Create a PDF VB.NET

Question

I have created a Windows forms report in Vb.NET using the .NET GDI. Now I need to convert this report to .PDF. Can we do this without using any third party components Thanks

anoo_paturi · Answer

Thanks a lot

swilkinson · Answer

When you create the report in the expert you have the option to find the database source Look under project data and you should be able to see your xml document under ADO.net datasets this then shows you each element in the document and lets you access it in the report designer. The code to populate the tyed dataset I have included for you as well just as an example: Dim ds As New xml doc with elements in with fields Dim dr As DataRow while records dr = ds.elemet.NewRow() 'create new row 'Write the lines dr(ds.element.field1.ToString) = Data dr(ds.element.field2.ToString) = Some more data Try ds.element.Rows.Add(dr) Catch ex As Exception MessageBox.Show(ex.Message Error MessageBoxButtons.OK MessageBoxIcon.Error) End Try end while myReport.SetDataSource(DS) The report object is created from the report you have drawn and at runtime the dataset is filled and the report displays the information.

anoo_paturi · Answer

Thank you for responding. I don't have Crystal Reports installed on my machine and I need to use only Windows Forms. Anyway I finished it using a 3rd party compnent. I have actually converted the data from XML to a dataset. But I would be very much delighted if you could give me the procedure to draw the report from the ado.net datasource. (for my knowledge)

swilkinson · Answer

You could still populate a typed dataset with the information that you want and draw the report from the ado.net datasource. However you would have to deploy the crystal report engine. Ihave an example somewhere if that is any help to you other than that I cant help you.

anoo_paturi · Answer

Thank you for replying. Sorry I forgot to mention that I am not creating reports in Crystal Report. Report is created in .NET Windows forms since I am not using any DBMS.

swilkinson · Answer

sorry forgot to say you would need to include this Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine To get the report engine.

swilkinson · Answer

You could try using crystal reports as they can be exported to a PDF file. Something like Dim Report As New yourCrytalReport Dim mEXOpts As New CrystalDecisions.Shared.ExportOptions Dim myDiskOpt As New CrystalDecisions.Shared.DiskFileDestinationOptions myDiskOpt.DiskFileName = FileName mEXOpts = Report.ExportOptions With mEXOpts .DestinationOptions = myDiskOpt .ExportDestinationType = .ExportDestinationType.DiskFile .ExportFormatType = .ExportFormatType.PortableDocFormat End With Try Report.Export() Catch ex As Exception MessageBox.Show(Could not export report:  & ex.Message Error) End Try would do it the only hard bit would be gettin your report to be a crystal report! Cheers Simeon