Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting is a powerful feature in SSRS that enables reports to highlight specific data based on predefined conditions. It is used to highlight or emphasize certain data points that meet specified criteria.

Syntax

The syntax for conditional formatting in SSRS is as follows:

=IIF(Condition, Color or Style, Alternate Color or Style)

Example

Consider the following report table:

Name	Sales
John Smith	5000
Jane Doe	7500
Bill Jones	10000
Sarah Lee	2500
Mark Brown	8000

To highlight sales greater than 7500 with a red background color, the following expression can be used:

=IIF(Fields!Sales.Value > 7500, "Red", "Transparent")

This will change the background color of the corresponding cell to red.

Output

The output of the above expression will be similar to the following:

Name	Sales
John Smith
Jane Doe
Bill Jones	#FF0000
Sarah Lee
Mark Brown	#FF0000

Explanation

In the example above, the IIF function is used to test whether the Sales field value for each row is greater than 7500. If the condition is met (i.e., Sales > 7500), the background color of the corresponding cell is set to red; otherwise, it is left transparent.

Use

Conditional Formatting can be used to highlight or emphasize data points in a report that meet specific criteria. This makes it easier for users to quickly identify important information. For example, you can use Conditional Formatting to highlight sales figures that meet or exceed certain targets, or to highlight trends in data over time.

Important Points

• The IIF function is used to create the condition. It takes three arguments: the condition to be tested, the result if the condition is true, and the result if the condition is false.
• The color or style used to highlight the data can be changed as per the user's requirement.
• SSRS supports a wide range of conditional formatting options including font, background color, foreground color, and border styles.

Summary

In summary, Conditional Formatting is a useful feature in SSRS that allows reports to highlight specific data based on predefined conditions. The IIF function is used to create the condition, and the color or style parameters can be adjusted based on the user's needs. It provides a powerful tool for creating visualizations that effectively communicate important information.