A Guide to Rendering Reports with Relative Layout

In report design, report items are rendered in a sequential manner from left to right. This ensures that the items placed on the left side of the report are rendered first, followed by those on the right side. This approach maintains a logical and consistent display of report content.

For instance, consider the following design: tablix1, tablix2, tablix3. When this report layout is rendered, tablix1 will be displayed first, followed by tablix2 and then tablix3. You can download the sample report from here.

However, if tablix1 contains a significant amount of data while tablix2 contains minimal data, tablix3 will be rendered only after tablix1, resulting in space. This can be problematic in terms of layout.

To overcome this issue, follow the below steps:

1. Enclose tablix1 within a rectangle. This can be done by adding a rectangle item around tablix1. Here’s an image illustrating this step:
   

   

2. Adjust the size of the rectangle to match the combined size of both right tablixes. This way, the rendering order will be maintained correctly. By enclosing tablix1 within a rectangle, it ensures that tablix2 and tablix3 are rendered alongside tablix1, even if tablix1 contains a significant amount of data. You can refer to the following image for a visual representation:
   

   

3. By incorporating this approach and adjusting the report layout accordingly, you can ensure the report displays as intended. To observe the changes, run the report and observe the updated rendering. You can refer to the following image for a visual representation:
   

   

By following these recommendations, you can effectively address the layout issue and ensure that the report displays as intended, providing a seamless and visually pleasing experience for users.