Changing Export Options for Reporting Services
Posted by Adam Rink at 1/3/2008 
Categories: SQL Server Reporting Services - SSRS
Tags: Reporting Services SSRS
Categories: SQL Server Reporting Services - SSRS
Tags: Reporting Services SSRS
Have you ever wanted to change the export options for Reporting Services? Have you seen issues with report page headers being exported to Excel as non headers? Other times displaying all export options on the web is not the best idea. An end user trying to figure out what a TIF is can be a more user support time then is desired. In other cases the export might need to be renamed, instead of TIF call it Image.
To make these changes, you will have to open up the RSReportServer.config file. It is located in the report directory of SQL server (normally something like C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\Reporting Services\ReportServer). This is a an XML file that can be opened in Notepad. In the XML file, about half way through it you will see a tag called <RENDER>. To remove options from the drop down export, delete each extension tag that you do not want.
<Render>
...
<Extension Name="EXCEL" Type="Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.ExcelRenderer.ExcelRenderer,Microsoft.ReportingServices.ExcelRendering">
<OverrideNames>
<Name Language="en-US">EXCEL AMR</Name>
</OverrideNames>
<Configuration>
<DeviceInfo>
<RemoveSpace>0.25in</RemoveSpace>
<SimplePageHeaders>true</SimplePageHeaders>
</DeviceInfo>
</Configuration>
</Extension>
</Render>
To rename the options, add the tag <OverrideNames> then the sub element tag <Name Language="lang">(New Name)</Name></OverrideNames>
Other changes can also be configured. In the case above I am removing any blank columns and rows that are 1/4 of an inch or less. I am also forcing simple page headers to ensure that when exporting to Excel the headers are in Excel headers not in the first few rows of the document with a freeze pane. This is a common problem with exporting to Excel with page headers from Reporting Services.
![]()
To find out more about what tags are available for each option, check out MS's Technet page.
To make these changes, you will have to open up the RSReportServer.config file. It is located in the report directory of SQL server (normally something like C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.3\Reporting Services\ReportServer). This is a an XML file that can be opened in Notepad. In the XML file, about half way through it you will see a tag called <RENDER>. To remove options from the drop down export, delete each extension tag that you do not want.
<Render>
...
<OverrideNames>
<Name Language="en-US">EXCEL AMR</Name>
</OverrideNames>
<Configuration>
<DeviceInfo>
<RemoveSpace>0.25in</RemoveSpace>
<SimplePageHeaders>true<
</DeviceInfo>
</Configuration>
</Extension>
</Render>
To rename the options, add the tag <OverrideNames> then the sub element tag <Name Language="lang">(New Name)</Name></OverrideNames>
Other changes can also be configured. In the case above I am removing any blank columns and rows that are 1/4 of an inch or less. I am also forcing simple page headers to ensure that when exporting to Excel the headers are in Excel headers not in the first few rows of the document with a freeze pane. This is a common problem with exporting to Excel with page headers from Reporting Services.
This article was very helpful. I could quickly re-name and re-order items in the dropdown list. Thanks!
Reply to this
Yes man this was very simple to understand...great...
Reply to this
Interesting... I'm going to blog about that too...
Reply to this
Thanks for he guide
Reply to this
Thanks for letting us know about it. Very Helpful, but something to note...
Just wanted to point out that it is important to not just randomly remove these render tags. For example, the RSClientPrint.dll needs the Image type for proper printing and previewing. To disallow users to select it but still keep it available to internal components it's much better to use the Visible="false" option.
Reply to this
Thanks for posting this. This will make a good reference.
Reply to this
Thank you so much for this informative post.
Reply to this
This post has provided the great knowledge...
Reply to this
Thanks guys, know I know how to make the changes I needed.
Reply to this
Awesome. just awesome...i haven't any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post he is a great human..thanks for shared this with us.i found this informative
and interesting blog so i think so its very useful and knowledge able.
Reply to this
Thank you so much for sharing this interesting Information for making the changes.
Reply to this
Good guide for reporting changes, so useful post.
Reply to this
Very interesting and well develop information, thank you for share it.
Reply to this
Awesome post! Interesting info to know.
Reply to this
Great tips for the newbies on this interesting field. I look forward to hear more from you guys.
Reply to this
This is an awesome guide, thank you so much for sharing it.
Reply to this
Excellent post you have here.PageRank has also been used to rank spaces or streets to predict how many people (pedestrians or vehicles) come to the individual spaces or streets.Thanks for sharing this article.
Reply to this
That's some very useful XML there - many thanks for the heads-up.
Reply to this
very useful
Reply to this
How to upload video files to sql server 2005 using vb? Can any one help me?
Reply to this
Very useful info. Hope to see more posts soon!
Reply to this
Congratulations, this is a very good elaborated material, thank you so much for sharing it and keep on that, its great.
Reply to this
Very useful XML - thanks for the tips.
Reply to this
Thank you so much for let us know how to solve the problems in an specific time we need to face it.
Reply to this
XML extremely helpful to me, thanks for the material!
Reply to this
Great tips for the newbies on this interesting field. I look forward to hear more from you guys.
Reply to this
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is with a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
Reply to this
very well said,as the technology changes and new ideas are emerging so now a days lots of people visit internet to know news and information instead of referring the paper,in future even they wont run to cafe,they can easily view in their mobile.
Reply to this
A*** Blogger, keep posting, this has been awesome to read just what i needed, thankyou!
Reply to this
I found in here really interesting information, I look forward to hear from you.
Reply to this
Thank you so much for such as elaborated post, great job, I will be visiting you more frequently.
Reply to this
Thanks for the update of your journey!!But In SQL Server Reporting Services is a comprehensive, server-based solution that enables the creation, management, and delivery of both traditional, paper-oriented reports and interactive, Web-based reports.
Reply to this
I want flash banner animation source for web design is it available in a any website?
Reply to this
How can i design my banners related to sql server?
Reply to this
How shoud i load the sql queries in the laptop?
Reply to this
Thank you so much for such as elaborated post, it is really interesting, I wil be visiting you frequently.
Reply to this