Add ssrs report description

Question

Anyway I can add a ssrs report description that displays in the report before execution? I Googled and most people said its not possible but there has to be a way to tweak it right?

Answer 1

Have you tried adding a description on the deployed report on the report server? Right click on the deployed report on the report server and click manage. In here there is a place to add a report description on how to run it and any text you want to enter

Answer 2

There is a way to look at Description before you "Deploy" or "Execute" your report. In your report builder/visual studio (whichever tool you're using), you should be able to right click your report and Go to Code to see report description if you search for <Description> tag.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Report xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sqlserver/reporting/2016/01/reportdefinition" xmlns:rd="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SQLServer/reporting/reportdesigner">
  <Description>Executive Reporting</Description>

If you do not see it, you can simply insert one. Reason to set description here instead of Report Manager is re-deploying your report will not overwrite the description since it is already part of your report. Plus, you get to see it before deploying or executing your report.

Answer 3

"that displays in the report before execution"

What exactly do you mean? If you do not execute the report you will not see the reports, so you will not see anything at all.

But Reports have a DESCRIPTION property. This is some text that is part of the reports meta information and visible in the list of reports in the report manager.

Answer 4

For anyone who still needs to add a report description that users can read before executing the report, I have seen this feature in both SSRS versions I have used (2008 and 2016). The Report Properties has a Description field, which users can read when accessing the web portal in either view (Tiles or Details/List).

You administrate the Description field configuration from various locations-- web portal, Report Manager, or Visual Studio. I prefer Visual Studio for its version control abilities.

In visual studio... With the report open, click in the spaces outside of the report objects (header, tablix, ect). In the Report Properties window go to Description and enter the description. Deploy the report.

In report manager... https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms156032(v=sql.120).aspx

On the report portal... Simply go to the report, click manage, properties, description.

Answer 5

There are two things you can do to show the report description.

1. Add a textbox to your Report header and use expression to show text in that text box which gives some sort of description.

2. Right Click your data region go to tablix properties and there use Expression in ToolTip section to show report description. This will be shown when user hover mouse over report.

The reason I have advised to use expressions in your textbox or tooltip is because if report has multiple parameters and you want the report description to be dynamic then you can use expressions to make it dynamic and it will change depending on the values of the parameters.

But if it is a static report which always show same type of data then you can simply use hard coded text in these two places to show the report description.

Answer 6

Also:

1. You can put the description of the report in to new data set under field X.
2. Add New parameter which will be above your parameter.
3. Set default value as X from new data set to your new parameter.

This will display the information as it will execute first parameter before whole report will be executed.