Quick Summary
This guide shows you the SSRS report conversion. You will learn how to eliminate SSRS client installations by automatically converting server reports to client reports. You'll maintain the preview functionality you need for development while deploying reports as simple files with your application. The solution uses XML parsing to extract queries and parameters from .rdl files, then dynamically executes them as .rdlc client reports.
Key Benefits: No client-side SSRS installation • Keep server-side preview during development • Deploy reports as files • Automatic data binding • 1-2 week implementation
Reports are key documents in the business world. They serve to convey information, analyse problems and provide recommended courses of action. Their purpose is to concisely and effectively communicate relevant information about a particular problem or situation.
In business applications, there are many different formats and types of reports. A report can be any prepared data generated from a database or any other data source, including sales reports, quarterly summaries, trend analyses and comparisons. Reports are used in all aspects of business and almost every business process requires printing, presenting, viewing, or using some other technique to communicate data to executives, workers, service providers, consumers and analysts.
But here’s the challenge every .NET developer working with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) eventually faces: how do you balance the excellent development experience of server reports with the practical deployment needs of client reports?
Understanding the SSRS Deployment Challenge
When we started working with SSRS technology for our organization, we quickly discovered a fundamental tension between two reporting approaches.
Server reports offer one significant advantage: the preview option that enables immediate display of data and the report’s appearance. This greatly facilitates the report development process. You can see exactly what you’re building as you build it.
However, server reports have a major disadvantage: the need to install SSRS tools on the client side, with each and every use, in order to display the reports. The process of transferring new reports to clients is almost manual and difficult to automate. Access to SSRS today is increasingly difficult for security reasons. Sometimes it’s completely impossible because the business application is programmed in a way that renders server reports unusable.
Client reports solve the deployment problem elegantly. They’re delivered to users as secure text files along with the application installation and can be called up and displayed whenever needed. No special software required.
But client reports have their own challenge: the impossibility of viewing the report without the application in which it’s launched. This means you need to launch the application every time and navigate to the exact place where the report can be triggered. Data preparation becomes difficult because you cannot see the report before it’s displayed in the application. You’re essentially creating reports blind, without any preview functionality.
This was a real operational problem. Manually generating client reports from server data is time-consuming and complex, requiring significant time and resources. Manual transfer and reshaping of information from server reports can lead to errors and inaccuracies.
We needed a better solution.
The Core Insight: SSRS Reports Are XML
The breakthrough came from understanding what SSRS reports actually are at the technical level.
After a server report is finished, it’s saved in XML format. This XML describes everything displayed on the report -controls, details about their positions, all parameters and queries that retrieve data from the database. The server report file has the extension .rdl.
Since the file is saved in XML format, the XSLT record format enables easy parsing of the file structure. The file can be programmatically decomposed into meaningful units and we can programmatically read the content contained within it. After that, units related to report parameters and queries that retrieve data can be extracted programmatically.
This data can then be used to switch the way client reports work automatically and dynamically.
Here was our approach: client reports should prepare the data and serve it for display. Given that all queries can be read from the XML, they could be dynamically created, executed and retrieve data that is then sent to the client report for display.
In this way, we could combine the best of both reporting methods and achieve a more efficient and flexible way of working.
Automatic SSRS Report Conversion: Step-by-Step Implementation
To take advantage of the best of both technologies, we combined server-side and client-side reporting. Specifically, we use server mode to develop reports, while we switch to client reports for application use.
The automatic conversion procedure consists of several key processes that ensure data is seamlessly and efficiently converted from the server side into a format suitable for presentation and analysis on the client side.
Step 1: Extension Conversion (RDL to RDLC)
The first step is straightforward but essential: changing the document extension from .rdl (server reports) to .rdlc (client reports). This simple change signals to the application framework that we’re working with a client report, setting the stage for the conversion process.
// Extension change
serverReport.rdl → clientReport.rdlc
Step 2: Parsing the Report Structure
In this critical step, the system recognizes and maps the building elements of the report using auxiliary classes. Several helper classes are created to dynamically load and parse XML files from the server report:
| Class Name | Purpose |
| Report | Top-level container for the entire report structure |
| DataSet | Collections of data fields used in the report |
| Field | Individual data fields within datasets |
| Query | SQL queries that retrieve data from the database |
| QueryParameter | Parameters passed to database queries |
| ReportParameter | User-facing parameters for filtering reports |
| SerializableBase | Base class providing XML serialization functionality |
These classes work together to extract the necessary parts of the server report XML, enabling automatic execution of the same report as a client report.
