C# Reports
C# Reports
O F R E P O RT I N C #
Mark Christopher Borja
DEFINITION OF
REPORTS
W H AT A R E R E P O R T S ?
In the context of software development, a report refers to a
structured and formatted presentation of data that conveys
information in a meaningful and organized manner.
PURPOSE OF
REPORTS
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
1. Information presentation
Reports present information in a clear, concise, and visually appealing
format.
They transform raw data into a comprehensible and organized layout,
facilitating better understanding.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
2. Decision Support
Reports aid decision-making processes by presenting relevant data in a
format that helps users draw conclusions.
Decision-makers can analyze trends, patterns, and key metrics to make
informed choices.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
3. Data Analysis
Reports often include tools for data analysis, allowing users to explore and
interpret information effectively.
They may include charts, graphs, and other visual elements to enhance data
comprehension.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
4. Record-Keeping
Reports are instrumental in maintaining records and documenting various
aspects of an application or business process.
They provide a historical view of data, which can be crucial for auditing or
compliance purposes.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
5. Communication Tool
Reports serve as a means of communication between different stakeholders
within an organization.
They convey information to various levels of management, teams, or
external parties.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
6. Customization and Flexibility
Reports are often designed to be customizable, allowing users to tailor the
presentation to their specific needs.
Parameters, filters, and interactive elements may be incorporated to enhance
user control.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
7. Output Formats
Reports can be generated in various output formats, such as text, HTML,
PDF, or Excel, to cater to different preferences and use cases.
The choice of format depends on the application's requirements and the end-
users' needs.
PURPOSE OF REPORTS
8. Integration with Applications
Reports are seamlessly integrated into applications, providing users with a
cohesive experience.
They can be embedded within the application's user interface or accessed
through dedicated reporting modules.
REPORTING
TECHNIQUES IN C#
TYPES OF REPORTS
1. Console-based reports
Console-based reporting in C# involves presenting information in a textual
format within the console window.
This approach is suitable for simple reports or debugging purposes where a
graphical interface is not required.
Console-based report
TYPES OF REPORTS
2. Windows forms reports
Windows Forms controls for report display involves leveraging the rich set
of graphical user interface (GUI) controls provided by the Windows Forms
framework to present data in a structured and visually appealing manner.
RICH SET CONTROLS OF WINDOWS FORM
2A. DataGridView
It is a versatile control for displaying tabular data in a grid format.
It supports sorting, filtering, and customization, making it suitable
for various reporting scenarios.
DataGridView
RICH SET CONTROLS OF WINDOWS FORM
2B. Textbox and Label
Use TextBox and Label controls to display textual information,
such as report titles, summaries, or key details.
These controls provide flexibility in formatting and styling text
content.
Textbox and Label
RICH SET CONTROLS OF WINDOWS FORM
2C. ListView
ListView is a versatile Windows Forms control in C# that allows you to display a collection
of items in various formats, including detailed lists, icons, tiles, and more.
ListView supports multiple views, including LargeIcon, SmallIcon, List, Details, and Tile
views.
ListView
TYPES OF REPORTS
3. HTML reports
Creating web-based reports in C# involves generating
HTML markup to structure and format the content for
display in a web browser.
Sample code to render HTML using C#
HTML Report
TYPES OF REPORTS
4. PDF reports
PDF (Portable Document Format) generation in C# involves creating PDF
documents programmatically.
PDFs are widely used for sharing documents because they preserve the
formatting and layout across different platforms.
3 PDF Generation Libraries in C#
iTextSharp
PdfSharp
Pdfium
PDF Report
TYPES OF REPORTS
5. Crystal reports
Crystal Reports is a business intelligence application that helps in designing
and generating reports from a wide range of data sources.
It provides a visual design interface for creating reports with rich formatting,
charts, and other elements.
TYPES OF REPORTS
5. Crystal reports
Crystal Reports offers a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
design interface.
Developers can design reports by dragging and dropping fields, text, and
graphical elements onto the report canvas.
Crystal Report