report printing

[Cheung]

I would like to generate some reports in my vb.net windows application. Do I need to use Crystal report? Or I can use other features in vb.net which can help me to format a document and print it out?

Thanks !!

 

[Anis]

Crystal Reports is a good solution.

 

[jhoga]

reports

I use the bulid in GUID+ features to write custom reports. Because Im not proficant at crystal and I like to control my output. Heres
a sample:

Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Drawing.Drawing2D
Imports System.Drawing.Text
Dim pd As PrintDocument = New PrintDocument()
AddHandler pd.PrintPage, AddressOf Me.pd_PrintPage

This is the grid tool I used to line up the text---------------------------
pen for drawing grid ------------------------------------
Dim myPen2 As New Pen(Color.Gray, 1)

For i = 1 To 100
y1 = 1
y2 = i * 20
ev.Graphics.DrawLine(myPen2, 1, y2, 1000, y2)
ev.Graphics.DrawLine(myPen2, y2, 1, y2, 1500)
ev.Graphics.DrawString(y2, vbFont3, New SolidBrush(ForeColor), 1, y2)
ev.Graphics.DrawString(y2, vbFont3, New SolidBrush(ForeColor), y2, 500)
Next i

 

[Divil]

Do you mean GDI+ ?

Ive heard a lot of people saying bad things about Crystal Reports, the same people recommend Active Reports instead.

 

[jhoga]

Sorry, I did mean GDI+
Im not ragging on crystal I seen some wonderful applications in VB 5 that use it. I use to use it in my GIS days. But, I found I could do just about anything in vb6 with the print form and a little creative programing. My forms were faster than crystal, and my install packages were smaller. I have in the past shelled reports to the access report writer. Maybe with a little more experence Ill be a big fan.

 

[Cheung]

Can you pls tell me brief what is Crystal report and Active report?? Are they included in my vb.net standard boxset??
For GDI+, is it just a tool for creating graphics? does it handle printing features like page no, page break .... or I need to write code to do these things.

Thanks!

 

[jhoga]

crystal report controls are provide with my version of vb.net
Its a report writer program. By parsing varibles to the controls you creat a report. I can send you some basic instruction if you need them.

 

[mscott]

Crystal

im currently working on a team using Crystal Reports for .NET. when you do the install of .NET, you need to into install(check the box) Crystal Reports for .NET. It comes w/ .NET, but the checkbox to install it isnt checked by default for install. I think crystal is definitely a decent reporting tool. We are having a great deal of success w/ it. The only down side, Ive seen, is that the file format that Crystal for .NET uses is newer than those supported by the viewer and fat client. So, the export capabilities of Crystal for .NET come in handy.