Dynamically change column names as week number on every weekly run - reporting-services

I want to build a SSRS report that has column as week numbers - 8 weeks for 8 columns starting with current. This report is run every week and current week number is set then. So both column names and their values should change .Is it possible to build something like this in SSRS?
I tried doing this with a dynamic SQL based stored proc in dataset. However for every run I don't even see the columns values updating dynamically
Here's an example :
Also I am trying to avoid these week numbers as row values and then using matrices
My stored proc looks something like this
declare #n tinyint = datepart(wk, getdate())
declare #n1 tinyint = (#n+1), #n2 tinyint =(#n+2), #n3 tinyint =(#n+3), #n4 tinyint =(#n+4), #n5 tinyint =(#n+5), #n6 tinyint =(#n+6)
exec ('Select b.sku, b.['+#n+'], b.['+#n1+'], b.['+#n2+'], b.['+#n3+'], b.['+#n4+'], b.['+#n5+']...
Will appreciate any help in this direction.. many thanks!

When working with SSRS it's generally best to avoid dynamic SQL and pivoting the data in the SQL. Use the SQL to get the raw data you need and then let SSRS do the pivoting and aggregation. This way you take advantage of what they each do best. I know you said you want to avoid matrices, but it is the best way to make the report dynamic.
So you should either return all the data in one dataset and use filters on your matrices OR write two queries and have each one populate a matrix. BTW a matrix is just a table with a column group added, so don't be intimidated by them.

There are 2 ways to do this with a standard tablix.
Calculate the column headers as expressions using concatenation of Wk and some date math to find the correct week number and return the same sort of thing from your query (e.g. columns are current_week, week_minus_1, week_minus_2...)
Return the column headers as additional columns in your query that are the same value for every row (e.g. ColHeader0, ColHeader1...). Your data columns would still be relative weeks (e.g. ValueWeek0, ValueWeek1...). In your report the column header would have an expression like =First(Fields!ColHeader0.Value). This is a more flexible approach since it lets you pick 8 historical weeks instead of only the last 8 weeks if you add a parameter.
EDIT - Clarifications
The reason that you get the blank column Wk48 is approximately that you have created your report looking for that column that won't be there the next time. SSRS looks for exact columns. You should you use relative column names for either of the options I have specified:
exec ('Select b.sku, b.['+#n+'] as Wk0, b.['+#n1+'] as Wk1, b.['+#n2+'] as Wk2, b.['+#n3+'] as Wk3, b.['+#n4+'] as Wk4, b.['+#n5+'] as Wk5...
This will allow you to populate the aliased Wk0 column with the appropriate current week data and still make sure that it can be consistently referenced as the base week by SSRS.
To change the column headers you can:
Independently calculate the week numbers in SSRS in the column header expressions: ="Wk" + CStr(<correct week calculation>).
Return the column headers in the result set and access them in the column header expression:
exec ('Select b.sku, b.['+#n+'] as Wk0, b.['+#n1+'] as Wk1, b.['+#n2+'] as Wk2, b.['+#n3+'] as Wk3, b.['+#n4+'] as Wk4, b.['+#n5+'] as Wk5..., ''Wk'''+#n+' as ColHeader0, ''Wk'''+#n1+' as ColHeader1...
and reference the returned column headers from the SSRS column header expression as =First(Fields!ColHeader0.Value).

