Using Cross Object Formula Fields as Common Fields within Salesforce Joined Reports

To work around this limitation in Salesforce Joined Reports, create a Custom Report Type for each object and manually add the parent lookup field that the Cross Object Formula references. This allows the parent field — rather than the formula field — to be used as the common grouping field in a Joined Report.

Workaround: Use Custom Report Types with Lookup Fields

1. Create a Custom Report Type for each object involved in the Joined Report.
2. View the Report Type.
3. In the "Fields Available for Reports" section, click Edit Layout.
4. In the "View" box, click Add fields related via lookup.
5. In the pop-up window, click the link for the lookup field referenced in the Cross Object Formula.
6. Select the checkbox for the field referenced in the Cross Object Formula, then click OK.
7. Click Save to save the report type layout.

The referenced field is now available as a common field in a Joined Report created from the new Report Types.