SSRS Reporting Services | Dynamic reports exercise | Dynamic sorting, using an expression as a dataset

This exercise is provided to allow potential course delegates to choose the correct Wise Owl Microsoft training course, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any format without the prior written consent of Wise Owl.

The answer to the exercise will be included and explained if you attend one of more of the courses listed below!

Software ==> SSRS Reporting Services  (99 exercises)
Version ==> SSRS 2012 and later
Topic ==> Dynamic reports  (2 exercises)
Level ==> Average difficulty
Courses ==> Fast track SSRS  /  Advanced SSRS
Before you can do this exercise, you'll need to download and unzip this file (if you have any problems doing this, click here for help). Once you've done this:
  1. Go into SQL Server Management Studio;
  2. Open the SQL file you've just unzipped (you can press CTRL + O to do this); then
  3. Execute this script.

This will generate the database that you'll need to use in order to do this exercise (note that the database and script are only to be used for exercises published on this website, and may not be reused or distributed in any form without the prior written permission of Wise Owl).

You need a minimum screen resolution of about 700 pixels width to see our exercises. This is because they contain diagrams and tables which would not be viewable easily on a mobile phone or small laptop. Please use a larger tablet, notebook or desktop computer, or change your screen resolution settings.

Create a report called Sorted based on a dataset which includes all of the fields (use SELECT * FROM) in the Film table:

List of films

The films initially are sorted alphabetically by name.

Interactive sorting would allow us to sort by a column at a time, but for some reason we want to make this easier to use and more flexible.  Create two parameters which show the fields you can sort by:

Two dropdown parameters

The two parameters will work identically, showing a list of possible sort fields.

 

Note that having created the first dropdown parameter (whose Label should be as shown above, and Value should be the corresponding field name) you may find it easier to copy the parameter in RDL view to create the second.

Change the dataset for the table so that it refers to an expression which sorts the films correctly by the two fields chosen: 

Sorting by 2 columns

We've also customised the title to show the sort fields chosen.

Reflecting on the changes you could make to improve this report further, close it down!

This page has 0 threads Add post