HOW TO FIX FORMATTING AND EXPORT ISSUES IN EPICOR® SSRS REPORTS

How to Fix Formatting and Export Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports

How to Fix Formatting and Export Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports

Blog Article

Epicor® SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) Reports provide powerful reporting capabilities, allowing businesses to extract and present critical data for better decision-making. However, users often face formatting and export issues that can affect readability, structure, and usability.

At Epicforce Tech, we understand that poorly formatted reports can lead to inaccurate insights, inefficiencies, and frustration. In this guide, we will walk you through common formatting and export issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports and provide practical solutions to resolve them.

Common Formatting Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports


Formatting issues can cause reports to appear misaligned, cluttered, or difficult to read when exported. Some of the most common problems include:

  • Misaligned tables and text – Data does not align correctly when exported.

  • Page breaks in the wrong places – Reports split unexpectedly across multiple pages.

  • Inconsistent font styles and sizes – Text formatting varies across different report sections.

  • Overlapping text and images – Content overlaps, making it unreadable.

  • Blank spaces and empty pages – Extra blank pages appear when exporting to PDF or Word.


How to Fix Formatting Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports


Fixing Misaligned Tables and Text


Problem: When exporting reports, tables, columns, or text may not align properly, causing readability issues.

Solution:

  • Use fixed column widths instead of auto-resizing.

  • Set consistent margins and padding for text and tables.

  • Enable snap-to-grid alignment in SSRS to ensure uniform positioning.

  • Avoid merging table cells, as they may render differently across formats.


Resolving Page Break Issues


Problem: Reports split across multiple pages unexpectedly, making them difficult to read.

Solution:

  • Use the "KeepTogether" property to prevent tables from breaking mid-page.

  • Set "PageBreak" properties only where necessary to avoid unnecessary splits.

  • Adjust report width to fit within page margins to prevent page overflow.


Standardizing Font Styles and Sizes


Problem: Fonts may change unexpectedly when exporting to PDF or Word.

Solution:

  • Use standard fonts like Arial or Calibri for compatibility.

  • Set font sizes explicitly for headings, subheadings, and body text.

  • Avoid rich text formatting, which may not export correctly.

  • Use embedded fonts in PDF exports to maintain consistency.


Fixing Overlapping Text and Images


Problem: Exported reports may contain overlapping elements, making them unreadable.

Solution:

  • Ensure all elements have sufficient spacing between them.

  • Use alignment guides in SSRS to position objects correctly.

  • Set images to "Fit Proportional" to prevent stretching or overlapping.

  • Check interactive sorting and dynamic visibility settings, which may affect element placement.


Eliminating Blank Spaces and Empty Pages


Problem: Extra blank pages appear in the exported report, making it difficult to navigate.

Solution:

  • Set the report width to be slightly less than the page width to prevent unwanted breaks.

  • Remove unnecessary white spaces and hidden columns in tables.

  • Disable "KeepTogether" for tables that may cause excessive blank pages.

  • Ensure that report sections have consistent height values to avoid unexpected page breaks.


Common Export Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports


Exporting reports is a crucial feature in SSRS, allowing users to share data in PDF, Excel, Word, CSV, and other formats. However, common export issues include:

  • Loss of formatting – Reports look different in exported formats.

  • Excel cell merging – Data appears in merged cells, making it difficult to analyze.

  • Images missing or distorted – Logos and visuals do not export correctly.

  • Data truncation – Some text or numbers get cut off in exported files.

  • Slow export performance – Large reports take too long to generate.


How to Fix Export Issues in Epicor® SSRS Reports


Preventing Loss of Formatting in Exports


Problem: Reports appear differently when exported, losing key formatting details.

Solution:

  • Use "InteractiveSize" properties to maintain proper layout across formats.

  • Avoid using absolute positioning for elements; use relative positioning instead.

  • Set consistent padding and margins to prevent format changes.

  • Check rendering extensions in SSRS settings to match export preferences.


Avoiding Merged Cells in Excel Exports


Problem: Data fields are merged into a single cell, making Excel reports unusable.

Solution:

  • Ensure table columns are uniform in width.

  • Avoid placing multiple textboxes in one cell, as it may force merging.

  • Use Excel-friendly formatting in SSRS templates.

  • Remove unnecessary line breaks within report cells.


Ensuring Images Are Exported Correctly


Problem: Logos or charts do not appear properly in exported reports.

Solution:

  • Set image format to PNG or JPEG instead of BMP.

  • Use "FitProportional" property to ensure images scale properly.

  • Enable image embedding to prevent missing files in exports.

  • Check image path configurations if using external file sources.


Fixing Data Truncation Issues


Problem: Text or numbers get cut off in exported reports.

Solution:

  • Use word wrapping in text fields to display full content.

  • Adjust column widths to fit data properly.

  • Set AutoSize properties for text fields in SSRS.

  • Check data source limits, ensuring all characters are retrieved correctly.


Improving Export Performance for Large Reports


Problem: Large reports take too long to export, slowing down workflows.

Solution:

  • Optimize queries by filtering unnecessary data before rendering.

  • Use pagination settings to break large reports into smaller sections.

  • Set caching options to reduce repeated processing.

  • Avoid excessive use of subreports, which can slow down exports.


Best Practices for Maintaining Well-Formatted and Export-Ready Reports


To prevent future issues, follow these best practices:

  • Regularly test exports in multiple formats to ensure consistent output.

  • Maintain uniform table and text spacing for clarity.

  • Avoid using dynamic layouts that may not translate well in all formats.

  • Utilize Epicor® SSRS report preview mode before exporting.

  • Set up automated quality checks for formatting and export accuracy.


Conclusion


Ensuring proper formatting and export compatibility in Epicor SSRS Reports is essential for producing clear, readable, and actionable business reports. By addressing alignment, page breaks, fonts, and data truncation issues, businesses can create reports that are not only visually appealing but also functionally reliable.

At Epicforce Tech, we specialize in Epicor® ERP solutions to help businesses generate accurate and well-structured reports. Whether you need help optimizing SSRS reports or troubleshooting formatting and export errors, our team is here to assist.

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