Top Tip SQL Server Reporting Services fields cannot be used in headers or footers - work around

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I'm grateful to Chris Hayes for this top tip.

Reporting Services doesn't like you using data fields in its headers and footers - here are two ways to work around the problem

  1. Add a parameter to the report without a prompt (so the user doesn’t see it) and with a default value based on the field.  Use this parameter instead of the field in the page header.
  2. Put a textbox in the body of the report that references the field.  Reference the value of the textbox in the page header.  Optionally hide the textbox.  (Note:  You’ll need to make sure the textbox appears on every page.  A couple of ways to do this is either RepeatOnNewPage in a table header or RepeatWith)