Sql Reporting Services

Custom Fonts in SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services: A Complete Guide

When working with SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (SSRS), you might want to incorporate personalized touches into your reports, like using specific custom fonts. However, many users encounter issues when deploying reports to a server, particularly when it comes to rendering those fonts correctly for printing or exporting to formats like PDF. If you’ve faced similar problems, you’re not alone—and there is a way around this.

The Challenge

One typical scenario involves creating a report with beautiful custom fonts for headers and other elements, which look perfect in the browser. However, when users try to print or export these reports, they often see placeholders, like boxes or question marks, instead of the intended font. This phenomenon, as noted, can leave a frustrating impression.

Common Symptoms:

  • Fonts appearing correctly when viewed in the browser.
  • Missing or incorrect representations when printed or exported to PDF/TIFF.
  • The report not rendering as expected even after installing the custom font on the server.

The Solution

1. Installing Fonts on the Server

The first step to ensure your custom fonts appear correctly is to install them on the server where SSRS is hosted. This ensures that the server recognizes the font during the report generation and rendering processes.

2. Restarting Services

After installation, it is essential to take the following additional step to ensure that the new font is picked up:

  • Restart SSRS Services: This allows the PDF renderer to recognize the newly installed font. Without this step, you might still face issues as the font might not register with the server immediately.

3. Consider a Full Machine Reboot

In some cases, you may find that a complete reboot of the server is necessary to apply the new font changes effectively. While this may seem drastic, it’s sometimes required for the operating system to recognize installed fonts across applications completely.

4. Understand Font Rendering Limitations

It’s important to understand that SSRS, particularly version 2005, does not support embedding fonts in PDF exports. Instead, what happens is:

  • SSRS converts local fonts to a best-matching PostScript font when exporting to PDF.
  • This means that the final PDF, while created, might not exactly match the original report layout you designed using the custom font.

5. Utilizing Alternative Tools

If your needs exceed the capabilities of SSRS in this regard, consider looking into third-party components such as Aspose.Pdf for Reporting Services.

Features of Aspose.Pdf:

  • Custom embedded fonts support.
  • Advanced features like XMP metadata and rendering watermarks.
  • High precision conversion for various report components including sections, images, charts, and more.

You can explore Aspose’s offerings by visiting their official page.

Conclusion

Using custom fonts in SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services can be challenging, especially when printing or exporting reports. However, by installing the font on the server, restarting services, and possibly rebooting the system, you can see improvements and render the fonts correctly. For more complex needs, don’t hesitate to explore third-party tools that enhance SSRS’s capabilities and provide advanced formatting options.

If you face persistent problems, consider checking the official Microsoft guidelines and visiting the SQL Server 2005 Books Online for more in-depth information on font requirements for SSRS PDF exports.

Implement these strategies to enhance your reports and create a more professional and visually appealing output throughout your organization.