# SQL Reporting Services 1st Tips

- URL: https://dynamicaccounting.net/sql-reporting-services-1st-tips/
- Date: 2007-11-13
- Topics: Reporting & BI, SQL & Data, Tips & Hidden Features
- Type: original article

Ok, I’ve got 2 early tips for SQL Server Reporting Services.

1. To add multiple column sorting (as in sort by column B, then sort by column C without destroying column B’s sort.)

- Click on the head for the column you want to sort by and click Properties
- Pick the Interactive Sort tab, check the box for Interactive Sort and select the appropriate field to sort by.
- Repeat for all the columns you want to sort
- Preview or run the report
- Click on the first column and sort with the arrows.
- Hold down SHIIFT and pick the second column and the third column, etc.

2. To shade every other row in a report add this code in the Background Color property:  
=iif (RowNumber (Nothing) Mod 2, “1st Color”, “2nd Color”). Note that “Transparent” is a legitimate color but “White” seems to work better as an alternate color.