SSRS Text Box Orientation

Problem

If a SQL Server Reporting Services report has many columns with text descriptions in a horizontal direction then those headings will need significant space in the report. There are situations where report data will not fit in a single page and the users will have to scroll horizontally to see the data. Unfortunately, this is very irritating and users may ask you to modify the report in such a way that report data can fit in a single page. How can we modify the report and what approach you should follow in this case?

Solution

Proper orientation of a Textbox saves a lot of space in a report layout; if a report has 10 columns with text descriptions in a horizontal direction then it will take more space in the report as compared to the same report having those columns in a vertical direction.

This tip assumes that you have previous real world work experience building a simple SSRS Report. In this tip I will describes how to set the orientation of Textbox in a report. To demonstrate the solution, I will use AdventureworksDW2008R2 sample database for SQL Server and SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services.

In SQL Server Reporting Services 2008R2 and above, we have out of the box functionality to change the Textbox orientation, but this functionality was not available in previous version of SSRS (2005 and 2008). When we change the Textbox orientation we also need to adjust the height and width of the Textbox, so that rotated text can be accommodated. To change the Textbox orientation we are going to use the WritingMode property of the Textbox. A Textbox can be oriented as follows.

• Horizontal – Default text orientation.
• Vertical – Rotate the text from top to bottom.
• Rotate270 – Rotate the text from bottom to top.

Step 1: Create a New SQL Server Reporting Services Report

Let’s create a sample report for demo purposes. Please change the report name to Change_TextBox_Orientation. You can refer to the below image.

Step 2: Create SSRS Data Source and Dataset

I have already created data source connection to the AdventureworksDW2008R2 sample database and let’s create the below dataset for this sample report.

Main Dataset: This dataset will be used for the report body and it returns 9 fields.

SELECT 
FirstName, LastName, MaritalStatus, Gender, EmailAddress, YearlyIncome, 
TotalChildren, NumberChildrenAtHome, HouseOwnerFlag
FROM  DimCustomer

After creating the Main dataset Report, the Data Pane looks like the below image.

Step 3: Add Tablix to the SSRS Report

Let’s add a Tablix for data viewing purposes. I will pull all 9 data fields from Main dataset into the Tablix. After adding the Tablix, the sample report looks like the below image.

This sample report is showing all columns with horizontal text orientation. As you can see from the below image, users have to scroll horizontally to view the entire report data. Generally, users do not like to have to scroll horizontally in reports. User always want to see the entire report data in a single page.

Now our challenge is to display the entire report data in a single page. To achieve this we will change the Textbox orientation, but which Textbox orientation should be changed? Actually we have to look at the report and find out which columns have white space after displaying the data. If you will look below, you will see the Marital Status column has white space after displaying the data. This is because the Marital Status column is only one character (i.e. M and S), but the Marital Status column header Textbox is using more space to display the Marital Status. Due to this, we are wasting space in the report layout. We can save some report space if we rotate the Marital Status header column Textbox either vertically or by 270 degrees. In the below image I have used blue rectangles to highlight all columns which have white space after displaying the data. In the next step we will change the Textbox orientation to reduce the report width.

Step 4: SQL Server Reporting Services Text Box Orientation

Let’s change the Textbox orientation of the column header for the Marital Status. To change the orientation of the Textbox, select the column header for the Marital Status data field as shown below.

Press the F4 key to get the property window.

Go to the WritingMode Property and select the Rotate270 option, you can refer to the below image.

After the above changes, you can see the column header for Marital Status is shown with the text from bottom to top. Please adjust the width and height of the Textbox to accommodate the rotated text.

Now we will also see how text looks in a vertical orientation. To change the Textbox orientation to vertical, select the Gender column header Textbox and press the F4 key. In the properties window set the WritingMode property to Vertical. Please adjust the width and height of the Textbox to accommodate the rotated text. You can see from the below image the column header for Gender is showing text from top to bottom, but it is difficult to read the text in the vertical direction so the Rotate270 orientation is preferable.

Let’s change the Textbox orientation for Marital Status, Gender, Total Children, Children At Home and House Owner Flag column header to Rotate270. You can also change the text alignment for the TextAlign property. After the changes my report looks like the below image.

Step 5: Report Preview

We have completed all the necessary changes, now let’s preview the report. As you can see from the below image, all 9 columns fit into a single page and the users do not need to scroll the report horizontally.

Conclusion

This approach is useful in the following conditions:

• When a report has numerous columns and due to the number of columns, we need to scroll horizontally while previewing the report.
• When multiple Tablixes are needed in the same report. The textbox orientation can be changed to manage the space in the report layout.
• When you have a requirement to show data for few columns with the vertical or 270 degree orientation in the report.

Next Steps

• Since this option is not available out of the box for older versions of SSRS 2005/2008, you have to write custom code to rotate the text.
• Check out other tips on SQL Server Reporting Services Parameters.
• Check out all of the SQL Server Reporting Services tips.
• Check out my all tips here.