Exporting a Report as an Image File (Report Builder)
With extensions like the HTML export option, you rely on the client browser to display the final report to the user. This can lead to varying user experiences, based on browser versions, settings and fonts. With an image, you are assured that each user is viewing the same font and layout. The Tiff file export option saves a report to a bitmap or metafile. By default, the Tiff file export option produces a TIFF file of the report, which displays the report as multiple pages. When you open the Tiff file on a client computer, it can be displayed in an image viewer and printed.
The Tiff file export option can generate files in any of the formats supported by GDI+: BMP, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF. If you want to save your report as a file type other than TIFF, then you need to type the file extension when you rename the file.
Report Appearance
The Tiff file export option processes the report by assembling all elements of the report on a virtual page (or set of pages), then creates an image from that virtual page.
Positioning of Items
Many items can change size when they are displayed in a report. For example, text boxes can grow or shrink depending on the data contained within them. Matrices and tables expand based on rows of data. When the Tiff file export option saves a page, it calculates the sizes of each item and then repositions adjacent items. For example, a text box below a table is moved down as the table expands.
Pagination
The size of the page produced by the Tiff file export option is determined by the page width and height for the report, plus margins.
An item below a page break is pushed onto the start of a new page.
Keep Together
Report items, such as table rows, are kept together, if possible. If the item contains no page breaks and its height is less than the available area on the page, the whole item is displayed on that page. If the item does not fit, a page break is placed at the beginning of the item and it is displayed on the next page. If a report item or set of report items is larger than the page, the item is split when it reaches the bottom of the page. Items that repeat on new pages display once on each page on which the related item appears.
The following table describes how individual items are kept together on a page.
| Item | Behavior |
|---|---|
Table |
All rows of the table are kept together, unless they contain a page break. |
Matrix |
All cells of a matrix are kept together, unless they contain a page break. |
Chart |
A chart is always kept together. |
Table row |
A table row is always kept together, unless it contains a page break. |
Table column |
A table column is always kept together. |
Matrix row |
A matrix row is always kept together, unless it contains a page break. |
Matrix column |
A matrix column is always kept together, unless it contains a page break. |
Image |
An image is always kept together. |
Text box |
A text box is always kept together. If it must split, it splits between lines, never in the middle of a line. |
Table group |
A table group is not kept together. |
Matrix group |
A matrix group is not kept together. |
In This Section
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
Report Item Behavior when Exporting as an Image File (Report Builder) |
Describes how report items are rendered when exported as an Image file. |
Page Layout when Exporting as an Image File (Report Builder) |
Describes how report layout and properties are rendered when exporting to an Image file. |
See Also
Tasks
How to: Export a Report as a Different File Type (Report Builder)
Concepts
Exporting a Report as a Different File Type (Report Builder)
Design Considerations for Exporting a Report as a Different File Type (Report Builder)