Purpose
The following small application is designed to allow testing created
reports with XML feeds used as data sources. The program checks that fields in
report match to the fields in XML and then shows the report with loaded data in
the report viewer.
How to Use?
1. Fill the following fields "Path to Report" and "Path
to XML file": The "Path to Report textbox" serves for entering the path to a
report. (Ex: CROrdersManifest.rpt).
The "Path to XML file" allows entering the path to the XML feed. (ex:
XMLOrdersManifest.xml).
Both files are stored in the root of the application.
![Browse-buttons-open.jpg]()
Note: Browse buttons open a standard
File Open dialog.
2. Click Preview Report
Note: The program checks that specified report and XML match to
each other- i.e. they contain the same fields. If the program finds
inconsistence it reports about it as it is shown below:
![Click-Preview-Report.jpg]()
Advice
In order to get XML file use WriteXml method of dataset class. Like the
following:
OrderDataSet.WriteXml("C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\UniversalTicketSystem\Docs\USPS.xml").
Having created XML file you can allow designers to create reports without
permanent access to your database.
Implementation details
'initializing
Dim
dtsData As
New DataSet
Dim
oRpt As New
ReportDocument
'try to load the specified
report file
oRpt.Load(Me.txtReportPath.Text,
OpenReportMethod.OpenReportByTempCopy)
'try to load data for the
report
dtsData.ReadXml(Me.txtXMLPath.Text)
Dim
missingInSource, missingInReport As
String
'checks that fields
in XML file match to the fields specified in the report file
Dim
fieldsMissing As
Boolean =
Not CheckMissingFields(oRpt, dtsData, missingInSource, missingInReport)
'informs about the result
of checking
ShowMissingFields(missingInSource,
missingInReport)
If
Not fieldsMissing
Then
oRpt.SetDataSource(dtsData)
cRVOrder.ReportSource = oRpt
End
If