Here's a solution that worked for me:
Create parameters (say CurrWk, CurrWk1) ,set as hidden and store 'Default value' and 'Available value' equals to current week number (datepart(wk, now()) and any subsequent week by doing a +1, +2, +3.. etc.
Write a query expression . Click onto fx beside dataset query space and write the select query for your program embedding parameter values in the expression window. For eg ="Select SKU, [" & Parameter!CurrWk.Value & "] as Wk1,
[" & Parameter!CurrWk.Value & "] as Wk1 from Sales_Table"
Before passing this query as a 'command text expression' please ensure this query is working in sql ssms.
Save the expression. Now find 'Fields' tab on the left hand side panel.You need to map the fields manually from the query here. If this is not done, there is a very high chance you seean empty field list and wont be able to access them at all. This may be because ssrs do not store query metadata directly from expressions.
You can avoid part of the issue by having atleast the static fields , for example here SKU listed in the 'Fields' list by first running a sql query with static field(select SKU from Sales_Table ). You can then go back to update dataset- change query to expression and embed the parameterized field names.
Map field names. In this example I chose 'Query Type' fields and set Field names as SKU, CurrentWeek, NextWeek and mapped to source SKU, Wk and Wk1 respectively.
Click on 'Refresh Fields' at the bottom. Now you have a dataset with the complete field list. Use these in charts, tables . Run it every week and note the numbers changing as expected.
In case you are using this dataset in a table, make sure you set headers with Labels of Parameters (for eg here I did =Parameters!CurrWk.Label for col with current week data)
That's it!

Related

Comparing multiple fields in two datasets to return a 3rd value

I am in report builder and I have my primary dataset that is from a SQL database, I also then created a second dataset (enter data). I need to compare 2 fields from each dataset to retrieve the correct value from the 2nd dataset and populate a column on my report. I have tried the IIF statements and Lookup statements but I keep getting the error "report item expressions can only refer to fields within the current dataset".
I have a attached a screenshot of what I am trying to do....
The IIF statement I tried to use.. If Acctnum and prodid = each other return IncodeNumber
=IIF((Fields!AcctNum.Value=Fields!AcctNum.Value, "IncodeAccount") AND
(Fields!ProdId.Value =Fields!ProdId.Value, "IncodeAccount")),(Fields!IncodeNumber.Value, "IncodeAccount"),"True")
See code in my problem.
You need to use LOOKUP(). The problem with LOOKUP() is that is can only compare a single value from each dataset. However, we can easily get around this issue by concatenating the two values you need to compare.
Note: This assumes the expression will be in a tablix that is bound to your first dataset and that IncodeAccount is your second dataset - the values you want to lookup. If this is not the case just adjust the expression accordingly
So for you, you probably need to do something like this..
=LOOKUP(
Fields!AcctNum.Value & "||" & Fields!ProdId.Value,
Fields!AcctNum.Value & "||" & Fields!ProdId.Value,
Fields!IncodeNumber.Value,
"IncodeAccount"
)
I've used two pipe symbols to join the values to avoid incorrect matches being found. e.g. Account 123 and product ID 4567 would incorrectly match to Account 1234 and product ID 567 as they would both be 1234567 when joined. By using the || the match would be 123||4567 and 1234||567 respectively.
You may need to convert the values to string using CStr()
Alternative approach
If you are going to do this 'join' multiple times in the same dataset then you could add a calculated column to the dataset that concatenates the two columns. Then you can use this single field in the lookup which will make things a little simpler.
Or, you could do this concatenation in a database view which would make things even easier.

Filter data set by month

I'm using an embedded data source of type SharePoint List.
I use a parameter that a user can modify that will filter the data set by the month. I've seen a few examples but they all either use a SQL query or only filters on the exact day rather than the month.
I added a parameter ParamMonth and gave it the data type of Date/Time. I can see this adds a drop down box to my report which is exactly what I want. Ideally, I would like to add the name of all 12 months or something similar, but I don't know how that will work out when the data exceeds a single year. Now, that I've got my Report Parameter added, I need to add it to my dataset to filter on. This is where I'm stuck.
An easy way could be creating a parameter type Integer and set all months in Available Values tab as follows (I just set five months for example).
Then go to the DataSet Properties / Filter tab and use the below settings.
For expression use:
=MONTH(Fields!Date.Value)
Where Date is the field that you will use to filter by month. In Value you have to use:
=Parameters!Month.Value
UPDATE: Provide year selection.
The best approach for this is getting the available values from a DataSet, in this case your SP list.
Just create a calculated field in your dataset with available years (it can be a copy of the SP list dataset), call it calculatedYear and use:
=YEAR(Fields!Date.Value)
Now create a Year parameter of Intenger data type, and set this settings:
Where DataSet15 is the DataSet name that feeds your parameter with the available years.
Then just add another filter in your dataset:
Note you will need two datasets one to get the available years and
other the dataset you need to filter.
Let me know if this helps.

