Configuring Reports with SSRS - Pro SQL Server 2012 BI Solutions - page 698

Drawing a line in your report is simple. Getting the line to align with other report items can be somewhat
difficult. We developed this four-step process to make your alignment less painful. Each of these steps is also
indicated in Figure 17-12 :

1. Use the Zoom feature to enlarge the item. This will make the placement of a line

report item easier. After a line item is placed on the report, highlight the line item
and select Zoom. The zoom feature is located on the Report toolbar (number 1 in
Figure 17-12 ).

2. Add a line from the Toolbox and place it where you want it. You can use the arrow

keys to adjust the placement of the line within the report. The Ctrl+arrow keys move
the line in smaller increments. The Shift+arrow keys increase or decrease the line size.

3. Set the thickness of the line by selecting the line; then access the Properties window

and change the Line Width property. Another method is to use the Report Border
toolbar (as indicated in Figure 17-12 ) . Line sizes are set using a point system. One
point is the thinnest.

4. Click the Line Style menu item on the Report Border toolbar to cause the new size to

take effect.

Importan ■ when changing the property of a line, the effect is not visible immediately. for the property to take
effect, you must enforce the new change by clicking the Line style button shown in figure 17-12 .

This may seem like a lot of steps just to place a line in your report, but with practice, it becomes a quick and
simple process. Let's try what you have learned so far in the next exercise.

exerCise 17-1. starting a report template

in this exercise, you start the process of creating a report template.

1. open Visual studio by clicking the windows start button and selecting All Programs

➤ Microsoft sQL server 2012 ➤ Data Tools.

Important: You are practicing administrator-level tasks in this topic; therefore, you need administrator-level
privileges. The easiest way to achieve this is to remember to always right-click a menu item, select Run as
Administrator, and then answer Yes to access administrator-level privileges. in windows 7 and Vista, logging
in with an administrator account is not enough. for more information, search the web on the keywords
“windows 7 True Administrator and user Access Control.”

2. open the Publications industries solution you have been working on throughout the

book using the file ➤ open Project/solution menu item.

3. Locate and select the sLn file: C:\_BISolutions\PublicationsIndustries\

PublicationsIndustries.sln .

4. Click the open button at the bottom of the dialog window. This opens the solution.

5. when Visual studio opens, open the Publications industries solution. You can do so