Binaryworld - How to open hyperlink in a new window in Reporting Services Report (RS ... [ SQL Server -> Reporting Service ]

Reporting Services gives you several ways to navigate within your report or navigating to external item (i.e. Navigating to other reports or any web URL).

You can use a feature called "Jump to URL". Use the following steps to set "Jump to URL"

Method-1
- Drag a datafield on the report
- Click on the Textbox
- Find the Action property of Textbox the property window
- Select Jump to URL option
- Type any valid URL (i.e. http://binaryworld.net/Main/CodeDetail.aspx?CodeId=3668), valid URL must start with protocol like http: ,ftp:, mailto: ...

Method-2
- Drag a datafield on the report
- Right click and open properties dialog box (or just look in the property window ->Action ->Jump to URL)
- Click on "Advanced >>"
- Click on the navigation tab
- Select "Jump to URL"
- Type any valid URL (i.e. http://binaryworld.net/Main/CodeDetail.aspx?CodeId=3668)

Opening Link in a new window

Well this is very common requirement but unfortunately there is no direct option available in Reporting Services Designer. You can do that using the following technique

Use the following expression in the "Jump to URL"

Note: The following expression will only work if you have applied SP1 or Higher for SQL Reporting Services

Click here to copy the following block

="javascript:void(window.open('http://binaryworld.net/Main/CodeDetail.aspx?CodeId=3668','_blank'))"

How to overcome expression length limitation

Another limitation of "Jump to URL" field is you are limited to Maximum expression characters. You can solve this problem by using "Dummy parameters". You can create parameters for report without any prompt string and then specify default value which will act as a constant for your report.

For example if I have a really long URL which is not allowed in the "Jump to URL" expression then I can create a new report parameter called CW_URL. Set your long URL as default value for this parameter. Now remove any prompt string for this parameter so it wont appear when you run your report.

default value for cw_url => http://binaryworld.net/Main/CodeDetail.aspx?CodeId=

Now you can type the following expression in "Jump to URL" to get dynamic URL based on Database field called CodeID and static URL from cw_url hidden parameter.

Click here to copy the following block

="javascript:void(window.open('" & Parameters!cw_url.Value & Fields!CodeId.value & "','_blank'))"