Report Builder CLI

Overview

Use the ActiveReports CLI Report Builder to create and modify Page and RDLX reports through an AI agent.

The ActiveReports CLI Report Builder is a local command-line tool for .rdlx report files. It gives AI agents a structured way to create reports and make report changes without editing report XML directly.

The CLI can create and modify report data, controls, layout, styles, and other report features. It can also validate a report and create PDF or image output for review.

When to Use the CLI Report Builder

Use the CLI Report Builder when you want to:

• create a report from a natural-language description.

• automate a repeatable report design task.

• modify an existing .rdlx report with an AI agent.

• create reports in a local or headless environment.

• validate and preview a report after an automated change.

Use a graphical ActiveReports.NET designer when you need direct visual control over the report design surface.

Prerequisites

Before you install the CLI Report Builder, make sure that you have:

• a supported Windows environment.

• the .NET 8 SDK.

• an AI agent that can run local commands, if you want to use natural-language report authoring.

• access to each report, template, and data file that the agent must use.

Some data providers, runtime checks, and rendering operations can require additional drivers, data access, or a valid ActiveReports.NET license.

Ask Your AI Agent to Set Up the CLI

If your AI agent can run local terminal commands, it can install and configure the CLI Report Builder for you. Ask the agent:

Use the ActiveReports.NET MCP Server to install and configure the ActiveReports CLI
Report Builder for this AI client. Verify the installation, check the local
environment, and install or update the bundled Agent Skill for this client.

The agent uses the MCP Server to get the current setup instructions. It then installs the CLI, verifies the local environment, and installs the correct skill adapter for the current AI client.

Your AI client can ask for permission before it installs software or changes your client configuration. Approve the requested actions to continue.

If your AI agent cannot run local commands, follow the Manual Setup instructions near the bottom of this page.

Create a Report with an AI Agent

Give the agent a clear result, the required data, and the full output path. For example:

Use the ActiveReports.NET MCP Server and ActiveReports CLI Report Builder to create
an RDLX sales summary report at C:\Reports\SalesSummary.rdlx.

Use C:\Data\Sales.csv as the data source. Add a report title, a monthly sales chart,
a detail table, and a grand total. Validate the report and render a PNG preview in
C:\Reports\Preview.

The agent can use the MCP Server for ActiveReports.NET guidance and the local CLI to create, validate, and preview the report.

Review the generated .rdlx file and preview. You can then ask the agent to refine the result. For example:

Make the chart easier to read, format the sales values as currency, and keep the
table within the printable page width. Validate the report and update the preview.

Modify an Existing Report

Give the agent the full report path and describe only the changes that you want. For example:

Use the ActiveReports CLI Report Builder to inspect C:\Reports\Invoice.rdlx.
Add a Due Date field below the invoice date, format the invoice total as currency,
and render a PNG preview. Keep all other report content unchanged.

The agent inspects the report before it changes the file. It then applies the requested changes and validates the result.

Manual Setup

Use these instructions only if your AI agent cannot install and configure the CLI Report Builder for you.

Install or Update the CLI

Install the CLI as a global .NET tool:

dotnet tool install --global MESCIUS.ActiveReports.CLI

If the CLI is already installed, update it:

dotnet tool update --global MESCIUS.ActiveReports.CLI

Verify the Installation

Confirm that the active-reports command is available and check the local environment:

active-reports --version
active-reports system doctor --no-runtime

If the command is not found, restart the terminal or AI client and run the commands again.

Install the Agent Skill

Install the bundled Agent Skill for your AI client. The following example installs it for Codex:

active-reports agent skill install --client codex --scope user

Replace codex with claude for Claude Code or copilot for GitHub Copilot. Restart the AI client after you install or update the skill.

Choose the Correct ActiveReports.NET Tool

See Also

AI Agent Tools

AI Agent Tools

MCP Server

MCP Server

Report Types

Report Types

Design Reports

Design Reports