VB2010 windows forms printing question

I have designed a fairly lengthy inquiry form that also has a datagridview of meeting dates, reasons. The customer want to be able to print out the current record with complete meeting data.

The printform control only prints what is visible on the screen, not the entire form or the entire contents of the datagridview of meetings.

I am at a stand still right now and not sure where to go.

Can someone please steer me in the right direction?

Thank you,

Steve Hathaway

Here's a little something to get you started - taken strait from a production app:

Code:

---

        Private Sub PrintDataViewGrid(ByRef dgv As Windows.Forms.DataGridView, ByVal PrintArgs As Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs)

            Dim linesPerPage As Single = 0
            Dim yPos As Single = 0
            Dim iThisPageLineCount As Integer = 0
            Dim iPos, iTotalColWidth, iColHeaderChars, iAvgColHeaderChars As Integer
            Dim leftMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left
            Dim topMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top
            Dim itmPrint As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewRow
            Dim line As String = Nothing
            Dim sngColumnPositions() As Single
            Dim sfPlain As Drawing.StringFormat, sfCenter As Drawing.StringFormat
            Dim rectLayout As Drawing.RectangleF
            Dim FontBold As Drawing.Font
            Dim Font As Drawing.Font

            'create any string formats and special fonts
            Font = dgv.Font
            sfPlain = New Drawing.StringFormat
            FontBold = New Drawing.Font(Font, Drawing.FontStyle.Bold)

            'calculate the number of lines per page.
            linesPerPage = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Height / Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'PrintDoc.DefaultPageSettings.Bounds.Height

            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    iTotalColWidth += c.Width
                    iColHeaderChars += c.HeaderText.Length
                End If
            Next

            iAvgColHeaderChars = Int(iColHeaderChars / dgv.Columns.Count)

            'determine our column positions
            iPos = leftMargin
            ReDim sngColumnPositions(dgv.Columns.Count - 1)
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                    iPos += PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width * (c.Width / iTotalColWidth)
                Else
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                End If
            Next


            'add the page header, if any
            If Me.m_PageTitle.Length > 0 Then
                sfCenter = New Drawing.StringFormat
                sfCenter.Alignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Center
                rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width, Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics) * Me.m_PageTitle.Split(vbCrLf).Length)
                PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(m_PageTitle, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfCenter)
                iThisPageLineCount += Me.m_PageTitle.Split(CChar(vbCrLf)).Length
            End If

            'increment one more line to double-space
            iThisPageLineCount += 2

            'determine our y position for this row
            yPos = topMargin + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then

                    If c.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    Else
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    End If
                    sfPlain.LineAlignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Far
                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value.ToString, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                    'PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value, fntBold, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                End If
            Next
            iThisPageLineCount += 1

            'print each line of the list.
            While iThisPageLineCount < linesPerPage AndAlso m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

                'get this item
                itmPrint = dgv.Rows(m_iPrintIndex)

                'determine our y position for this row
                yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)

                'print the cells
                For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCell In itmPrint.Cells
                    If c.Visible Then
                        If System.DBNull.Value.Equals(c.Value) Then
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(String.Empty, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                        ElseIf TypeOf c Is Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell Then
                            With CType(c, Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell)
                                If CBool(.FormattedValue) Then
                                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString("X", Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos + Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics), sfPlain)
                                End If
                            End With
                        Else
                            If c.OwningColumn.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            Else
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            End If
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.FormattedValue, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                        End If
                    End If
                Next

                'increment the print counter
                'and persist it to the print index
                iThisPageLineCount += 1
                m_iPrintIndex += 1

            End While

            ' if more lines exist, print another page.
            PrintArgs.HasMorePages = m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

        End Sub

---

Here's a little something to get you started - taken strait from a production app:

Code:

---

        Private Sub PrintDataViewGrid(ByRef dgv As Windows.Forms.DataGridView, ByVal PrintArgs As Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs)

