ReportViewer in Visual Studio 2019

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to use ReportViewer in Visual Studio 2019 for Windows Forms applications. ReportViewer allows developers to create and display reports within their applications, enhancing data presentation. By following these steps, you'll be able to install the necessary components and integrate ReportViewer into your project effectively.

Step 1: Install Extensions

To get started with ReportViewer, you need to install the required extensions in Visual Studio 2019.

• Open Visual Studio 2019.
• Go to the Extensions menu.
• Select Manage Extensions.
• Search for "Microsoft RDLC Report Designer" and install it.
• Restart Visual Studio to complete the installation.

Step 2: Install NuGet Package

Next, you need to install the ReportViewer NuGet package to access the ReportViewer control.

• Open your Windows Forms project in Visual Studio.
• Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer.
• Select Manage NuGet Packages.
• Go to the Browse tab and search for "Microsoft.ReportingServices.ReportViewerControl.Winforms".
• Click on the package and select Install.
• Accept any licenses or prompts that appear.

Step 3: Add ReportViewer Control to Toolbox

After installing the NuGet package, you need to add the ReportViewer control to your toolbox for easy access.

• Right-click on the Toolbox window.
• Select Choose Items.
• In the dialog that appears, go to the Reporting tab.
• Check the box next to ReportViewer to add it to your toolbox.
• Click OK to confirm.

Step 4: Add ReportViewer to Form

Now that you have the ReportViewer control in your toolbox, you can add it to your form.

• Open the form where you want to display the report.
• Drag the ReportViewer control from the toolbox onto the form.
• Resize and position the control as needed.

Step 5: Add Report.rdlc to Your Project

You need to create or add a report file (Report.rdlc) to your project.

• Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer.
• Select Add and then New Item.
• Choose Reporting from the left menu.
• Select Report and name it Report.rdlc.
• Click Add to create the report file.

Step 6: Link Between ReportViewer and Report.rdlc

Finally, you need to link the ReportViewer control to the report file you created.

• Select the ReportViewer control on your form.
• In the Properties window, find the LocalReport property and click on the ellipsis button.
• In the Report Data Source dialog, click on Add to include the report file.
• Browse and select the Report.rdlc file.
• Configure any necessary data sources for the report.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully integrated ReportViewer into your Windows Forms application using Visual Studio 2019. You can now create and display dynamic reports in your application. As a next step, consider designing the report layout in the Report Designer and populating it with data from your application to enhance its functionality.