataset properties window as and when if you update any dataset query.

15. Also note that SSRS reports are cached, one other way to clear your cache and re-run the report.

16. You can use built in fields if you want to display any of the report based data.

17. If you have changes in any of the sub reports, you don’t need to push all the report changed including the Parent report, instead you can add only the changed sub report to the solution and move across.

Hope one of the above tip had helped you in your project, that’s it for today…till then keep CRM’ing and be safe.

Thank you.

Cheers,

PMDY