            Dim linesPerPage As Single = 0
            Dim yPos As Single = 0
            Dim iThisPageLineCount As Integer = 0
            Dim iPos, iTotalColWidth, iColHeaderChars, iAvgColHeaderChars As Integer
            Dim leftMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left
            Dim topMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top
            Dim itmPrint As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewRow
            Dim line As String = Nothing
            Dim sngColumnPositions() As Single
            Dim sfPlain As Drawing.StringFormat, sfCenter As Drawing.StringFormat
            Dim rectLayout As Drawing.RectangleF
            Dim FontBold As Drawing.Font
            Dim Font As Drawing.Font

            'create any string formats and special fonts
            Font = dgv.Font
            sfPlain = New Drawing.StringFormat
            FontBold = New Drawing.Font(Font, Drawing.FontStyle.Bold)

            'calculate the number of lines per page.
            linesPerPage = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Height / Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'PrintDoc.DefaultPageSettings.Bounds.Height

            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    iTotalColWidth += c.Width
                    iColHeaderChars += c.HeaderText.Length
                End If
            Next

            iAvgColHeaderChars = Int(iColHeaderChars / dgv.Columns.Count)

            'determine our column positions
            iPos = leftMargin
            ReDim sngColumnPositions(dgv.Columns.Count - 1)
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                    iPos += PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width * (c.Width / iTotalColWidth)
                Else
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                End If
            Next


            'add the page header, if any
            If Me.m_PageTitle.Length > 0 Then
                sfCenter = New Drawing.StringFormat
                sfCenter.Alignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Center
                rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width, Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics) * Me.m_PageTitle.Split(vbCrLf).Length)
                PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(m_PageTitle, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfCenter)
                iThisPageLineCount += Me.m_PageTitle.Split(CChar(vbCrLf)).Length
            End If

            'increment one more line to double-space
            iThisPageLineCount += 2

            'determine our y position for this row
            yPos = topMargin + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then

                    If c.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    Else
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    End If
                    sfPlain.LineAlignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Far
                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value.ToString, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                    'PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value, fntBold, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                End If
            Next
            iThisPageLineCount += 1

            'print each line of the list.
            While iThisPageLineCount < linesPerPage AndAlso m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

                'get this item
                itmPrint = dgv.Rows(m_iPrintIndex)

                'determine our y position for this row
                yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)

                'print the cells
                For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCell In itmPrint.Cells
                    If c.Visible Then
                        If System.DBNull.Value.Equals(c.Value) Then
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(String.Empty, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                        ElseIf TypeOf c Is Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell Then
                            With CType(c, Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell)
                                If CBool(.FormattedValue) Then
                                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString("X", Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos + Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics), sfPlain)
                                End If
                            End With
                        Else
                            If c.OwningColumn.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            Else
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            End If
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.FormattedValue, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                        End If
                    End If
                Next

                'increment the print counter
                'and persist it to the print index
                iThisPageLineCount += 1
                m_iPrintIndex += 1

            End While

            ' if more lines exist, print another page.
            PrintArgs.HasMorePages = m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

        End Sub

---

try this:

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/VBNet...ample-bc3b0176

Here's a little something to get you started - taken strait from a production app:

Code:

---

        Private Sub PrintDataViewGrid(ByRef dgv As Windows.Forms.DataGridView, ByVal PrintArgs As Drawing.Printing.PrintPageEventArgs)

            Dim linesPerPage As Single = 0
            Dim yPos As Single = 0
            Dim iThisPageLineCount As Integer = 0
            Dim iPos, iTotalColWidth, iColHeaderChars, iAvgColHeaderChars As Integer
            Dim leftMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left
            Dim topMargin As Single = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top
            Dim itmPrint As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewRow
            Dim line As String = Nothing
            Dim sngColumnPositions() As Single
            Dim sfPlain As Drawing.StringFormat, sfCenter As Drawing.StringFormat
            Dim rectLayout As Drawing.RectangleF
            Dim FontBold As Drawing.Font
            Dim Font As Drawing.Font

