Download \ Export RDL files from Report Server

Posted by Vidhya Sagar on September 23, 2010 Leave a comment (13) Go to comments

Few days back I was working with one of my colleague with reporting service. I don’t have much exposure to RS however it’s a simple task, he asked me to download a RDL file from the report server, we are using RS2005 and couldn’t find download or export button which is supposed to be in different name. In this article we are just going to see how to download or export the RDL from your reporting server.

SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008

Connect to Report Manager URL (ex: http://localhost/Reports_RS/Pages/Folder.aspx)
Browse to the RDL file folder or location
In this case I’m going to download “databaselist” RDL file as shown below. Click on “Show Details” link in the page located on top right corner.

rdl_export_1

Now it will show the files in detailed view, now click on the “Edit Button” as shown

rdl_export_2

Now to download the RDL file click on the “Edit” button under “Report Definition” tab as shown. Your download window will now pop up.

rdl_export_3

SQL Server 2008 R2

In SQL Server 2008 R2 Microsoft has made this pretty straight forward.

Connect to Report Manager URL (ex: http://localhost/Reports_RS/Pages/Folder.aspx)
Browse to the RDL file folder or location
Click on the drop down menu near the RDL file. In this case I’m going to download “dblist” file
Now just click on “download” button as shown, your download window will pop up now.

rdl_export_4

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Download \ Export RDL files from Report Server, 4.2 out of 5 based on 6 ratings

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13 Comments.

ramesh September 24, 2010 at 9:07 am

Which is exactly and very use full for googlgling guys.
Aravind March 12, 2011 at 1:19 am

Very Good..
Especially snapshots provided helps better.
Very useful for new learners..
Thanks for that…
Ramesh April 19, 2011 at 4:14 pm

It’s working,Thanks
Shankar April 26, 2011 at 9:48 pm

Working like a charm, thanx..
Gerry May 20, 2011 at 6:43 pm

Your instructions for exporting and RDL from Report Server ssaved me a couple hours of reworking a report!

Many thanks.
Ikram June 27, 2011 at 11:02 pm

Great….. Thanks for the effort… especially the screen shots
Tom August 16, 2011 at 7:51 pm

A quick google and found this, also saved me hours of reworking a “lost” RDL.
William December 9, 2011 at 12:29 am

How do I grant access rights to someone else withuot administrator rights to download the RDL file?
Edward JD February 15, 2012 at 1:58 am

Very Nice Job! I’m also a new comer to RS and I don’t know where’s lcoation of rdl files. Your post saved a lot of time for me.

By the way, may I ask you this? I googled & found it, but I don’t know if this is a good way to retrieve the latest source of rdl files:

SELECT Path, Name,
Type = CASE Type WHEN 2 THEN ‘Report’
WHEN 6 THEN ‘Report Model’ END,
SourceCode = CAST(CAST(content AS VARBINARY(max)) AS XML)
FROM ReportServer.dbo.Catalog
WHERE Type IN (2,6)
ORDER BY Path, Type, Name

Thanks
Ed
Vidhya Sagar March 15, 2012 at 4:56 pm

You can create a new role in ssrs for this and grant necessary permission to that role.

PS: I’m not blogging here anymore please visit http://www.sql-articles.com website for my articles
spp June 1, 2012 at 4:14 am

Excellent information, thanks! I was really struggling to to find a way to copy over rdl files to another server and the screenshots helped me a lot.
SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services: copying the .RDL from your server (via: SQL Server Forums – Copy .rdl from ReportServer) « The Wiert Corner – irregular stream of Wiert stuff - pingback on June 12, 2012 at 10:30 am
sanket July 20, 2012 at 3:55 am

Is there any way we can copy all reports in one go instead of one by one.