Скачать или смотреть How to Display Text Instead of Numbers in SSRS Reports

Discover how to replace numeric values with descriptive text in your SSRS reports using expressions and SQL case statements.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64716377/ asked by the user 'Setror' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14449237/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64717145/ provided by the user 'Brandon Johnson' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3489807/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Solving the SSRS Display Text Issue

When working with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), you might encounter scenarios where numerical states need to be presented as descriptive text. This can enhance the readability and interpretation of your reports. For instance, instead of showing numbers like 1, 2, and 3, replacing them with meaningful terms such as "ORDERED," "CUSTOMIZED," and "FINISHED" can make your report more user-friendly.

In this guide, we’ll explore two effective methods to achieve this transformation—using expressions in SSRS and SQL case statements in your data queries.

Method 1: Using SSRS Expressions

One of the simplest ways to display text instead of numbers in your SSRS report is by using an expression with an IIF condition. Here's how you can do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

Open your SSRS Report: Access your report where the numeric values are displayed.

Select the Textbox: Click on the textbox that is currently displaying the numerical state values.

Set the Expression: Instead of binding the textbox directly to the field, use the following expression:

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This expression checks the value of Fields!State.Value and returns the corresponding text based on the number.

Advantages of Using Expressions

Flexibility: Easily change the expressions without modifying the underlying query.

Quick Adjustments: Immediate feedback when changing values during report design.

Method 2: Using SQL Case Statements

The second method involves altering your SQL query to directly convert the numeric values to text before they reach SSRS. This is particularly useful if you prefer data-driven logic directly in the database.

Step-by-Step Guide

Modify Your SQL Query: Instead of fetching numbers, rewrite your query to use a SQL CASE statement. Here’s an example:

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This query evaluates the StateId and returns the appropriate string value for each record.

Benefits of Using SQL Case Statements

Performance: Reduces processing in the report rendering phase by handling it at the database level.

Simplicity: Makes the report cleaner by offloading logic to the query instead of cluttering the SSRS layer with expressions.

Conclusion

Both methods provide effective solutions for displaying text instead of numbers in SSRS reports. Whether you opt to use SSRS expressions for immediate report modifications or SQL case statements for cleaner database interactions, you can enhance the interpretability of your reports significantly.

Feel free to choose either method according to your preference and report design requirements. Happy reporting!