I have developed a windows application in VB (VS2005) that is linked to a SQL Server 2005 database.

 

The application will have lots of different reports so I have created a single form called frmPreviewReport that contains a single viewer.

 

When the form loads it updates the ReportSource of the viewer to be a .rpt file and displays the report.  However there is no data in the report.

 

I have added the line Imports System.Data to the top of the forms class file as instructed on an MSDN page.

 

I have verified the database link.

 

I know that there is data and I am only displaying data from a single table.

 

The data is pulled from a dataset defined in the VS project.

 

Do I have to fill the data set?  I thought CR would do that.

 

Why is my report not showing any data?

 

Another issue, that may be linked, is that I keep getting an error message "Unable to find the report in the manifest resources."

 

Hope you can help me!

 

Thanks,

 

Alan.

 

As for the error message, is the report included in the project?

 

-Dell

 

I would greatly appreciate it!

 

Thanks

 

-Dell

 

OK, so my app is filling the dataset once I choose to save it to database...the report still comes up blank., any other reasons for that?

 

Thanks again

 

Ok, I'm confused....

 

Does the report read from an in-memory dataset or from the table in the database?  If it's from an in-memory dataset, then saving it to the database makes no sense in this situation.  If you want it to read from the database, then it needs to connect directly to the database, not to a dataset in your application.

 

-Dell

 

Let me start from the beginning... My app (a windows desktop app) calls a web service to get the data.  Once it obtains the data the data is displayed in a gridview (on the form that calls the web service, the "search" form) and you can choose which rows to "add to database."  Once the data is added to the database it is displayed on another form with a gridview (the "view" form).  On another form I set up a cr-viewer to connect to the same dataset that the view form is displaying data from.  In this case it's only the "title" field, but if I get this working then in the future there'll be more fields added.

 

I'm probably going about this all wrong, but this is the first report I've ever tried to do and I didn't do any studying beforehand...

 

If it's not a waste of your time to help an amatuer I'd like to hear how you would go about this...

 

Is it possbible to have the report in the same app that fills the dataset, or do I have to create a report app separately?

 

Thanks again!

 

What does your code do to the dataset after it saves the data to the database?

 

How are you setting the datasource for the report?

 

-Dell

 

The Creator on the viewer form has been overridden so that the DataSet can be sent to it.  So, the creator looks like this:

private BOEUserAuditRpt auditRpt;

public BOEAuditRptViewer(DataSet dsAuditInfo)
{
  InitializeComponent();
  auditRpt = new BOEUserAuditRpt();
  auditRpt.SetDataSource(dsAuditInfo);
  auditRptViewer.ReportSource = auditRpt;
}

 

 

private void RunReport()
{
  BOEAuditRptViewer viewer = new BOEAuditRptViewer(dsAuditInfo);
  viewer.Show();
}

 

-Dell

For this project I went ahead and used VS2005's Report Viewer which works like a charm, it just doesn't have as many export options as CR. 

 

I'm just disappointed that the CR Viewer didn't work with the reduced code in VB.  I'm wondering if it's a VB bug or a CR bug or my code (though I followed every step in the tutorials to a tee). 

 

When I get time I'll do this same project in C# and see what happens.  Thanks for all your help Dell.

 

I'm suffering from the same problem. . . 

 

I've been unsuccessfully trying to get a report working in a Windows Forms app that I am working on in VS2005/VB.NET.

 

In the end, I decided to try getting it to work using the tutorial data (VB_Win_Data_DataSets).  This worked fine with the xtreme.mdb.  I then created a new dataset schema pointing it at a simple Stored Procedure "SELECT * FROM tblCustomer" in the production SQL Server database.  The data previewed ok.  I then created a new report which simply displayed the data, without any sorting, grouping or filtering.  Finally, I substituted the code in the CustomerDataSet property in the DataSetConfiguration class. 

 

The "myDataSet" dataset is populated (I can iterate thru it and display the data) prior to the customerReport.SetDataSource call.  As with other folks, the report headers are displayed but no data and only a single page. . .

 

Has anyone got any bright ideas please?

 

Best regards

 

Mike W

 

 

 

-Dell

 

The code I am using is the standard tutorial sample code in VB_Win_Data_DataSets.

