Reporting Services emptypoint behaviour

Question

Hello,
I am having issues with the emptypoint property in SSRS 2012. We have recently upgraded from 2005 where this wasn't an issue. We are trying to tracker performance against plan over a single day, tracker by the hour. The issue I have is the data is not continuous,
the plan can be set by job and although assigned to a time can be 5 or 6 times a day at any point. Actuals get populated as a process finished (not a job) so is populated 200 times a day against a time which can be different to the plan. I need to tracker
the two together so users can see how they are progressing to the plan.
As an example I am using the attached table
create table #TestChart
Runtime datetime,
value int,
SensorName varchar(20)
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 1:30:00',500,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 1:31:00',100,'ACTUAL')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 5:30:00',1000,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 5:31:00',700,'ACTUAL')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 9:30:00',1250,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 9:31:00',1100,'ACTUAL')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 13:30:00',1500,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 13:31:00',2500,'ACTUAL')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 17:30:00',2000,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 17:31:00',4000,'ACTUAL')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 18:30:00',2200,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 18:31:00',2300,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 21:30:00',2400,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 21:33:00',2600,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 21:35:00',2750,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 22:00:00',3000,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 22:05:00',3500,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 22:06:00',4000,'PLAN')
insert into #TestChart values('2014-01-15 22:07:00',4100,'PLAN')
select * from #TestChart
select distinct
a.runtime,
b.value AS PLANNED,
c.value AS ACTUALS
INTO dbo.test_data_cols
from #TestChart a
left outer join #TestChart b
on a.Runtime = b.Runtime
and a.SensorName= b.SensorName
and b.sensorname = 'Plan'
left outer join #TestChart c
on a.Runtime = c.Runtime
and a.SensorName= c.SensorName
and c.sensorname = 'Actual'
When I plot the data in a line chart in SSRS 2012 only sporadic data is displayed as it is not continuous so I have used the emptypoint property which worked fine in 2005. This correctly fills in the data gaps but also fills backwards and forwards which
as the actuals come in is not the disired result.
Apologies as I have tried to upload an image but it won't work. But for the table above I get data for actuals continuing on a striaght line to the end of the day.
I have searched around and found people with simular issues but never a resolution, I have the same issue as this person http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/39629eeb-be1a-43dc-929b-0956145012ac/ssrs-2008-r2-line-chart-issue#430bc497-6ff7-427f-b3e2-89cd53948357 
Do you know if a solution is in place as it worked fine in 2005 and I am aware it is handled differently in 2012.
Thank you and KInd REgards
Rich

Answer 1

Hi Rich,
Based on my test, it is not support in SSRS 2012. When we configure the Average value of the EmptyPointValue, this line will extend backward or forward. It is due to Category Groups values. Each category point has a corresponding value.
Since the issue is by design, I recommend you that submit a wish to the Microsoft Connect at
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/Feedback. Your feedback is valuable for us to improve our products and increase the level of service provided.
Regards,
Alisa Tang
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Alisa Tang
TechNet Community Support