Expressions

Expressions are a powerful feature of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) that allow you to perform calculations and manipulate data in your reports.

Syntax

Expressions in SSRS have the following basic syntax:

=expression

The expression can be a simple calculation or a complex formula that involves multiple functions and operators.

Example

Consider the following example:

=Fields!SalesAmount.Value * 0.10

This expression calculates 10% of the SalesAmount field value in a data set.

Output

The output of the above expression depends on the value of the SalesAmount field. For example, if SalesAmount is 100, the output of the expression will be 10.

Explanation

The expression uses the Fields collection to refer to the value of the SalesAmount field in the dataset. It multiplies the field value by 0.10 to calculate 10% of the sales amount.

Use

Expressions in SSRS can be used in a variety of ways, including:

• Calculating totals and percentages.
• Formatting text and numbers.
• Controlling visibility and behavior of report items.
• Filtering and grouping data.

Important Points

• Expressions can contain a combination of arithmetic operators, mathematical functions, string functions, and logical operators.
• Use the Fields collection to access the values of fields in a dataset.
• Use the ReportItems collection to access other report controls, such as text boxes and images.
• Use the Globals and Parameters collections to access global variables and report parameters, respectively.

Summary

Expressions are a powerful feature of SSRS that allow you to perform calculations and manipulate data in your reports. They can be used to calculate totals and percentages, format text and numbers, control visibility and behavior of report items, and filter and group data. Expressions can contain a combination of arithmetic operators, mathematical functions, string functions, and logical operators, and can access fields, report items, global variables, and report parameters.