"keep together on one page if possible" set to true, but tables are still being split across pages?

[julia_cw]

Current state: I have a report with several small tablixes - each takes up about 3-4" of space on a page. Currently, at the bottom of page 1, the first row or two of a tablix displays on page 1, and the final rows display on page 2. 

- I have "keep together on one page if possible" checked under Tablix Properties. 

- I can see that KeepTogether is set to "true" in the right hand Properties nav.

- I have a header and footer set up, if that matters.

Desired state: All rows of the tablix display on page 2 if there is not enough room on page 1. 

- I'm happy with everything else about how my report is displaying  in the print layout (no random blank pages)

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong - I'm guessing I need to edit my margins/padding/tablix size somehow, but I'm hoping someone can give me a specific set of instructions for exactly what I need to adjust or what to look into to get my tables to stay togther on a page. Thanks so much for your help!

[Elena_Kalina · Accepted solution]

Hi @julia_cw 

It sounds like you're experiencing a common SSRS pagination challenge. Here's a step-by-step solution to ensure your tablixes stay together when printing/exporting:

1. Verify Tablix Properties (Beyond Just KeepTogether)

• Right-click the tablix → Properties

• Under General tab, confirm:

  • KeepTogether = True

  • PageBreak.BreakLocation = None

• Under Advanced Mode (small icon in Properties window):

  • Check RepeatOnNewPage = False

2. Adjust Physical Dimensions

1. Measure your tablix:

   • Select the tablix and check its Height property

   • Add up heights of all rows (right-click row handle → Row Height)

2. Check available page space:

   • Go to Report → Report Properties → Page Setup

   • Note PageHeight minus margins (TopMargin + BottomMargin)

   • Subtract any header/footer heights

3. Ensure tablix fits:

   • Your tablix height must be ≤ (PageHeight - Margins - Header/Footer)

3. Configure Page Breaks (Forced Solution)

If the automatic keep-together isn't working:

1. Right-click the tablix → Add Group → Parent Group

2. Set group expression to =1 (dummy group)

3. Right-click new group → Group Properties

4. Go to Page Breaks tab

5. Check Between each instance of a group

4. Advanced Troubleshooting

If still splitting:

1. Check container items:

   • Any rectangle/list containing the tablix must also have KeepTogether=True

2. Test with simplified layout:

   • Temporarily remove header/footer

   • Set all margins to 0.5"

   • See if problem persists

3. Verify no hidden elements:

   • Check for tiny objects extending beyond page boundaries

5. Alternative Approach (If All Else Fails)

Create a page break trigger:

=IIF(RowNumber(Nothing) Mod [MaxRowsPerPage] = 0, True, False)

Add this as a group page break expression.

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting as solution to help the other members find it more quickly, don't forget to give a "Kudos" – I’d truly appreciate it!  Thank you.

[v-hashadapu]

Hi , I hope you're doing well! Just checking in to see if you had a chance to review the details shared earlier. If any of the information addressed your needs, feel free to mark it as "Accept as Solution" to help others in the community. Please let me know if you have any further questions!

[v-hashadapu]

Hello @julia_cw , Just getting back to see if the shared details answered your question. If so, marking it as "Accept as Solution" and giving a 'Kudos' would be greatly appreciated to guide others in the community. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions!

[v-hashadapu]

Hi @julia_cw ,
I wanted to follow up and see if you’ve had a chance to review the information provided here.
If any of the responses helped solve your issue, please consider marking it "Accept as Solution" and giving it a 'Kudos' to help others easily find it.
Let me know if you have any further questions!

[v-hashadapu · Accepted solution]

Hi @julia_cw , Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

This is  likely because SSRS only honors that setting if the tablix fits entirely in the remaining space on the page. Check if your tablix actually fits on a page. In Report -> Report Properties -> Page Setup, subtract your top and bottom margins, header and footer from the page height. This gives you the usable vertical space. Then select your tablix and check its Height in the Properties pane. If the tablix is taller than the usable space, SSRS will split it, even with KeepTogether=True. You can fix this by reducing font sizes, shrinking row heights, or trimming unnecessary content.

Next, check for dynamic growth. Right-click on each row in the tablix, go to Row Properties and see if CanGrow is enabled. If it is, even small content can cause rows to expand and push the tablix past your expected height. Consider disabling CanGrow or setting fixed heights where possible to make the layout more predictable.

Finally, wrap the tablix in a rectangle, a known SSRS trick that improves how KeepTogether works. From the toolbox, drag a Rectangle into the report body and place your tablix inside it. Then, set KeepTogether=True on both the rectangle and the tablix. This often prevents SSRS from splitting them across pages when there's not enough room.

Preview your report in Print Layout mode or export it to PDF to verify. If it still splits, you might need to reduce top/bottom margins or header/footer heights to free up space, but only adjust those if necessary.

If this helped solve the issue, please consider marking it “Accept as Solution” and giving a ‘Kudos’ so others with similar queries may find it more easily. If not, please share the details, always happy to help.
Thank you.

[Elena_Kalina · Accepted solution]

Hi @julia_cw 

It sounds like you're experiencing a common SSRS pagination challenge. Here's a step-by-step solution to ensure your tablixes stay together when printing/exporting:

1. Verify Tablix Properties (Beyond Just KeepTogether)

• Right-click the tablix → Properties

• Under General tab, confirm:

  • KeepTogether = True

  • PageBreak.BreakLocation = None

• Under Advanced Mode (small icon in Properties window):

  • Check RepeatOnNewPage = False

2. Adjust Physical Dimensions

1. Measure your tablix:

   • Select the tablix and check its Height property

   • Add up heights of all rows (right-click row handle → Row Height)

2. Check available page space:

   • Go to Report → Report Properties → Page Setup

   • Note PageHeight minus margins (TopMargin + BottomMargin)

   • Subtract any header/footer heights

3. Ensure tablix fits:

   • Your tablix height must be ≤ (PageHeight - Margins - Header/Footer)

3. Configure Page Breaks (Forced Solution)

If the automatic keep-together isn't working:

1. Right-click the tablix → Add Group → Parent Group

2. Set group expression to =1 (dummy group)

3. Right-click new group → Group Properties

4. Go to Page Breaks tab

5. Check Between each instance of a group

4. Advanced Troubleshooting

If still splitting:

1. Check container items:

   • Any rectangle/list containing the tablix must also have KeepTogether=True

2. Test with simplified layout:

   • Temporarily remove header/footer

   • Set all margins to 0.5"

   • See if problem persists

3. Verify no hidden elements:

   • Check for tiny objects extending beyond page boundaries

5. Alternative Approach (If All Else Fails)

Create a page break trigger:

=IIF(RowNumber(Nothing) Mod [MaxRowsPerPage] = 0, True, False)

Add this as a group page break expression.

If this post helps, then please consider Accepting as solution to help the other members find it more quickly, don't forget to give a "Kudos" – I’d truly appreciate it!  Thank you.