Multilingual reports in SSRS

 Creating multilingual reports in SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) involves designing reports that can display content in multiple languages based on user preferences or locale settings. Here’s a comprehensive guide to creating multilingual reports in SSRS:

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Multilingual Reports

1. Prepare Translations

1. Create a Translation Table:

   • Store translations for all text elements in your report (e.g., labels, headers, footers, etc.) in a database table.
   • Example table structure:

   sql
   CREATE TABLE Translations (
       LanguageCode NVARCHAR(10),
       LabelKey NVARCHAR(50),
       Translation NVARCHAR(255)
   );
   
   INSERT INTO Translations (LanguageCode, LabelKey, Translation) VALUES
   ('en-US', 'ReportTitle', 'Sales Report'),
   ('fr-FR', 'ReportTitle', 'Rapport de ventes'),
   ('es-ES', 'ReportTitle', 'Informe de ventas');
   
   

2. Populate the Table:

   • Add translations for all necessary languages and label keys.

2. Design the Report

1. Create the Report:

   • Create a new report or open an existing report where you want to add multilingual support.

2. Add a Data Source:

   • Add a data source that connects to your database containing the translation table and report data.

3. Add a Dataset for Translations:

   • Add a dataset to retrieve translations from the translation table based on the user’s language preference.

   sql
   
   SELECT LabelKey, Translation
   FROM Translations
   WHERE LanguageCode = @LanguageCode
   

4. Add a Parameter for Language Code:

   • Add a report parameter (e.g., LanguageCode) that allows users to select their preferred language. Set default values or available values as needed.

5. Add a Dataset for Report Data:

   • Add a dataset to retrieve the main report data.

3. Use Expressions for Multilingual Content

1. Retrieve Translations:

   • In the report, use expressions to retrieve the appropriate translations based on the LanguageCode parameter.

2. Set Text Box Values:

   • For each text box or label in the report, use an expression to dynamically set its value based on the translation dataset.

   sql
   =Lookup("ReportTitle", Fields!LabelKey.Value, Fields!Translation.Value, "TranslationsDataset")
   
   

3. Set Parameter Labels:

   • Set the labels for parameters using expressions to ensure they also display in the selected language.

4. Design the Layout

1. Dynamic Text:

   • Use the expressions mentioned above to set text dynamically for titles, labels, headers, footers, etc.

2. Localized Formatting:

   • Consider using locale-specific formatting for dates, numbers, and currency. You can set the Language property of the report or individual text boxes to reflect the selected language.

   sql
   
   =Parameters!LanguageCode.Value
   

5. Test the Report

1. Preview the Report:

   • Click on the "Preview" tab to view the report. Select different values for the LanguageCode parameter to see the report content change accordingly.

2. Verify Translations:

   • Ensure that all text elements display correctly in the selected language.

Example Scenario

Imagine you have a sales report that needs to be available in English, French, and Spanish. Here's how you would set it up:

1. Translation Table:

   sql
   CREATE TABLE Translations (
       LanguageCode NVARCHAR(10),
       LabelKey NVARCHAR(50),
       Translation NVARCHAR(255)
   );
   
   INSERT INTO Translations (LanguageCode, LabelKey, Translation) VALUES
   ('en-US', 'ReportTitle', 'Sales Report'),
   ('fr-FR', 'ReportTitle', 'Rapport de ventes'),
   ('es-ES', 'ReportTitle', 'Informe de ventas');
   
   

2. Report Parameter:

   • Add a parameter named LanguageCode with available values ('en-US', 'fr-FR', 'es-ES').

3. Translation Dataset:

   sql
   
   SELECT LabelKey, Translation
   FROM Translations
   WHERE LanguageCode = @LanguageCode
   

4. Expressions:

   • Use expressions to set the title dynamically:

   sql
   =Lookup("ReportTitle", Fields!LabelKey.Value, Fields!Translation.Value, "TranslationsDataset")
   
   

5. Preview and Test:

   • Ensure that selecting different languages in the LanguageCode parameter displays the report in the appropriate language.

Additional Tips

• Resource Files: For more extensive multilingual support, consider using resource files or external translation services.
• Dynamic Images: If you have images or other media that need to change based on language, store and retrieve them similarly to text translations.
• Performance: Ensure that your translation retrieval is efficient, especially if you have many text elements to translate.

By following these steps, you can create multilingual reports in SSRS, enhancing accessibility and user experience for a global audience.