Create a Report Merged with PDF in the Visual Studio Report Designer

• Mar 05, 2024
• 3 minutes to read

This tutorial describes how to use the XRPdfContent control to create a report similar to the Report Merging with PDF demo (the DevExpress Demo Center should be installed).

Tip

The following topics describe different ways to create a report that merges different documents:

• Create a Master-Detail Report with a Detail Report Band in the VS Report Designer
• Create a Side-by-Side Report

Create a Report Layout

Create a report that should include PDF content.

In this tutorial, the report shows an order. A Detail Report band is bound to the data source’s Orders query to display the order details and customer information. An inner Detail Report band is bound to the OrderItems query to list products included in an order.

The report uses the sample devav.sqlite3 database from the DevExpress Demo Center.

Add PDF Content

Add a PDF document for each product listed in an order.

1. Add a Detail Report band at the location where you want to place PDF content. As PDF content is rendered on separate pages, the report from this tutorial includes this band at the bottom. Bind the new band to the same data member as in the Create a Report Layout section above (OrderItems in this example).

   

2. Drop the XRPdfContent item from the Toolbox onto the added band.

   

3. Bind the dropped control to the source of PDF data. Expand the control’s smart tag and click the Expression property’s ellipsis button below the Source property. In the invoked Expression Editor, select the data source field that stores PDF documents and click OK.

   

   Tip

   Other options are available to bind the XRPdfContent control to PDF data:

   • Bind to a PDF file
     Specify the file’s path or URL in the control’s SourceUrl property. The specified file should be available when a report is generated.
   • Save the PDF content in the report
     Click the Source property’s ellipsis button and select the file from which to load the content.

The report is ready and can be viewed in the Preview tab. Each PDF document is printed on a separate page and uses its own page settings.

Create a Report Merged with PDF in the End-User Report Designer

Tutorials that explain how to create different reports in EUD Report Designers for WinForms and Web are included in the End-User Documentation online help section:

• Create a Report Merged with PDF in the End-User Report Designer for Web
• Create a Report Merged with PDF in the End-User Report Designer for WinForms