Example Helper Classes Code Structure
// Auxiliary classes for parsing SSRS reports
public class SerializableBase
{
// Base class for XML serialization
}
public class DataSet : SerializableBase
{
public List<Field> Fields { get; set; }
public Query Query { get; set; }
Step 3: Data Extraction and Parameterization
This is where the magic happens. We extract data from the database according to the mapped data from our classes and the defined parameters.
The key mechanism brings together our various helper classes to perform the main task: loading a server report that was created on the server side, then executing and displaying it on the client side as if it were a client report. This functionality represents the most important part of the solution and it’s crucial to ensure the mechanism is reliable and efficient.
ClientReport Constructor Parameters
The main class that performs the conversion uses a constructor accepting:
- ReportName: The name of the report to convert
- Parameters: User parameters as a Hashtable collection
- ReportPath: Physical location and path to the report file
- DBConnectionString: Database connection data
- ReportViewer: Component that displays the rendered report
The Complete ShowReport() Method
The primary ShowReport() method orchestrates the entire conversion process:
public void ShowReport()
{
// Load the report definition file
LoadReportDefinitionFile(reportViewer.LocalReport, reportFullPath);
// Process each dataset in the report
foreach (DataSet ds in report.DataSets)
{
// Prepare parameters for each database query
ds.AssignParameters(ReportParameters);
// Execute query and retrieve data
System.Data.DataTable tbl = ds.GetDataTable(DBConnectionString);
// Create report data source
ReportDataSource rds = new ReportDataSource(ds.Name, tbl);
// Load data into the visual component
reportViewer.LocalReport.DataSources.Add(rds);
}
// Display the report on screen
reportViewer.RefreshReport();
}
How ShowReport() Works in Practice
The ShowReport() method performs these operations sequentially:
- Loads the XML file of the server report into the application
- Calls parsing methods to extract report structure from XML
- Executes database queries with appropriate parameters
- Loads parameters and fills them with values from the constructor
- Displays loaded data in the form of a client report
- Handles sub-reports if present, merging them with the main report
Step 4: Automatic Data Transformation
The data transformation process occurs automatically behind the scenes. Data retrieved from the database is arranged according to the structure defined by the report design. Formatting and styling are defined by the design of the server report itself, ensuring visual consistency between server and client versions.
This automatic transformation eliminates manual data mapping and reduces the risk of formatting errors during conversion.
Step 5: Testing and Validation
Testing and validation are performed through visual inspection of the converted report. Compare the output of the converted client report against the original server report preview to ensure:
- Data accuracy and completeness
- Visual formatting consistency
- Parameter functionality
- Sub-report integration
- Performance with various data volumes
Step 6: Publication and Distribution
The publication and distribution process occurs simultaneously with application distribution. Reports are simply files that deploy with the application-no separate installation, configuration, or SSRS client tools required. This dramatically simplifies deployment and eliminates ongoing maintenance overhead.Ž
Real-World Impact: Business Benefits of Automated SSRS Conversion
Automatic conversion of server reports into client reports in SSRS technology is essential in a business environment because it enables fast, accurate and efficient transformation of data from server reports into a format suitable for client analysis.
The process improved our efficiency by reducing employees’ repetitive tasks and allowing them to focus on other business activities. It ensured greater data accuracy-SSRS technology reduced the risk of human error, ensuring data consistency and integrity.
Additionally, automatic conversion enabled better visualization of data. We could use different graphical elements, tables and graphs, facilitating informed business decisions. The automatic conversion contributed to the overall productivity and competitiveness of our organization, enabling faster access to updated information, better planning, performance monitoring and recognition of business opportunities.
Following the implementation, automatic conversion of server reports into client reports became a more efficient and practical solution for displaying reports in our applications. The report could be reviewed at the same time as the data for the report was being prepared, which saved time and facilitated the process of creating reports.
Key Business Advantages of This Approach
SSRS technology provides several capabilities that made this solution possible:
Standard reporting platform: SSRS is based on the Report Definition Language (RDL), which is an XML schema that dictates the common structure of all SSRS reports. This allows reports to be generated from any third-party application that supports the RDL schema.
