My Datasource for Reporting

[Rob Venable]

Hi,
I am just starting out with the Telerik Reporting controls. I was able to create a report using the wizard which created a ConnectionString entry in my web config. I don't use a <ConnectionString /> in my web config. Is there a way to return my data info from my business layer and bind it to the report? I have a different way of accessing my data and I want to use that method rather than having a connectionstring in my web.config. Are there any examples out there?

Thanks

[Peter]

Hello Rob Venable,

The ObjectDataSource component supports the multi-tier architecture by providing a way for you to bind the Data Report Items to a middle-tier business object without extensive code. The ObjectDataSource component represents the middle-tier object (business object or any other class) and provides data retrieval capabilities.

For more information about the ObjectDataSource component, check out the following help resources:

• DataSource Wizard
• ObjectDataSource Wizard
• Connecting to Data in Telerik Reporting with the ObjectDataSource Component
• Using Parameters with the ObjectDataSource Component
• How to: Bind to a BusinessObject

Regards,
Peter
the Telerik team

[Rob Venable]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the links. I was able to create the ObjectDataSource and had to import my Data project into my report page in order to select the Object and method. However, I'm using VS 2008 and I don'e seem to have the Data Explorer in order to view the fields to drag on to the report. Any ideas?

Thanks

[Steve]

Hello Rob Venable,

The Data Explorer is available in the Telerik menu, for all supported IDEs (VS2005/2008 and 2010). Do you mean that it is empty and does not show your fields? Do you have parameters that depend on report parameters by any chance? If so, then you can set their values in the wizard to a static value (e.g. 123) and assign it to the actual report parameter in the report constructor with code: 

public Report2()
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Required for telerik Reporting designer support
    /// </summary>
    InitializeComponent();
    //
    // TODO: Add any constructor code after InitializeComponent call
    //
    this.objectDataSource1.Parameters[0].Value = "=Parameters.MyRepParam.Value";
}

If this is not the case, please elaborate on your exact scenario.

Regards,
Steve
the Telerik team

[Rob Venable]

Hi Steve,
Actually, my Telerik menu only has 3 items:
-RadControls for ASP.Net AJAX
-Reporting
-About

...and there's nothing in the submenus that says "Data Explorer". Am I missing something?

[Rob Venable]

My mistake. The menu item does appear when I have the report item selected. Let me try that and see how it goes.
Thanks

[Steve]

Hi Rob Venable,

As outlined in the Data Explorer help article, it is available only when you're in the context of the report designer.

Best wishes,
Steve
the Telerik team