KB30924: How to merge repeated attribute elements when displayed in the detail section of a Report Services document

When an attribute is displayed in the detail section of a Report Services document, its value is repeated and there is no way of merging the values like in a report grid.
 

 
To avoid repeating the group by attribute value for all rows of data in report services document follow the steps below:

• Create a metric M1 = Max (1) that returns value 1.
  
• Create a metric M2 = RunningSum (M1) and break by the attribute that should be merged. Include M2 in the dataset. The Metric M2 returns value 1 for every first attribute element within the attribute as shown below:
   
  

• Apply conditional formatting to the attribute such that the attribute is displayed only when M2 = 1.
   
  

• Apply formatting to M1 such that the text is displayed white.
   
  

• Execute the document. The expected results are opened. The group by attribute is displayed at the detail section level and yet its value is not repeated for all rows of data as shown  below: