How to use external types in a report?

[Tiago]

Hi,

I have a few reports that require me to call my own assemblies to format some data. For example, I have an extension Method that translates an enumeration to some resource string:

   = MyClass.GetEnumResource(Fields.ItemStatus)

Aditionally, I also need to make comparisons with my own types for formatting purposes. Something like:

 = IIF(Fields.OrderStatus = MyEnumeration.Refused, " n/a", Fields.OrderPrice)

Problem is, any reference to an external assembly or type generates the dreaded "The expression contains object 'xxxx' that is not defined in the current context". I've also tried to Assembly.Load("MyAssembly") in the report construtor, but to no avail...

I'm aware that there is a solution for the standalone report designer, which involves configuring it's XML config file, but I'm running my reports with Report processor. Something like this:

MyReport report = new MyReport ();
report.DataSource = myModelData;

ReportProcessor reportProcessor = new ReportProcessor();
InstanceReportSource instanceReportSource = new Telerik.Reporting.InstanceReportSource();

instanceReportSource.ReportDocument = report ;

RenderingResult result = reportProcessor.RenderReport("PDF", instanceReportSource, null);

return result.DocumentBytes;

Is it possible to tell the ReportProcessor where to find my assemblies?

Thanks!

[Peter]

Hello,

Generally resolving all of the referenced assemblies static methods will have enormous performance impact and the user functions list will be endless. Thus by design we resolve only the report's project static methods/user functions. In order to keep your current project structure our suggestion is to use method wrappers to invoke referenced assemblies static methods.

Regards,
Peter
Telerik

[David Cowan]

Why not allow a mechanism to tell the reporting engine extra assemblies to inspect?

[Stef]

Hi David,

Test to configure the application through which you run the report (design Preview - VS or the Standalone Designer, report viewer - custom application) as described in the Extending Report Designer and the related articles.

I hope this information helps you.

Regards,
Stef
Telerik