SSRS repeating text within a textbox expression

Question

Is it possible to write an expression that will repeat some text over and over either for a specified number of repetitions or until it runs out of space in a textbox?

The text that needs to be displayed is coming from a field within a shared data set and can change depending on which database the user is connected to.

What I need to loop is

="~~"&First(Fields!SchemaText.Value,"Selection") &"~~"

What I would like as a output if possible is

~~Text~~~~Text~~~~Text~~~~Text~~~~Text~~

Basically is it possible to loop expressions in SSRS?

Hannover Fist Hannover Fist · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-03T16:47:24

I don't see a way to wirite in an expression.

I think the easiest way would be to create a function in VB.

Function RepeatText(ByVal Text As String, ByVal Loops AS Integer) As String 

Dim F AS Integer

RepeatText = ""

For F = 1 to Loops 

    RepeatText = RepeatText & "~~" & Text  & "~~"

Next F

End Function

The your text box expression would be something like:

=CODE.RepeatText(Fields!SchemaText.Value, 4)

You'd want to replace the 4 with some code to determine the number of times you want the text to repeat or you can change the code so it figure out how many based on another field.

=CODE.RepeatText(Fields!SchemaText.Value, Fields!SOME_OTHER_FIELD.Value)

And then have the code figure it out:

Function RepeatText(ByVal Text As String, ByVal Type AS String) As String 

Dim F AS Integer
Dim END AS Integer

If Type = "DB1" then END = 1 
If Type = "DB2" then END = 2 
If Type = "DB3" then END = 3 

RepeatText = ""

For F = 1 to END

    RepeatText = RepeatText & "~~" & Text  & "~~"

Next F

End Function

SSRS repeating text within a textbox expression

3 Answers