Data Explorer does not show all or any data fields

AUTHOR: Stephania Tapela

DATE POSTED: May 14, 2016

Article information
Article relates to	Telerik Reporting v6.x
Created by	Stef Telerik
Last modified	May 14, 2016
Last modified by	Stef,Telerik

PROBLEM
Data Explorer does not show all or any data fields.

DESCRIPTION
After configuring a data source component, the Data Explorer lists only the direct properties of the wrapped data object. These properties must be public, and must have proper getter.

Cases in which the Data Explorer does not load all or any fields:

1. The configured data source component is SqlDataSource, and the SQL query uses temporary tables. No fields will be listed in the Data Explorer.
2. The configured data source component wraps a custom data model, which properties are not public or do not have getters.Only public properties with getters will be displayed in the Data Explorer.
3. The configured data source component wraps a custom data model, which has a collection property. Only the direct properties of the collection, not its type, will be displayed in the Data Explorer.
4. The selected data item's DataSource is not set to any data source component. The Data Explorer will not load any fields.
5. The wrapped data object does not have a specific data schema e.g. a DataTable object loaded with data dynamically, where columns are not declared - msdn: Adding Columns to a DataTable.

SOLUTION
Per case from the DESCRIPTION section:

1. Apply the settings from the How to configure Stored Procedure with Temporary Tables for use with SqlDataSource component KB article.
2. Update the data model to expose its properties - make them public and verify each has at least Set method.
3. To get the properties of the type of the collection property, you can use a temporary data source component to design the item. Details how to use collection properties are available in the How to Databind to Collection Properties KB article.
4. Set the data item's DataSource to a configured data source component, and on selecting the item the Data Explorer will list its data source's fields. The same apply if you want to use the Edit Expression dialog.
5. The data object should expose a data schema - public properties with getters, exposing their names and types, and etc.