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Dynamic Crystal Report with C#

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29 Sep 2007CPOL2 min read 547K   24.2K   159   92
This program shows how to dynamically load data from a database and application into the Crystal Report
Screenshot - pic2.jpg

Introduction

This program shows how to dynamically load data from a database and application into the Crystal Report. By using this program, we can customize a Crystal Report to some limit at run time of the application like specifying which field (Columns of a particular table) should be displayed in the report.

Background

This problem arose because a group of students from SLIIT asked me how to dynamically generate a Crystal Report using C# 2.0 (.NET 2005). I tried to find a solution for this by searching many forums and sites, but unfortunately I couldn't find any solution for that. Some forums said that there is no way to create dynamic Crystal Reports using .NET 2005. Finally, I found a way to do that.

Using the Code

  1. Create a C# project or add a Form to your existing project.

    Now you can add Checkboxes that correspond to columns of a particular table that should be displayed in the Crystal Report and CrystalReportViewer control to the form.

Screenshot - pic4.jpg

For this demonstration, I have created a database called db1.mdb (in bin\Debug) using Access and created a table called Customer.

  1. Add a DataSet (*.xsd file) to your project using add -> New Items in solution explorer. After that, add a DataTable to the DataSet.

    Screenshot - pic5.jpg

    Add columns to DataTable and name them Column1, Column2, and so on. The number of columns depends on how many columns should be displayed in the Crystal report.

  2. Add a Crystal Report into the project and using the Report Wizard, choose ADO.NET DataSets of the Project data source as the data source of the Crystal Report and select Customer data table of DataSet1 as the selected table of the Crystal Report. Then select fields to be displayed in your report. Then remove Column1…, Column5 objects in Section 2 of the Crystal Report.

    Screenshot - pic7.jpg

    Screenshot - pic8.jpg

  3. Now add parameters called col1, col2col5 (the number of parameters should be equal to the number of columns displayed in the Crystal Report.) using Field Explorer.

    Screenshot - pic9.jpg

  4. Add the following method to your Form for Create SQL SELECT query and assign values to parameters of the Crystal Report according to user selected columns that should be displayed on your report.

    C#
    /// <summary>
    /// This method is used to 
    /// 1. create SELECT query according to the selected column names and 
    /// 2. create parameters and assign values for that parameter
    /// that correspond to the crystal report.
    /// NOTE: This parameter is used to display Column names of the 
    /// Crystal Report according to the user selection.
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns></returns>
    private string CreateSelectQueryAndParameters()
    {
        ReportDocument reportDocument;
        ParameterFields paramFields;
        
        ParameterField paramField;
        ParameterDiscreteValue paramDiscreteValue;
    
        reportDocument = new ReportDocument();
        paramFields = new ParameterFields();
                   
        string query = "SELECT ";
        int columnNo = 0;                
    
        if (chbCode.Checked)
        {
            columnNo++;
            query = query.Insert(query.Length, "Code as Column" +
            columnNo.ToString());
    
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "Customer Code";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
        if (chbFirstName.Checked)
        {
            columnNo++;
            if (query.Contains("Column"))
            {
                query = query.Insert(query.Length, ", ");
            }
            query = query.Insert(query.Length, "FirstName as Column" +
            columnNo.ToString());
            
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "First Name";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
        if (chbLastName.Checked)
        {
            columnNo++; //To determine Column number
            if (query.Contains("Column"))
            {
                query = query.Insert(query.Length, ", ");
            }
            query = query.Insert(query.Length, "LastName as Column" +
            columnNo.ToString());
                            
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "Last Name";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
        if (chbAddress.Checked)
        {
            columnNo++;
            if (query.Contains("Column"))
            {
                query = query.Insert(query.Length, ", ");
            }
            query = query.Insert(query.Length, "Address as Column" +
            columnNo.ToString());
                            
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "Address";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
        if (chbPhone.Checked)
        {
            columnNo++;
            if (query.Contains("Column"))
            {
                query = query.Insert(query.Length, ", ");
            }
            query = query.Insert(query.Length, "Phone as Column" +
            columnNo.ToString());
    
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "Phone";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
    
        //if there is any remaining parameter, assign empty value for that 
        //parameter.
        for (int i = columnNo; i < 5; i++)
        {
            columnNo++;
            paramField = new ParameterField();
            paramField.Name = "col" + columnNo.ToString();
            paramDiscreteValue = new ParameterDiscreteValue();
            paramDiscreteValue.Value = "";
            paramField.CurrentValues.Add(paramDiscreteValue);
            //Add the paramField to paramFields
            paramFields.Add(paramField);
        }
               
        crystalReportViewer1.ParameterFieldInfo = paramFields;
        
        query += " FROM Customer" ;
        return query;
    }
    //
  5. Add the following method to the button click event to display a report when the user presses the button:

