Formatting lines, colors, and images in a paginated report (Report Builder)

Applies to: ✅ Microsoft Report Builder (SSRS) ✅ Power BI Report Builder ✅ Report Designer in SQL Server Data Tools

Report Builder gives you the ability to format lines, colors, data regions, images, and other report items in a paginated report.

Note

You can create and modify paginated report definition (.rdl) files in Microsoft Report Builder, Power BI Report Builder, and in Report Designer in SQL Server Data Tools.

Borders, Lines and Gridlines

Borders, lines, and gridlines can visually tie items together on the page and help your report readers easily read the contents of the report. Using the predefined border styles, you can quickly add a border around a text box, a group of text boxes, or an image. In addition, you can change the style, width, and color for the borders, lines, and gridlines. Borders are added around the entire item selected or around a border along an edge of the item, for example, a border along the bottom of a text box.

To format borders and gridlines in a text box, report layout, or around an image, use the Border tab of the report item's Properties dialog box. For example, if you want to add a border around an image, right-click the image and then in the Image Properties dialog box, click Border.

In addition to the standard border frames, additional border frames can be applied to charts. For more information, see Add a Border Frame to a Chart (Report Builder and SSRS).

You can also add a border to the report itself. For more information, see Add a Border to a Report (Report Builder and SSRS).

Applying Background Colors

A solid color can be added to the background of the entire report, a text box within the report, or to a cell or group of cells within a data region. By default, the background color is white; however, you can select a color from the Fill tab of the report item's Properties dialog box. For example, if you want to change the background color of a text box, right-click the text box and select Text Box Properties. Click Fill and then select the color you want. In this dialog box, you can select a background color for the selected item or you can add an image that appears in the background.

When you use the chart, you can also specify gradients and pattern styles for background colors. For more information, see Formatting a Chart (Report Builder and SSRS).

Using Images as Formatting

Fields that contain images can be added to a data region. If you use an image field, the images appear in the report with the report is run.

You can also add images such as logos to the background of your report or to a rectangle, text box, table, matrix, or some parts of a chart, or to the body and page sections of a report. For more information, see Images (Report Builder and SSRS).

See Also

Formatting Text and Placeholders (Report Builder and SSRS)
Formatting Numbers and Dates (Report Builder and SSRS)
Format Text in a Text Box (Report Builder and SSRS)
Fill Dialog Box (Report Builder and SSRS)