Reports - merging data columns in matrix

Question

Hi, 
I need help with merging columns in matrix. I use MS SQL 2012. I need merge data columns, here is example:
matrix:
+-----------+----------+
|               |  [time]  |
+-----------+----------+
|               |  [step]  |
| [project] +----------+
|               | [action] |
+-----------+----------+
current output:
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |   00:00 |   00:05  |   00:10  |  00:15  |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |  step 1  |  step 1  |          |  step 2  |
| project 1 +----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |  start     | running  |          |  start   |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |              |  step 1  |  step 1  |  step 1  |
| project 2 +----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                |             | start    | running  |  running |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
demanded output:
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |   00:00  |   00:05  |   00:10  |   00:15  |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|               |        step 1          |              |  step 2  |
| project 1 +----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                |  start    | running  |            |  start    |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                |             |            step 1                     |
| project 2 +----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                |              | start    |       running       |
+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
Thanks in advance :-)
Regards

Answer 1

Hi  Katamarucz,
According to your description and the sample matrix, you want to merge the columns in the same steps into one column, right? In this case, on some rows the columns that have the same steps should be merged, however, the column should not be merge on other
row that the columns have different steps. 
In Reporting Services, if we merger the columns when designing the report, then the columns will be merged on all the rows. So you requirement cannot be achieved. And I am afraid there is no other approach to work around this issue.
Thank you for your understanding.
Regards,
Charlie Liao
TechNet Community Support