Creating Dynamic Report

[mepaco]

I am creating an app to basically create time-cards based on a Microsoft Project database. Anyway, I used the DataReport designer for an earlier program and would like to use it again. However, this time I am not sure what information I am going to need to display. For instance, right now I want it to display each persons name, time spent on work, and time spent on vacation. However, somebody else might want each persons name, time spent on work, and time spent in meetings. How do I dynamically create the report (if possible)?

[kinjalgp]

Use Crystal Reports 8.5 to add whatever fields to your Report at run time!

Kinjal

[mepaco]

Crystal Reports huh. Never used it .... any tips. I'm not even sure what it is at this point.

[kinjalgp]

Its an Report making package which you can use along with your app. It has its own .ocx which you have to place it on your form. The report format has to be designed in Report Designing tool which will make a .rpt file. Theis file has to be linked with the ocx on your form by giving the path of .rpt file. Thats it! Now call the show report routine of the ocx and it will display the report and you can even print it. This thing is for simple reports but you can do quite a lot of complicated stuffs with it only requirement being you should have $$$ in your pocket to buy it!

{Yeah! This Is my 500th Post }

Kinjal

[mepaco]

Is it more powerful than the DataReport designer? Can I do what I am asking in the DR designer? Sorry to be so uninformed and thanks for the help.

[kinjalgp]

Yes it is much more powerfull than Data Reports and much more costly too

[Buzby]

It has its own .ocx which you have to place it on your form.

Indeed it has but this is the VERY old way of controlling it. A much better approach is the Crystal Reports Active-X Objects(CRAXDRT.DLL) which gives you much more power and flexibility than the OCX control.

[mepaco]

Hmmm. Money is a problem. I also don't have much time. Is it possible with the Data Report designer? I might have to use that. Or Excel. It is a very simply report that I have to make. Less than a page of information. I just need to be able to control the categories at run time.

[mepaco]

Does Crystal Reports come with any version of Visual Studio? If not, I think we might have it here at work. Are there any good tutorials for working with Crystal Reports?

[kinjalgp]

No Crystal Reports is a 3rd pary package developed by Segate. So you won't find it with Visual Studio. Visit www.crystaldecisions.com or www.crystaluser.com for more information.

Kinjal

[kinjalgp]

Originally posted by mepaco
Hmmm. Money is a problem. I also don't have much time. Is it possible with the Data Report designer? I might have to use that. Or Excel. It is a very simply report that I have to make. Less than a page of information. I just need to be able to control the categories at run time.

If money and Time both are problem then PlanetSourceCode is the answer Try searching www.planetsourcecode.com/vb for demo on creating Excel files from VB. I had seen a very good example on it long time back. I hope this will definitely solve your problem.

Kinjal

[ralph]

Re datareport, it can be changed dynamically.
You need to code the datafield property of the report textbox (locating it by section) that displays the time spent, for eg.

datareport1.Sections("SectionName").Control("ControlName").Datafield = "VacationTime"
Datareport1.Show

[kinjalgp]

Hey dude I never knew that!

Thanks for informing!

Kinjal