NJordan72
asked on
Displaying Data
Here is the situation-
I am pulling a bunch of data off of a remote server via an XML file encapsulated in a SOAP envelope. Getting the data and storing it in variables is absolutely no problem.
My problem is the ability to display this data that I have pulled from the server in a nice way. I tried using Crystal Reports, and found it to be a little more complicated then what I'm looking for.
Right now I'm playing around with a RTFBox, but that doesn't format stuff well (using tables at least). An ideal solution would to display the data in an HTML file within my application. However, I need to stay away from some of the limitations most web browsers set (lack of automated printing)
At some point I won't be displaying all of the reports and will want them sent right to the printer. Does anyone have a solution for me on how I can neatly display data that is generated dynamically?
I am pulling a bunch of data off of a remote server via an XML file encapsulated in a SOAP envelope. Getting the data and storing it in variables is absolutely no problem.
My problem is the ability to display this data that I have pulled from the server in a nice way. I tried using Crystal Reports, and found it to be a little more complicated then what I'm looking for.
Right now I'm playing around with a RTFBox, but that doesn't format stuff well (using tables at least). An ideal solution would to display the data in an HTML file within my application. However, I need to stay away from some of the limitations most web browsers set (lack of automated printing)
At some point I won't be displaying all of the reports and will want them sent right to the printer. Does anyone have a solution for me on how I can neatly display data that is generated dynamically?
Maxim10553
so is the data stored in XML format?
ASKER
Well, the data is returned to the application in XML format, so technically yes. I've already written a function that parses all of the data and stores it in various variables, but I could use just the XML if I found a solution that supported that!
why not just use XSL to format your data if you already have it in XML format? if you create a style sheet for your XML data and govern it with a DTD that would be the most scalable, platform-independent way to show the info.
ASKER
How would I go about displaying the XSL formatted data in a VB application. I'm rather new to VB, sorry if this is a dumb question.
use the webbrowser control in VB and point it to your saved xml document. The xml document should include something like this to point it to the stylesheet <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="C:\Stylesheets\Style
ASKER
OK - Thanks, but one more quick question. when using the webbrowser control does it limit you to the same functionality of IE, or will I be able to print the contents of the control from within VB (without the print dialog window?)
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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