            'create any string formats and special fonts
            Font = dgv.Font
            sfPlain = New Drawing.StringFormat
            FontBold = New Drawing.Font(Font, Drawing.FontStyle.Bold)

            'calculate the number of lines per page.
            linesPerPage = PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Height / Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'PrintDoc.DefaultPageSettings.Bounds.Height

            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    iTotalColWidth += c.Width
                    iColHeaderChars += c.HeaderText.Length
                End If
            Next

            iAvgColHeaderChars = Int(iColHeaderChars / dgv.Columns.Count)

            'determine our column positions
            iPos = leftMargin
            ReDim sngColumnPositions(dgv.Columns.Count - 1)
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                    iPos += PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width * (c.Width / iTotalColWidth)
                Else
                    sngColumnPositions(c.Index) = iPos
                End If
            Next


            'add the page header, if any
            If Me.m_PageTitle.Length > 0 Then
                sfCenter = New Drawing.StringFormat
                sfCenter.Alignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Center
                rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Left, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Top, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Width, Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics) * Me.m_PageTitle.Split(vbCrLf).Length)
                PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(m_PageTitle, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfCenter)
                iThisPageLineCount += Me.m_PageTitle.Split(CChar(vbCrLf)).Length
            End If

            'increment one more line to double-space
            iThisPageLineCount += 2

            'determine our y position for this row
            yPos = topMargin + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)
            'yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight
            For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn In dgv.Columns
                If c.Visible Then

                    If c.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    Else
                        rectLayout = New Drawing.RectangleF(sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.Index), dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars)
                    End If
                    sfPlain.LineAlignment = Drawing.StringAlignment.Far
                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value.ToString, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                    'PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.HeaderCell.Value, fntBold, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                End If
            Next
            iThisPageLineCount += 1

            'print each line of the list.
            While iThisPageLineCount < linesPerPage AndAlso m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

                'get this item
                itmPrint = dgv.Rows(m_iPrintIndex)

                'determine our y position for this row
                yPos = topMargin + dgv.ColumnHeadersHeight + iAvgColHeaderChars + iThisPageLineCount * Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics)

                'print the cells
                For Each c As Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCell In itmPrint.Cells
                    If c.Visible Then
                        If System.DBNull.Value.Equals(c.Value) Then
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(String.Empty, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sfPlain)
                        ElseIf TypeOf c Is Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell Then
                            With CType(c, Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCheckBoxCell)
                                If CBool(.FormattedValue) Then
                                    PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString("X", Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos + Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics), sfPlain)
                                End If
                            End With
                        Else
                            If c.OwningColumn.Index < sngColumnPositions.Length - 1 Then
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index + 1) - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            Else
                                rectLayout = New Drawing.Rectangle(sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), yPos, PrintArgs.MarginBounds.Right - sngColumnPositions(c.OwningColumn.Index), Font.GetHeight(PrintArgs.Graphics))
                            End If
                            PrintArgs.Graphics.DrawString(c.FormattedValue, Font, Drawing.Brushes.Black, rectLayout, sfPlain)
                        End If
                    End If
                Next

                'increment the print counter
                'and persist it to the print index
                iThisPageLineCount += 1
                m_iPrintIndex += 1

            End While

            ' if more lines exist, print another page.
            PrintArgs.HasMorePages = m_iPrintIndex < dgv.Rows.Count

        End Sub

---

NOTE: This .net version 2.0 - there may be better ways in newer versions. I know this works, though.

The examples you are posting, I believe, are strictly for data grid view, my form has a mixture of items on it. I am including an image of it.
Attachment 110443

The form scrolls down for another 10 controls or so.

Thank you,

Steve

I apologize - I misread your earlier post. However, the code I posted will give you a place to get started on printing. I don't know that there's a simple solution to what you're looking for. You may just have to code it out. If so, then hopefully when you're done you'll have a nice neat solution to share with the rest of us. ;)

But maybe... Somebody else will chime in with something easier.

