I keep trying to open the .rdl file i have to take a look at some of the .xml and i know note pad works just fine, but i don't know why it all of a sudden opens in notepad instead of in bids like it used to. I know you don't exactly know my computer's file system very well, but i figure on install the files and folders for Microsoft SQL Server and pretty much the same. Any help would be appreciated thanks! Also let me know if this is NOT the right place to put this question.

Hi - Can you right click on the .rdl object and select the View Code option from the pop-up menu? I think that will open the report so you can see the XML. - will

Yes but why won't it open up that way when i double click on the .rdl file on my desktop like it did 2 days ago. Why did all my icons change on all my reports? I can't put pictures up here but here's a link to a thread i have in another forum with the pictures of what i mean: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1133842-21-1.aspx

Oh...sorry about that. I didn't understand your original question. I did just try to dbl-click on one of my .rdl files and it does open up in BIDS, but it XML view like you stated yours does...or use to. That does sound like a strange issue...especially if nothing changed on your system to cause the .Rdl to be associated with Notepad. If you right click on the .rdl file in Windows Explorer, and then select the Open With option from the pop-up menu and then select the "Choose Default Program..." from the next menu....does it still show BIDS or Notepad? - will

IE and notepad are the main things however that box that you can check to "always open this type of file this way" is greyed out. Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is there NOW because i tried using this path: c:\Program Files (x86)\microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\common7\ide\devenv.exe However it still doesn't open it correctly. The icons are still wrong and the XML does not have the "color cues" like i would expect it to.

Hi themainAV, Thanks for your question and Will’s reply. According to the description through the thread, based on my research and experiences, this issue may be caused by files associated. Had you installed the Report Builder on your computer, if had, please follow below steps to restore normality of the report file’s icon. 1. Right-click the report file, select Open with, select Choose default Program. 2. In the Open with dialog box, click Brower button, locate to the path of the Report Builder, for example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\Report Builder 2.0. 3. Double-click the icon of MSReportBuilder.exe, click OK. Please preview the report file’s icon, they have associated to the Report Builder2.0, reopen the file with BIDS, the XML will have the "color cues". Hope it helps you. If your issue still exists, please feel free to let me know. Thanks, Sharp Wang Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.

So your explanation sounded pretty legit, and i did eventually find that file on my computer. however, when using it, it tries to open up Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder 3.0 R2 I do not need this. Our company is not yet using this version and are still with 2.0.

Hi Chernobrivec, I am sorry for didn’t follow up your question in time due to the unusual alert mail. Based on your reply, it seems that when you locate to the path then click on the MSReportBuilder.exe, the file opened with Report Builder 3.0. Actually, the root cause of the issue is the report file had ever being opened by the notepad and associated to notepad. My solution is take action to make the file associates to Report Builder, finally reopen the report with BIDS. So no matter which edition Report Builder you selected to open the file, they both can help the report file remove the association with notepad. Hope it helps you. If your issue still exists, please feel free to let me know. Thanks, Sharp Wang Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help you and unmark them if they provide no help.