 

Public Class Form1

    Private customerReport As ReportDocument

    Private Sub ConfigureCrystalReports()
        customerReport = New ReportDocument()
        Dim reportPath As String = Application.StartupPath & "\" &  

                                                                                        "Customer.rpt" 

        ' My version of the report displays the CustomerId and name.
        customerReport.Load(reportPath)
        Dim myDataSet As DataSet = DataSetConfiguration.CustomerDataSet

        ' I have placed code to iterate thru myDataSet here and it's

        ' populated with the correct data.

        customerReport.SetDataSource(myDataSet)
        myCrystalReportViewer.ReportSource = customerReport

    End Sub

 

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As

                                               System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        ConfigureCrystalReports()
    End Sub
End Class

The only code changes I have made are to the DataSetConfiguration class.

I use the Enterprise Library, both here and in the app I'm developing to populate the dataset and it works fine.

 

 

Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.OleDb
Imports Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Data
Imports Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Common
Public Class DataSetConfiguration

    Public Shared ReadOnly Property CustomerDataSet() As DataSet
        Get
            Dim dsCustomer As DataSet = Nothing
            Try

                Dim db As Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Data.Database=

Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Data.DatabaseFactory.CreateDatabase

                Dim sqlCommand As String = "sel_EBCustomer"
                Dim dbCommand As System.Data.Common.DbCommand = db.GetStoredProcCommand(sqlCommand)

                dsCustomer = db.ExecuteDataSet(dbCommand)

            Catch ex As Exception
                MsgBox(ex.Message)
            End Try
            Return dsCustomer
        End Get
    End Property

 

End Class

 

Best regards

 

Mike

 

I would also rework the report to run directly from the table instead of from a stored procedure.  There are differences in how Crystal handles data coming from a stored proc vs. data coming from a table.  In your case you're trying to set a table datasource on a report that was designed with a stored proc, which may not work correctly.

 

-Dell

 

Best regards

 

Mike

 

I am reading your book, being a newbie. I have created a report with crystal reports that is packaged with VS2005. I have copied it to a share, and and trying to use setdatasource with a dataset created from a sql stored proceedure. It looks like the reportsource is read properly but the data is form the original report query. I think I undersand what you said about using the .xsd, but if we change our application to a different server wouldn't I have to recreate the .xsd on that server?

 

I have been trying to set the datasource on the untyped report but have very unsuccessful. Is the .xsd the only method to do this? How can the original dataset be overritten?

 

thanks

Mitch

 

I have Discard Saved data when loading reports Checked

 

 

 

After more testing, I found that it was actually passing the dataset, but the Report Selection Criteria from the Designer was still executing.

 

I stripped out the Record Select statement and the Grouping out of the Report Designer and put the report back on the share and then the code to pass the dataset works.

 

Now I have to read up on passing/maniplulating Formula Fields, Parameters and RecordSelection formulas.

Anyone have any tips for these?

 

 

Also in the code below

replaced

 

 

 

 

 

    Private Sub cmdPrintPreview_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cmdPrintPreview.Click

 

        Dim strReportName As String = " "

        Dim strDisplayedReportName As String = " "

        Dim strReportPath As String = " "

        Dim SelItem As ListView.SelectedListViewItemCollection

 

        Dim strStoredProcName As String = " "

 

 

        Dim crpt As New ReportDocument

 

        ‘frmReportsViewer has CrystalReportsViewer1

        Dim objfrmReportViwer As New frmReportsViewer

 

        Dim rptDataSet As New DataSet()

        Dim rptDataAdapter As New SqlDataAdapter()

        Dim rptcommand As New SqlCommand()

        Dim rptconnect As New SqlConnection()

 

 

        'Check to see if user has selected a displayed report name from the list, then get the actual report name

        Try

            SelItem = Me.lvReportNames.SelectedItems

            If Me.lvReportNames.SelectedItems.Count = 0 Then

                MessageBox.Show("Please select Report and then click Print.")

                Exit Sub

            Else

                strDisplayedReportName = RTrim(SelItem(0).SubItems(0).Text)

            End If

 

            strReportName = RTrim(GetReportName(strDisplayedReportName))

 

        Catch ex As Exception

            MessageBox.Show("Report Selection error. cmdPrintPreview_Click")

            MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString, C_TITLE, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)

            Call Close()

        End Try

 

        strStoredProcName = "usp_" & strReportName

 

        Try

 

            rptconnect = New SqlClient.SqlConnection(gstrCNNString)

 

            rptcommand = New SqlClient.SqlCommand(strStoredProcName, rptconnect)

 

            With rptcommand

                .Connection = gcnnSQLConnection

                .CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure

                .CommandText = "usp_" & strReportName

            End With

            rptconnect.Open()

            rptDataAdapter.SelectCommand = rptcommand

 

            rptDataAdapter.Fill(rptDataSet, "ReportQuery")

 

            rptconnect.Close()

            MessageBox.Show(rptDataSet.Tables.Item("ReportQuery").Rows.Count)

 

        Catch ex As Exception

            MessageBox.Show("Data retrieval error. cmdPrintPreview_Click")

            MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString, C_TITLE, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)

            Call Close()

        End Try

 

        'Check to see if the data retrieval returned rows.

