Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer Permission Issue
The Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer uses Microsoft Edge WebView2, which requires a writable folder to store temporary runtime data, such as configuration files and cache. Installing the application in a protected directory like C:\Program Files
can lead to permission restrictions, resulting in a blank white window or inability to open .rdl
files.
Issue: Blank Window and Inability to Open .rdl Files
When the ReportDesigner.exe.WebView2
folder lacks write access, users may experience:
- A blank white window upon launching the application.
- Failure to load or open
.rdl
report files.
Cause
The Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime needs write permissions to create and manage its data directory. Installing in a system-protected location restricts these permissions by default.
Solutions
Option 1: Grant Write Permissions to the WebView2 Folder
To resolve the issue by adjusting permissions:
- Navigate to
C:\Program Files\Bold Reports\Report Designer\ReportDesigner.exe.WebView2
. - Right-click the folder, select Properties, and go to the Security tab.
- Click Edit, then select the user or group (e.g.,
Everyone
or the current user).
- Check Allow for Read and Write permissions.
- Click Apply and OK to save changes.
- Note: Administrative privileges are required to modify these settings. Be cautious when granting broad permissions (e.g., to
Everyone
) as it may pose security risks.
- Note: Administrative privileges are required to modify these settings. Be cautious when granting broad permissions (e.g., to
Option 2: Reinstall in a Writable Location
If modifying permissions is not feasible due to security policies:
- Uninstall the current installation of Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer.
- During reinstallation, click Browse and select a user-writable directory (e.g.,
D:\BoldReports
or a custom folder). - Proceed with the installation by clicking Next.
- Benefit: This approach avoids permission conflicts and ensures the WebView2 runtime can operate without restrictions.
Conclusion
To ensure the Bold Reports Standalone Report Designer works correctly, the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime must have write access to its data folder. Either grant the necessary permissions to the existing ReportDesigner.exe.WebView2
folder or reinstall the application in a writable directory to avoid blank windows and .rdl
file loading issues.