    C#
    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;
    using System.ComponentModel;
    using System.Data;
    using System.Drawing;
    using System.Text;
    using System.Windows.Forms;
    using System.Data.OleDb;
    
    using CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine;
    using CrystalDecisions.ReportSource;
    using CrystalDecisions.Shared;
    using CrystalDecisions.Windows.Forms;
    
    namespace app5
    {
        public partial class Form1 : Form
        {
            CrystalReport1 objRpt;
    
            public Form1()
            {
                InitializeComponent();
            }
    
            private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
            {
                objRpt = new CrystalReport1();
    
                string connString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +
                    "Data Source=|DataDirectory|\\db1.mdb"; 
               
                //Get Select query String and add parameters to the 
                //Crystal report.
                string query = CreateSelectQueryAndParameters();
    
                //if there is no item select, then exit from the method.
                if (!query.Contains("Column"))
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("No selection to display!");
                    return;
                }
    
                try
                {
                    OleDbConnection Conn = new OleDbConnection(connString);
    
                    OleDbDataAdapter adepter = 
                    new OleDbDataAdapter(query, connString);
                    DataSet1 Ds = new DataSet1();
    
                    adepter.Fill(Ds, "Customer");
                    
                    objRpt.SetDataSource(Ds);
                    crystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = objRpt;
                }
                catch (OleDbException oleEx)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(oleEx.Message);
                }
                catch (Exception Ex)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(Ex.Message);
                }
            }

History

  • 29th September, 2007: Initial post

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior)
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
I'm working with SAP and Microsoft Technologies such as C#, MS SQL server, ASP.NET, ASP.NET MVC, WebAPI.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralThanks To Author Pin
santosh kundkar17-May-12 23:03
santosh kundkar17-May-12 23:03 
QuestionClean data of report Pin
Qnhat1-May-12 23:55
Qnhat1-May-12 23:55 
Questionabout SQL server.. Pin
Dinesh925-Feb-12 22:02
professionalDinesh925-Feb-12 22:02 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
bilawal12118-Jan-12 0:43
bilawal12118-Jan-12 0:43 
QuestionMy Vote of 5 Pin
roshandavid5-Jan-12 5:58
roshandavid5-Jan-12 5:58 
GeneralMy Vote of 5 Pin
RaviRanjanKr3-Dec-11 3:22
professionalRaviRanjanKr3-Dec-11 3:22 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
avcas29-Nov-11 5:05
avcas29-Nov-11 5:05 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
santosh kundkar18-Oct-11 19:23
santosh kundkar18-Oct-11 19:23 
Thanks this is Really working code
QuestionThank you.... Pin
jyothi87.u28-Sep-11 4:50
jyothi87.u28-Sep-11 4:50 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
jyothi87.u28-Sep-11 4:49
jyothi87.u28-Sep-11 4:49 
GeneralDynamic columns without specifying all column names in the report Pin
aswathy.s.888-Jun-11 23:19
aswathy.s.888-Jun-11 23:19 
Questionerror in creating Dynamic Crystal Report with C# Pin
shivani 20139-May-11 22:11
shivani 20139-May-11 22:11 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Harry Neethling9-May-11 2:44
Harry Neethling9-May-11 2:44 
GeneralProblem with crystal report layout (dynamic) Pin
intelcore2quad8819-Feb-11 20:40
intelcore2quad8819-Feb-11 20:40 
GeneralThanks Pin
melda_4447-Feb-11 3:43
melda_4447-Feb-11 3:43 
GeneralThanks Pin
Captainobvious1-Feb-11 22:04
Captainobvious1-Feb-11 22:04 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Аslam Iqbal16-Jan-11 19:58
professionalАslam Iqbal16-Jan-11 19:58 
GeneralNeed a VB version Pin
Shiblee16925-Oct-10 6:32
Shiblee16925-Oct-10 6:32 
GeneralThank You !!! Pin
gayanperera018-Oct-10 20:28
gayanperera018-Oct-10 20:28 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
sheetalbhalerao17-Sep-10 1:45
sheetalbhalerao17-Sep-10 1:45 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Rofael9-Aug-10 4:07
Rofael9-Aug-10 4:07 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Iakovos Karakizas9-Aug-10 1:38
professionalIakovos Karakizas9-Aug-10 1:38 
GeneralThank you! It helps a lot. Pin
ben197815-May-10 9:09
ben197815-May-10 9:09 
Generalsiraaaaaaaa Pin
amilakandambi11-Apr-10 19:42
amilakandambi11-Apr-10 19:42 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
ssmani84195-Apr-10 19:55
ssmani84195-Apr-10 19:55 

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