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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-26T08:08:05+00:00

I use SQL Server 2008 R2 and I’m looking for a good reporting tool.

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I use SQL Server 2008 R2 and I’m looking for a good reporting tool. I like what I see with Reporting Services for most column based reports, but can it also be used to create special printed forms, such as a check or an employee W2 form?

These type of forms are not column based, so I’m thinking I’d have to use a single row and column and put all the fields within it. However, I don’t see a way to align some text left and some right or to put fields in a fixed position. If I can’t do that then it’s not possible.

I’m doing ASP.NET web programming here, so I think the right answer is to use something else to generate a PDF instead for these special types of forms, but I want to make sure there isn’t a way to use Reporting Services.

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  1. Editorial Team

    Short answer is most reports are table based with fixed rows and columns. To get the appearance you want with say a W2 form is almost impossible. It would have to done via a combination of objects within the report. For instance here is a sample of a report I do for an expense report system:

    enter image description here

    I use a combination of tables, matrices, and lists just to make one report whose result looks like this:

    enter image description here

    Its very difficult to get it exactly the way you want, you have to play with reporting services to get it close to the way you want. I will not knock reporting services, it is an AWESOME tool, I love using it and it is my preferred choice (over CR crystal reports or any other 3rd party solution). But something as custom as a w2 you may have to generate on the fly and print to pdf. Kind of like what turbo tax does. Good luck!

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