        Try

 

            If rptDataSet.Tables.Item("ReportQuery").Rows.Count = 0 Then

                MessageBox.Show("No data returned for your report. Check report paramters and expand criteria if applicable.")

                'Me.Close()

                'Me.Dispose()

                Exit Sub

            Else

 

                ' Data found run the report

                strReportPath = c_REPORTNAMEPATH & RTrim(strReportName) & ".rpt"

 

                If Not IO.File.Exists(strReportPath) Then

                    MessageBox.Show("No Path")

                End If

 

                ‘It loads the report from a shared dir correctly

                crpt.Load (strReportPath)

                crpt.Refresh()

 

                rptDataSet.Dispose()

                rptDataAdapter.Dispose()

 

                With objfrmReportViwer

                    .CrystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = crpt

                    .Refresh()

                    .Show()

                End With

I, too, am new to this and am having trouble getting data from a single table into a crystal report.  I have set up a small test database with a few tables and some dummy data.  I've defined a data set as the source for my Visual Studio 2008 project.  The data set appears to be getting filled correctly from my database, as I can right click on a table in the Visual Studio Data Sources window, select Preview Data - and there it is.  But when I define the Data Source Location in the crystal report to be that data set, and preview it - I am picking up some default data from somewhere with days of the weeks, colours of the rainbow (Grey, Green Blue Lime  etc.)  When I execute my application (which does nothing yet except kick off a Crystal Report Viewer) the table appears in Form1 but with no data.  I am stumped, please help.

I checked Database Fields in the Field Explorer, and it is correctly set to point to the appropriate table in my Dataset.  So it must be something else, any more ideas?

Thanks

Sorry, these are under Field Explorer. From Crystal Reports -> Field Explorer. Right click on Database Fields -> Set Datasource Location

 

Connect to your database and table. I had to play with those setting till I was able to set my datasource from there.

Then under Set Datasource Location under properties I manually changed the Provider: SQLOLEDB, Data Source: 'my server name' , Inital Catalog: 'my table name'

I am using SQL Server.

 

Hi Mitch:

 

I don't have those options.  Under Set Datasource Location...Current Data Source: I only have report, not server.

 

Under report ->sarahDataSet Properties I have:

Database Type: ADO.NET

Internal Connection ID: {some hex stuff}

Class Name: WindowsApplication1.sarahDataSet

 

One other thing, just now I set up a new project, using the same procedure for defining my data source as before.  Instead of Crystal reporting, I created a Microsoft Report, used Microsoft Report Viewer and added it to my Form.  I was able to execute this and see my data in the report. This gives me some confidence that I have set up the database (SQL server) and the dataset correctly, and the dataset is clearly getting populated.  So somehow I am not configuring or connecting Crystal Reports properly to my dataset.

Excellent getting your report to connect. do you have a connection setting... from solution Explorer -> right click on your project name - > properties -> Settings ... select type = connection -> click on elipses to set the Value....

 

How are you asssigning the dataset to the report?  You need to be sure to set the DataSource of the report to the DataSet in your application prior to viewing the report.  This way it will correctly point to the instance of the DataSet that has data in it.

 

I work with the ReportDocument object model instead of the Crystal Viewer object model.  Here's a sample of what I do in C#:

myRpt = new MyCrystalReport();
rpt.SetDataSource(myDataSet);
viewer.ReportSource = rpt;

 

-Dell

 

I have a connection string, it is defined as follows:

 

Data Source=MERLOT\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=sarah;Integrated Security=True

 

MERLOT is my host, where I am running SQL Server.  'sarah' is the name of my test database.

 

I have been looking into the matter of connection strings and it seems to be an arcane science, not for the uninitiated or fainthearted.

 

I am just wondering, if the Microsoft Reporting is working OK then presumably my connection string is OK, as I'm able to pass the data into my application that way.

 

CR is a learning curve, I agree if you can connect and run MS Reports you are ok. Don't forget to save the CR report, after tweaking changes. Last, I had to manually change in Set Datasource Location ->

Provider: SQLOLEDB

you may want to try the other connection types.