SSRS export to PDF errors out with one specific data set

Question

I have a SSRS report that fails to export to a PDF file with a particular set of data.  The PDF export works great with every other set of data  that we have run through it. The suspect report/data can be viewed fine and exported to other formats
without issues.
It almost appears that the PDF export has issues with how the data falls on the page.  If I change the top/bottom margin size, increase the length of the report by adding whitespace or increase/decrease the size of the header/footer, the report will
export to PDF without any issues.
We are currently using SQL Server 2008, SP3 CU12.
This is the error log that occurs for the export:
reportrendering!ReportServer_0-19!9e4!12/05/2014-09:05:31:: e ERROR: Throwing Microsoft.ReportingServices.ReportProcessing.UnhandledReportRenderingException: An error occurred during rendering of the report., ;
 Info: Microsoft.ReportingServices.ReportProcessing.UnhandledReportRenderingException: An error occurred during rendering of the report. ---> Microsoft.ReportingServices.OnDemandReportRendering.ReportRenderingException: An error occurred during rendering
of the report. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.Paragraph.GetRichTextParagraph()
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.TextBox.GetRichTextBox()
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.TextBox.AddToPage(RPLWriter rplWriter, PageContext pageContext, Double pageLeft, Double pageTop, Double pageRight, Double pageBottom, RepeatState repeatState)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.Tablix.RowInfo.AddToPageContent(ScalableList`1 columnInfo, Int32& colsOnPage, Boolean isLTR, Boolean pinnedToParentCell, RPLWriter rplWriter, PageContext pageContext, Double pageLeft, Double
pageTop, Double pageRight, Double pageBottom, RepeatState repeatState)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.Tablix.AddToPage(RPLWriter rplWriter, PageContext pageContext, Double pageLeft, Double pageTop, Double pageRight, Double pageBottom, RepeatState repeatState)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.PageItemContainer.AddToPage(RPLWriter rplWriter, PageContext pageContext, Double pageLeft, Double pageTop, Double pageRight, Double pageBottom, RepeatState repeatState)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.Report.NextPage(RPLWriter rplWriter, Int32 page, Int32 totalPages)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HPBProcessing.HPBProcessing.Init(Report report, PaginationSettings pagination, CreateAndRegisterStream createAndRegisterStream, Hashtable& renderProperties)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.ImageRenderer.PDFRenderer.Render(Report report, NameValueCollection deviceInfo, Hashtable renderProperties, CreateAndRegisterStream createAndRegisterStream)
   at Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.ImageRenderer.RendererBase.Render(Report report, NameValueCollection reportServerParameters, NameValueCollection deviceInfo, NameValueCollection clientCapabilities, Hashtable& renderProperties, CreateAndRegisterStream
createAndRegisterStream)
 

Answer 1

Hi GravityJunky,
Based on the error message, the object reference is not set to an instance, it is typically caused by one or more of the following reasons:
There are soft page breaks within empty lists in the report.
There are hidden groups within the report and you tried to export it to PDF.
There are text boxes with a width and/or height of zero in the report.
A text box is either hidden or the NoRows property is set to true.
A text box spans table cells where some cells have a collection of null values.
The report has static columns and/or rows and, in the Visibility properties, Hidden is set to true.
The report has static columns and/or rows and there are grand totals in the report.
The report has static column headings and, in the Visibility properties, Hidden is set to true.
The matrix report has multiple columns and rows and, in the Visibility properties, Hidden is set to true and you tried to export to PDF.
To troubleshoot the problem, please refer to the following steps:
Review the specific error contained within the message and then, depending on the message, review your report.
If the problem is related to soft page break issues, try increasing the page height, reducing the first row height, or reducing the number of header rows.
If the problem is related to errors when rounding the image size up or down, try slightly increasing the page header height so that it is different than the image height, or try changing the image size to fit better.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Wendy Fu
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