As dolot guessed, there is no simple solution.

There is a component I wrote called MCLFormPrint that will do pretty much all of this except data grids, which I never got around to doing - however you could add the code from this article to do the data grid part.

I also wrote a short e-book on printing in .NET that should also help.

There you go... take all of Merion's info and put it together and you'll have a great, all purpose printing control. Then you can post it online for everyone to benefit from... I know I'll download it... nice component to a bag of tricks.

Yup - if you want to use MCLFormPrint as your starting point I can add you as a developer in CodePlex. (Applies to anyone so minded)

Yes, I would like that.

Guess I am a little surprised that visual studio didn't already have a simpler way to do this.

Thank you,

Steve

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Merrion

Yup - if you want to use MCLFormPrint as your starting point I can add you as a developer in CodePlex. (Applies to anyone so minded)

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Even in classic VB, printing was a weakness. Not real sure why.

If your going to be printing reports I would suggest using a reporting tool like Reportviewer or Crystal Reports or what meets your needs, there are a lot of different ones. The two I listed are probably the most used and you will be able to find many examples and help.

I will be using SSRS for reporting, just need something to print off current record for their paper folder.

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Originally Posted by wes4dbt

If your going to be printing reports I would suggest using a reporting tool like Reportviewer or Crystal Reports or what meets your needs, there are a lot of different ones. The two I listed are probably the most used and you will be able to find many examples and help.

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Printing is (quite) difficult but in truth MS could have made it easier with a print designer analogous to the form designer....

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Originally Posted by Merrion

Printing is (quite) difficult but in truth MS could have made it easier with a print designer analogous to the form designer....

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A print designer would be a useful tool, but would be difficult to implement because of scrollable controls.
I'd be interested to see that put into practice, + Microsoft might even use it in the next version of VS...

For scrollable controls I have settings to either truncate it to fit or start a new page (DataOverflowAction

If you consider it further there are at least 3 problem areas: datagridviews, listviews, + richtextboxes, all of which are complex printing jobs individually

I haven't had a look at your printing code yet, but I will when I have some free time

Cool. It does do RTF boxes across multiple pages.

I just posted code about printing tabpages with scroll bars, with some edits the code will also work with you requirements...

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...Please-net-4-5

BR
Phezo

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I will be using SSRS for reporting, just need something to print off current record for their paper folder.

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Seems like a perfect little report to learn how to create SSRS reports. It's probably easier and faster to learn than creating a report manually.

Can you launch a SSRS report for a particular record? I have only used it on full datasets to date with some filtering parameters.

Thank you,

Steve

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Originally Posted by wes4dbt

Seems like a perfect little report to learn how to create SSRS reports. It's probably easier and faster to learn than creating a report manually.

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Originally Posted by shathaway

Can you launch a SSRS report for a particular record? I have only used it on full datasets to date with some filtering parameters.

Thank you,

Steve

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Yes you can, google "ssrs report passing parameters" :-)

BR
Phezo

I am having problems getting the report to accept it or recognize it.

This is the URL I am using, Report parameter
CandidateID
parameter visibility = hidden
available values = none
default values = none

error = The 'CandidateID' parameter is missing a value

If I do parameter visibility = Internal

I get the following error = Parameter validation failed. It is not possible to provide valid values for all parameters. (rsParameterError)


http://bfufsdbfcrpt1/Reports/Pages/R...&CandidateID=7


should I be using hidden or internal? Any idea on the errors?

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Originally Posted by phezo

Yes you can, google "ssrs report passing parameters" :-)

BR
Phezo

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMyHAg60NPA

Try watching this


This will explain a simple way to setup report parameters, remember you can supply multiple datasources to one report...

BR
Phezo

Got it figured out. I needed the server/Reports to be server/reportserver.

The way I was accessing the link(url) wouldn't allow parameters to be passed in.

Great work...

Glad to see you are progressing :-)

BR
Phezo