SSRS Data from one dataset not in another

I've been searching for a possible answer to my problem but was unable to find one. Lets assume that I have 2 datasets. dsMediaServerData has two columns: id and channel. I have other dataset (dsCatalogData) with a lot of columns including id and channel. I want to filter dsCatalogData to show only those records that are not in dsMediaServerData.
My recommendation would be to update the SQL queries used to populate the datasets so that duplicate id/channels are excluded.
If you can't do this directly through SQL because the data sets are coming from different DB's, you can accomplish this with the use of a parameter.
1) Let's start with the first dataset (dsMediaServerData in your example). Since your example shows filtering by 2 columns, but the data will be travelling through a single parameter, you will need to create a new column that combines both pieces of data.
SELECT Convert(VARCHAR(255), id) + '_' + Convert(VARCHAR(255), channel) as 'combined_columns_to_filter'
2) Now create a new parameter (let's call it #filter).
Set the data type to text
Check "Allow multiple values".
Open up "Default Values" and choose "Get values from query". Choose the dsMediaServerData data set and select the new column 'combined_columns_to_filter' as the value field.
Set the visibility to "Hidden" so that users don't try to interact with this parameter.
3) Now update the second dataset. Add the #filter parameter to the WHERE clause.
WHERE Convert(VARCHAR(255), id) + '_' + Convert(VARCHAR(255), channel) NOT IN (#filter)
This should effectively filter the second dataset by removing all records found in the first data set even though the data sets are in separate databases.

SSRS: Get values from a particular row of DataSet?

My dataset currently has 12 rows of data. Each representing data for a month. I would like to have variance of a column between to rows, the rows being last & last but one i.e., latest month and previous month's data.
It could have been simple if I were to work on tablix but thats not the case. I want those values for a textbox.
Any ideas on it anyone?
I hope you are using SSRS 2008R2:
R2 introduced the Lookup function that is perfect for this scenario.
=Lookup( Fields!ProductUID.Value ,Fields!ProductID.Value,Fields!Price.Value,"PriceDataSet")
The Lookup function above will evaluate the first parameter ("Fields!ProductUID.Value") in the current dataset, then look for a matching value in the field specified in the second parameter ("Fields!ProductID.Value") in the dataset specified in the fourth parameter. The value of the third parameter is then evaluated in that row of the dataset and returned.
A little convoluted, but very helpful.
In your case, you can use this in a textbox with a calculated a static number:
=Lookup(
Month(DateAdd(DateInterval.Month, -1, GetDate())),
Fields!MonthID.Value,
Fields!Name.Value,
"DataSet1")
This should calculate a number for last month, then look for a match in DataSet1.
In this example I have a tablix with Statecode and name as below
enter image description here
Suppose you want to display the name of state of CA, write an expression as -
=Lookup(
"CA" ,
Fields!StateCode.Value,
Fields!StateName.Value,
"ReportData"
)
This will return 'California' in the text box
I ran across this post while trying to solve a similar problem but with columns of double data type. Not sure why but SSRS did not want to return my first row using LOOKUP in combination with ROW_NUMBER in SQL(If someone can solve that all the better). I ended up using a SUM(IIF) instead. Hopefully, this is useful for someone else.
=Sum(IIF(Fields!RowNum.Value=1,CDBL(Fields!MyNumericColumn.Value),CDBL(0)))
Note: If SSRS complains about data types, just cast both parts of the IIF to the desired data type.

How do i represent an unknown number of columns in SSRS?

