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Using class as data source for End User Reporting (rdlc)
I have developed an application in VB.Net (VS 2008) that contains a number of reports. Currently these are all set as EmbeddedResource reports, which works fine.
I know I could also set the Reports as external to my application using the ReportPath option too, which got me thinking.
I would like the end user (at least one trained in report writing) to be able to modify or even create these RDLC files. I assume Visual Studio Report designer is the best tool for this (if there's a better one, please let me know).
That would be fine if the data sources were SQL Tables, but I use classes as Business Objects as my datasources. That means I create the Business Object programatically as pass it as the data source when using ReportViewer.
I could still do that as the modified RDCL files would still be called from within my application but how can the end user, when using Report Designer, access the Business Object 'schema'? I know they will need to come back within the application to preview the report with data but is there any way I can export the Data Source from my VB.NET project so the fields/members are available for report design outside of my project?
Hope that makes sense. Let me know if not.
I know I could also set the Reports as external to my application using the ReportPath option too, which got me thinking.
I would like the end user (at least one trained in report writing) to be able to modify or even create these RDLC files. I assume Visual Studio Report designer is the best tool for this (if there's a better one, please let me know).
That would be fine if the data sources were SQL Tables, but I use classes as Business Objects as my datasources. That means I create the Business Object programatically as pass it as the data source when using ReportViewer.
I could still do that as the modified RDCL files would still be called from within my application but how can the end user, when using Report Designer, access the Business Object 'schema'? I know they will need to come back within the application to preview the report with data but is there any way I can export the Data Source from my VB.NET project so the fields/members are available for report design outside of my project?
Hope that makes sense. Let me know if not.
SSRSVisual Basic.NET
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WestcountryBusiness
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I haven't came across such requirement ever. But seems to be pretty difficult
ASKER
I found this. Not yet tried it but looks like a way to install report builder in Visual Studio Express 2012, which would offer a free tool for creating report definitions.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?717175-How-to-use-Report-Viewer-with-Visual-Studio-2012-Express
I marked the solution as 'good' because although it wasn't the solution I implemented, it did get me started in the right direction. Many thanks.
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?717175-How-to-use-Report-Viewer-with-Visual-Studio-2012-Express
I marked the solution as 'good' because although it wasn't the solution I implemented, it did get me started in the right direction. Many thanks.
In Visual Studio I created a new project as a "Reports Application". When it asked me for a data source, I chose Object. I could then browse to the exe file that is my compiled application and it picked up all the data sources defined in it. Really easy, which was a relief.
Happy to award points as it got me going but would like to ask one more question, if poss. I'd like my end user (OK, it would be a IT literate end user) to create these reports. No problem, but they don't have Visual Studio and a license cost would be a barrier.
I've tried doing this with the VS Express package, but that doesn't seem to offer the option to create a reports application. Is that right?
The client has SQL Reporting Services and VS Business Intellegence Development Studio but that creates RDL files. I know I could convert them, but in the BI studio, I can't specify the object data source.
Do any of the free VS Express packages offer the ability to create a Reports Application?
Thanks