ssrs report export to excel - broken hyperlinks?

Question

I have large report and each row contains hyperlink. Report containing 50k or more rows is exported to excel. After export I try to open xlsx file and get message telling me that file contains error. It also suggests to do file recovery After recovery message shows that hyperlinks were removed. I can open file but links are no longer working. I tried to open exported file with c# openxml sdk library and got error message telling that file contains incomplete element but i was unable to find which element it is However, when report has less than 49k rows, exported file is opened succesfully and all hyperlinks are working. When report is exported to pdf or doc, hyperlinks are also working I use report server vesion 12.0.2269.0 Does anyone know how to resolve this issue ?

Answer 1

The issue you're encountering with hyperlinks being removed or causing errors when exporting a large report to an Excel file can be challenging to pinpoint without further information. However, here are a few suggestions that might help resolve the problem:

1. Split the report into smaller chunks: Since you mentioned that the issue occurs when the report has 50k or more rows, try splitting the report into smaller segments and exporting them separately. This approach can help identify if the problem is related to the size of the report.

2. Check Excel's limitations: Excel has limitations on the number of hyperlinks it can handle in a single workbook. For older versions of Excel (such as Excel 2013), the maximum number of hyperlinks is 65,536. If your report exceeds this limit, it could be a potential cause of the issue you're facing. Consider reducing the number of hyperlinks per worksheet or using alternative formats like PDF or DOC.

3. Update your software: Verify if there are any updates or patches available for your report server software (version 12.0.2269.0). Sometimes, software updates address known issues and improve compatibility with Excel exports.

4. Consider alternative export formats: If the issue persists, you may need to consider alternative export formats that better handle large reports with hyperlinks. PDF or DOC formats are viable options that retain hyperlinks while accommodating large data sets.

5. Consult the report server's support or community: Since you mentioned using a specific report server version, it might be helpful to reach out to the support team or consult the community forums related to that report server. They may have specific insights or workarounds for this issue based on their experience with the software.

6. Evaluate third-party tools or libraries: Consider exploring third-party tools or libraries that offer more robust export capabilities for your specific report server version. These tools might provide better handling of large reports and preserve hyperlinks during the export process.

It's important to note that without more specific details about your environment and the error messages you encountered, it can be challenging to provide an exact solution. It's recommended to gather more information and potentially involve technical experts who can analyze the issue in depth.