Load FlexReport at Run Time

Loading reports at run time requires a report definition file and a viewer. The main advantage of this type of application is that if you modify the report format, there's no need to update the application. Simply send the new report definition file to the users and you are done.

To create an application with reports loaded at run time, follow these steps:

Create all the required reports in the C1FlexReportDesigner application. For more information, see Quick Start section.
Add the following controls to the application:
- C1FlexViewerPane control named fv
- ComboList control named cmbReport
- StatusBar control named status
- button control named button1
Add the following Import statements at the top, in code view:
- Visual Basic
- C#
- Visual Basic
Imports C1.WPF.FlexReport Imports System.IO
- C#
using C1.WPF.FlexReport; using System.IO;
This allows you to reference C1FlexReport and System.IO classes and objects without having to specify the full namespaces.

Add the following code in the button Click event to read the report definition file, build a list of all reports, and render the report selected by the user:

Visual Basic
C#

Visual Basic

Private Sub btnRender_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
' get application path       
Dim appPath As String
appPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName
(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location).ToLower()
Dim i As Integer = appPath.IndexOf(vbBack & "in")
If(i < 0) Then
i = appPath.IndexOf(vbBack & "in")
End If
If(i > 0) Then
appPath = appPath.Remove(i, appPath.Length - i)
End If
  ' get names of reports in the report definition file      
Dim m_ReportDefinitionFile As String = appPath &
Convert.ToString("\Data\Products Report.flxr")
Dim reports As String() = C1FlexReport.GetReportList(m_ReportDefinitionFile)
' populate combo box       
cmbReport.Items.Clear()


For Each report As String In reports
cmbReport.Items.Add(report)
Next

Try
Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Wait

  ' load report        
fv.StatusText = "Loading" + cmbReport.Text
rep.Load(m_ReportDefinitionFile, cmbReport.Text)


' render into print preview control        
fv.StatusText = "Rendering" + cmbReport.Text
fv.DocumentSource = rep

  ' give focus to print preview control 
fv.Focus()
Finally
Cursor = InlineAssignHelper(Cursor, System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Arrow)
End Try
End Sub

private void btnRender_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
  // get application path       
  string appPath;
  appPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName
  (System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location).ToLower();
  int i = appPath.IndexOf("\bin");
  if ((i < 0)) {
    i = appPath.IndexOf("\bin");
  }
  if ((i > 0)) {
    appPath = appPath.Remove(i, appPath.Length - i);
  }
  // get names of reports in the report definition file      
  string m_ReportDefinitionFile = appPath + @"\Data\Products Report.flxr";
  string[] reports = C1FlexReport.GetReportList(m_ReportDefinitionFile);
  // populate combo box       
  cmbReport.Items.Clear();

  foreach(string report in reports) {
    cmbReport.Items.Add(report);
  }

  try {
    Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Wait;

    // load report        
    fv.StatusText = "Loading" + cmbReport.Text;
    rep.Load(m_ReportDefinitionFile, cmbReport.Text);


    // render into print preview control        
    fv.StatusText = "Rendering" + cmbReport.Text;
    fv.DocumentSource = rep;

    // give focus to print preview control 
    fv.Focus();
  } finally {
    Cursor = Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Arrow;
  }
}

The code starts by getting the location of the file that contains the report definitions. This is done using static methods in the system-defined Path and Application classes. You may have to adjust the code to reflect the location and name of your report definition file.

Then it uses the GetReportList method to retrieve an array containing the names of all reports in the report definition file (created in step 1), and populates the combo box allowing users to select the report.

Run the application.