How to Modify an SSRS Report in Epicor Kinetic
how to modify ssrs report in epicor kinetic
Also searched as
- how to modify epicor kinetic report
- how to edit epicor printing functionality
- epicor custom report style ssrs
Short answer
Never edit a standard Epicor report style in place. Download the RDL for the style, edit the copy in Microsoft Report Builder, upload it as a new custom report style with its own ID, then assign that style where the document prints. Keep the RDL in source control so you can reapply or compare it after an upgrade.
Applies to: Epicor Kinetic reports based on SSRS report styles; menu names can differ slightly by release
How to customize an SSRS report style
- 1Identify the report and the style it uses in Report Style Maintenance, noting the report ID and style ID.
- 2Download the RDL file for that style as your working copy, and save it under a clear custom name.
- 3Open the RDL in Microsoft Report Builder (or Visual Studio with the report designer) and edit the layout, text, images and expressions.
- 4If you need a field that is not in the data set, add it through a Report Data Definition or BAQ report, not by hacking the RDL.
- 5Preview locally if the tool allows, then save the file.
- 6In Report Style Maintenance create a new style for the report with your own ID, and upload the edited RDL.
- 7Assign the new style to the report or document (for example by customer or as the default) and test the print preview and PDF output.
- 8Store the RDL and a note of the changes in source control with the Epicor version it was based on.
Why copy, never edit in place
Standard styles are replaced during upgrades. An edit made directly to one is overwritten or conflicts with the new version. A copy with your own ID is yours: it remains after an upgrade, but it also stops receiving the improvements Epicor makes to the standard style.
That trade-off is the main maintenance cost of report customization. Record what you changed and why, so that after an upgrade someone can compare your copy with the new standard and decide whether to re-apply the changes.
Editing in Report Builder
Report Builder shows the data set fields, the layout and expressions. Most requests are simple: add a logo, move or hide a column, change a title, add a footer. Expressions follow SSRS syntax, so a field is referenced as Fields!FieldName.Value.
Keep changes small and test with documents that have long text, many lines and zero lines, since layout problems appear at the extremes. A report that looks right on a three-line order can break on a three-page one.
=Fields!OrderNum.Value =IIF(Fields!ShipViaCode.Value = "", "TBD", Fields!ShipViaCode.Value)
Assigning and surviving upgrades
A style does nothing until it is used. Assign it where the document prints so the right customers or processes pick it. Test print preview afterwards, since style errors surface at render time.
Before every upgrade, list your custom styles, back up the RDL, and plan a retest. After the upgrade, print each custom style once and compare to a saved PDF from before.
Try it here, free
Epicor SSRS Report Template Checklist
A pre-release checklist for custom Epicor SSRS reports covering report style, data definition, layout, parameters, security and testing.
Common pitfalls
- !Editing the standard style directly and losing the change in the next upgrade.
- !Adding fields to the RDL that are not in the report's data set.
- !Not testing with long and empty documents.
- !Not keeping the RDL in source control.
- !Forgetting to assign the new style so users still print the old one.
How an ERP-grounded AI assistant handles this
An assistant can read the data definition and tell you which fields a report exposes, or draft the SSRS expression you need, for a developer to review. For comparing a custom style with the new standard after an upgrade, an agent can list the differences. Anything that changes a style stays a reviewed change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit the standard Epicor report style directly?
You should not. Standard styles are replaced during upgrades. Make a copy with your own style ID and edit that.
What tool do I use to edit an Epicor SSRS report?
Microsoft Report Builder or Visual Studio with the report designer, working on the downloaded RDL file for the style.
How do I add a field that is not on the report?
Extend the report's data definition or base it on a BAQ report so the field is in the data set, then use it in the RDL.
Will my custom report style survive an upgrade?
A copy with its own ID normally remains, but test it after upgrade, since underlying data definitions can change. Keep the RDL in source control.
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