Is it possible to create a row that spans all columns of a Matrix in SSRS 2008?

Question

Is it possible to have add a row to an SSRS 2008 Matrix that spans all of the matrix's columns?

This crude diagram shows roughly what I'm looking for:

The basic idea is that each line item is a person, and each column is a field in a form for that person. The fields themselves are dynamic (and implemented as column groups on the matrix). Additional column groups are included to append non-dynamic form fields, like the time the record was entered and who entered it. Under each person's record is a comments field, which should span all of the form fields above it.

At the moment I have the matrix embedded in another tablix, with the name and fields in the matrix and the comments in the parent tablix. This works for the data (each instance of the matrix ends up being one row), but the header repeats too often (once per person) because it's attached to the matrix. The only thought I have as to how to fix this is to create another matrix in the parent tablix with the same grouping and use it to display the headers... But this will require quite a lot of manual synchronization to keep the two matrices the same.

Edit: The key problem here is making the second row span multiple column groups.

Answer 1

Here's what you can do:

1. Select the column grouping you want to add above and right click and select Add Group... Parent Group...
2. Group the column by something that will not aggregate the data. You'll have to select a field from your dataset to group by so that it creates an overlapping column grouping.
3. Check the Add group header box

You should now see something similar to this:

Now you just need to move the Value1 field and it's header over under the new column to the right beyond the matrix dividers. Once that's done, simply delete the ungrouped column where you just copied Value1 from and be sure to select Delete columns only checkbox.

Your finished product should look like this:

Answer 2

It is possible - And the above answers are partial answers leaving out one key step: Merging the cells of the child row.

First, right click on your grouped row, then select Insert Row -> Inside Group - Below and you will get two rows with the cells aligning on the columns

Second, ctrl click all the cells in your new row (ie row without the data) then right click on one of the highlighted cells, and then select Merge Cells.

Now you have the table you like. To add a value to the new row: first right click your new (multi column) cell,select Create Placeholder, and then add the dataset item you desire to the placeholder.

Answer 3

[Edit]

After several attempts, I'm going to say this isn't possible in SSRS. The best I could come up with is a group footer that spans columns 1,2, and 3, but not the User column.

[Original Response]

I recently did something similar to this.

First, what tool are you using to create SSRS reports? (I used SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio)

• You'll want to create a row group (grouped on Person)

• Append a row to your table in "Design" view (Right click, "Insert Row --> Inside Group - Below").

• Add an expression to the row that pulls the value for your "Comment" column (=Fields!Comment.Value).

Let me know if that helps...