TdxReport Class

An AI-powered Report Generator component.

Declaration

TdxReport = class(
    TcxCustomComponent
)

Remarks

TdxReport is a non-visual component designed to generate customizable reports based on templates populated with placeholder fields. The report generator implementation is based on the DevExpress Javascript Report Designer and Viewer adapted for use in native VCL apps (using modern web-based design capabilities based on WebView and ASP.NET Core).

All required .NET and JS dependencies are embedded into one self-contained EXE file transparently.

Note

The ExpressReports suite is available as a Community Technology Preview (CTP). Please review our pre-release software notes if you plan on using ExpressReports.

Bind to Data

TdxReport can populate placeholder fields in a template from different data sources stored in memory or a database. The TdxReportDataConnectionManager component allows you to manage data connection components designed to work with different data sources.

Tip

You can create data connection components directly in code, without TdxReportDataConnectionManager.

Refer to data connection class descriptions for detailed information and code examples.

Data Connection Components

TdxReportInMemoryJSONConnection

A component designed for interaction with data stored in memory.

TdxReportDataSetJSONConnection

A component designed to work with data in one or multiple datasets (TDataSet descendants).

TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection

A component designed to fetch data from an SQL database (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.).

Tip

This component relies on our ASP.NET Core Reporting engine based on the XPO ORM (powered by ADO.NET). Refer to the following topic for connection string examples: Specify a Connection String.

Main API Members

The list below outlines key members of the TdxReport class. These members allow you to configure templates, generate reports, and export report content in different target formats.

Report Content and Layout

FilterString

Specifies filter criteria for report data.

Language

Allows you to switch between available UI and report template localizations. Refer to the following topic for information on localization techniques: VCL Reports Localization.

Layout

Provides access to the report REPX template (as individual XML strings).

OnLayoutChanged

Allows you to respond to any report layout changes.

ReportName

Specifies the report name.

End-User Interaction

ExportFormats

Specifies export formats available to users in the Report Preview dialog.

OnBrowserFileDownload

Allows you to execute custom code in response to preview file download operations or to prevent users from downloading previews.

OnPrintPreview

Allows you to respond to print preview operations and obtain preview content as a PDF document.

ShowDesigner | ShowViewer

Display Web-based Report Designer and Report Preview dialogs. Global skin and palette settings (defined using the Project Settings dialog or a TdxSkinController component) affect these dialogs.

Synchronous Data Export

ExportTimeout

Specifies a timeout interval (in milliseconds) for all synchronous export operations.

ExportTo

Exports the current report to a stream in any supported format.

ExportToCSV | ExportToDOCX | ExportToHTML | ExportToMHT | ExportToPDF | ExportToRTF | ExportToRTF | ExportToText | ExportToXLS | ExportToXLSX

Export the current report to a stream in corresponding formats.

ExportToImage

Exports the current report to a stream as an image (PNG is the default image export format).

Tip

The current image format is defined in Export Options available in the Web-based Report Preview dialog.

GetExportResultFileName

Asynchronous Data Export

CancelPendingExport

Cancels the pending asynchronous export operation.

StartExportAsync | OnExported

Allow you to export the current report to a stream asynchronously.

Code Examples

Related GitHub-Hosted Example Projects

View Example: Store report layouts within text files View Example: Store report layouts in a database View Example: Localize the DevExpress Viewer and Report Designer

Connect to an SQL Database and Edit Report Templates

The following code example uses the TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection component to connect to a demo database (nwind.mdb), displays the Report Designer dialog, and saves all changes made to the UserReport.repx file:

Delphi

uses
  dxReport,  // Declares the TdxReport component and related types
  dxReport.ConnectionString.SQL;  // Declares the TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection component
// ...

procedure TMyForm.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  ADataConnection: TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection;
  AReport: TdxReport;
begin
  ADataConnection := TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection.Create(Self);
  try
    ADataConnection.Name := 'DataConnection';
    // Specify a connection string required to connect to a demo database (nwind.mdb)
    ADataConnection.ConnectionString := 'XpoProvider=MSAccess;Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;' +
      'Data Source=C:\Users\Public\Documents\DevExpress VCL Demos\' +
      'MegaDemos\Product Demos\ExpressPivotGrid\Data\nwind.mdb';
    AReport := TdxReport.Create(Self);
    try
      AReport.ShowDesigner;  // Displays the Web-based Report Designer dialog
      AReport.Layout.SaveToFile('UserReport.repx');  // Saves the report template state to a file
    finally
      AReport.Free;
    end;
  finally
    ADataConnection.Free;
  end;
end;

C++

#include "dxReport.hpp"  // Declares the TdxReport component and related types
#include "dxReport.ConnectionString.SQL.hpp"  // Declares the TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection component

// Add the following linker directives to the corresponding CPP source file:
#pragma link "dxReport"  // Required to use dxReport.hpp declarations
#pragma link "dxReport.ConnectionString.SQL"  // Required to use TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection declarations
// ...

void __fastcall TMyForm::Button1Click(TObject *Sender)
{
  TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection *ADataConnection;
  TdxReport *AReport;
  ADataConnection = new TdxReportDatabaseSQLConnection(this);
  try
  {
    ADataConnection->Name = "DataConnection";
    // Specify a connection string required to connect to a demo database (nwind.mdb)
    ADataConnection->ConnectionString = "XpoProvider=MSAccess;Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;"
      "Data Source=C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\DevExpress VCL Demos\\MegaDemos\\"
      "Product Demos\\ExpressPivotGrid\\Data\\nwind.mdb";
    AReport = new TdxReport(this);
    try
    {
      AReport->ShowDesigner();  // Displays the Report Designer dialog
      AReport->Layout->SaveToFile("UserReport.repx");  // Saves the report template state to a file
    }
    __finally
    {
      delete AReport;
    }
  }
  __finally
  {
    delete ADataConnection;
  }
}

Related Compiled Demo

To see the TdxReport component in action, run the Report Designer/Viewer demo in the VCL Demo Center installed with compiled VCL DevExpress demos. Click different items in the sidebar on the left to switch between demo features.

Download: Compiled VCL Demos

Tip

You can find full source code for the installed compiled Report demo in the following folder:

%PUBLIC%\Documents\DevExpress VCL Demos\MegaDemos\Product Demos\ExpressReports

Inheritance

TObject

TPersistent

TComponent

TcxCustomComponent

TdxReport