Flexible deployment: As a web-based solution, SSRS can be deployed on different platforms. The standard platform for SSRS reports integrates with Visual Studio and development environments that teams already use.
No additional client software: SSRS eliminates the need for heavy client applications to be locally installed for report viewing. Reports are primarily accessed via HTTP or HTTP Secure, allowing users to view reports from any location with access to the web server.
Multiple data sources: SSRS supports multiple data sources, allowing users to connect and retrieve data to generate reports, increasing flexibility in data integration.
Various output formats: SSRS supports numerous report formats, including PDF, Excel, Word and HTML, allowing users to schedule automated report delivery via email or file sharing.
Technical Considerations
Several important technical considerations emerged during implementation:
Connection String Security
Database credentials need careful handling in client reports. Use secure configuration approaches rather than hardcoding connection strings. Consider encrypted configuration files or secure key management systems.
Sub-Report Handling
Reports with sub-reports require special attention. The conversion logic must process sub-reports recursively and merge them correctly with the main report. Test sub-report integration thoroughly.
Performance Monitoring
Dynamic query execution means the application hits the database directly. Monitor query performance and consider caching strategies for frequently-accessed reports to reduce database load.
Error Handling
XML parsing can encounter issues, queries can timeout and data structures can vary. Comprehensive error handling and logging are essential for troubleshooting production issues.
Storage Limitations
For web applications, avoid using localStorage or sessionStorage APIs, as these aren’t universally supported in all deployment scenarios. Use server-side or in-memory caching instead for report data
FAQ
Can this work with complex reports and sub-reports?
Yes, the conversion system handles complex reports with sub-reports. When the main report displays, the system can trigger creation and display of sub-reports that are generated identically and merged with the main report. The ShowReport() method includes logic for recursive sub-report processing. However, thoroughly test sub-report integration as it requires special handling in the conversion pipeline.
What about report parameters and filtering?
Report parameters are fully supported. The system extracts parameter definitions from the XML, accepts parameter values through the ClientReport constructor and applies them to database queries automatically. Both ReportParameter (user-facing) and QueryParameter (database-level) classes handle parameter flow from user input to query execution.
Why Automatic SSRS Report Conversion Matters
Business applications often generate large amounts of data and effective reporting systems are critical for decision-making and gaining business insights. An automated conversion process transforms raw data held on the server into a user-friendly format that can be presented and analysed on the client side, often through the user’s web browser.
Impact on Organizational Productivity and Competitiveness
The process of automatically converting server reports into client reports affects the productivity and competitiveness of every organization. This approach ensures:
- Accurate real-time information delivery to end users
- Significant time savings through automation
- Better performance monitoring capabilities
- Improved data visualization for better decision-making
Automatic conversion of server reports into client reports using SSRS technology offers a powerful and efficient solution for companies that want to simplify their reporting processes. By following these implementation steps, organizations can transform server-side data into a format optimized for client-side presentation and analysis.
The Business Value Proposition
This process saves time and resources while ensuring accurate delivery of information to end users in real time. Enhanced visualization capabilities provide users with valuable insights for better strategic planning and informed actions. This technology-driven approach solidifies SSRS as a key component in the modern data ecosystem, improving efficiency and competitive advantage.
For organizations facing SSRS deployment challenges, this conversion approach offers a practical path forward. It preserves the development experience developers need (instant preview and visual feedback) while eliminating the deployment overhead organizations can’t afford.
Conclusion: Combining the Best of Both SSRS Worlds
The use of SSRS technology enables taking advantage of both client and server reports in terms of design and preview. The tools for creating server reports automatically execute them and send them to clients with the application. This approach ensures accurate real-time information delivery, time savings, performance monitoring and improved visualization.
For organizations facing SSRS deployment challenges, this conversion approach offers a practical path forward. Development teams keep the development experience they need-instant preview and visual feedback-while operations teams eliminate the deployment overhead they can’t afford.
The initial investment in building the conversion pipeline pays dividends with every new report and every deployment cycle. The code is straightforward, the benefits are immediate, and the scalability is proven in production environments. Organizations can start small with simple reports and gradually expand to more complex reporting scenarios as confidence grows.
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