I'm working on a rather complex report in Sql Server Reporting Services. My SP returns a dynamic number of columns each of which are dynamically named.
Basically think of a time keeping application. Each column that is dynamic represents a time bucket that time was charged to for that team. If no time was charged to that bucket for the period of time the report covers it doesn't show. Each bucket has its own identifier which i need to be the column headers.
I have an SP that returns this all. It does it by doing a bit of dynamic SQL with an exec statement (ugly i know but I'm on SQL 2000 so a PIVOT option wouldn't work)
I can have an indefinite number of buckets and any or all might show.
I found this - http://www.codeproject.com/KB/reporting-services/DynamicReport.aspx - which is helpful but in the example he has a finite number of columns and he just hides or shows them according to which ones have values. In my case i have a variable number of columns so somehow i need the report to add columns.
Any thoughts?
As long as you know a maximum number of columns, it's possible to do this after a fashion.
First, name the columns with a result from your query, so you can either pass it in to the query or derive it there. Second, just build out the report as if it had the maximum number of columns, and hide them if they are empty.
For example, I had to build a report that would report monthly sales numbers for up to a year, but the months weren't necessarily starting in January. I passed back the month name in one column, followed by the numbers for my report. On the .rdl, I built out 12 sets of columns, one for each possible month, and just used an expression to hide the column if it were empty. The result is the report appears to expand out to the number of columns needed.
Of course, it's not really dynamic in the sense that it can expand out as far as you need without knowing the upper bound.
This can be done. I did this and it works fine.
You don't have to know the maximum number of columns or show and hide columns in my approach. Use a matrix and modify your sp to return dynamic data to the structure mentioned in this blog post http://sonalimendis.blogspot.com/2011/07/dynamic-column-rdls.html
Build 2 related Datasets, first one for the report content, and the second one for the list of its column labels.
The Dataset of the report content must have a fixed number of columns and name. You can allocate some maximum number of columns.
In this example I have the first 2 columns as fixed, or always visible, and a maximum of 4 columns to be displayed by choice through a multivalued parameter, or depends on the query conditions. And as usual, we may have a total as well. So, it may look like this:
Fixed01, Fixed02, Dyna01, Dyna02, Dyna03, Dyna04, Total
The second Dataset with its values will look like this:
Name Label
---- -----
Dyna01 Label01
Dyna02 Label02
Dyna03 Label03
I have omitted the 4th Label to demonstrate that not all columns are being used by a certain query condition. Remember that both Datasets are meant to be related to the same query.
Now create a parameter named, say, #columns; populate its Available Values and Default Values with the second Dataset.
For each of those 4 dynamic columns, set the column visibility with the following expression:
=IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value,","),"Dyna01"),false,true)
And for each of their column header Text Boxes, use the following expression:
=Lookup("Dyna01", Fields!Name.Value, Fields!Label.Value, "dsColumns")
As for the Total, here is the expression for its visibility:
= IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna01"), false, true)
AndAlso IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna02"), false, true)
AndAlso IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna03"), false, true)
AndAlso IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna04"), false, true)
And here is for its values:
= IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna01"), Fields!C01.Value, 0)
+ IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna02"), Fields!C02.Value, 0)
+ IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna03"), Fields!C03.Value, 0)
+ IIf(InStr(join(Parameters!columns.Value, ","), "Dyna04"), Fields!C04.Value, 0)
That's all, hope it helps.
Bonus, that second Dataset, dsColumns, can also hold other column attributes, such as: color, width, fonts, etc.
I think the best way to do it is add all the columns in your table and edit the visibility property of it with the help of arguments that you get from your SP..this will solve the purpose of dynamic column but when viewing the report you will get a lot of white-space which you can solve with SSRS - Keep a table the same width when hiding columns dynamically? and your report will be ready
I've had the need to do this in the past and the conclusion I came to is "you can't", however I'm not positive about that. If you find a solution, I'd love to hear about it.
An issue that comes to mind is that you need to define the report using the names of the columns that you're going to get back from the stored proc, and if you don't know those names or how many there are, how can you define the report?
The only idea I had on how to do this is to dynamically create the report definition (.rdl file) via C#, but at the time, I wasn't able to find an MS API for doing so, and I doubt one exists now. I found an open source one, but I didn't pursue that route.