Nested Datasets

A nested dataset represents JSON or XML data as an hierarchical structure. A nested JSON or XML dataset is most commonly used in a bound data region, where you can partially use the dataset nodes for different data regions of your report.

Follow these steps to create a report with a JSON nested dataset that contains data on Movies and the movie information on Roles, created from attached file:

JSON With Nested Data.json

Report with Nested Dataset at Preview

In Visual Studio 2022, create a new Windows Forms project.
Right-click the project in the Solution Explorer and select Manage NuGet Packages for Solution.
On the Browse tab of the opened NuGet - Solution window, search and install the MESCIUS.ActiveReports and MESCIUS.ActiveReports.Design.Win NuGet packages.
On the Form.cs, double-click the title bar to create the Form1_Load event.

At the top of the Form1 code view, add these using directives.

using GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Design.ReportExplorer;
using GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Design;
using GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReportModel;
using GrapeCity.ActiveReports;
using System.Xml;
using TextBox = GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReportModel.TextBox;
using DataSet = GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReportModel.DataSet;
using DataSource = GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReportModel.DataSource;
using Field = GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReportModel.Field;

In the existing code, add the following code.

namespace NestedDataSetSample
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        Designer designer;
        PropertyGrid propertyGrid;
        ReportExplorer reportExplorer;
        PageReport report;
        ReportSection section;
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

Add the following code to the Form1_Load event.

{
    CreateLayout();
    CreateReport();
    CreateDataRegions();
    CreateDataSource();
    designer.LoadReport(XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(report.ToRdlString())), DesignerReportType.Page);
}

In the existing code, add the following code to create the Designer, PropertyGrid and ReportExplorer objects.

private void CreateLayout()
{
    designer = new Designer() { Dock = DockStyle.Fill };
    propertyGrid = new PropertyGrid() { Dock = DockStyle.Right };
    designer.PropertyGrid = propertyGrid;
    reportExplorer = new ReportExplorer()
    {
        Dock = DockStyle.Left,
        ReportDesigner = designer
    };
    Controls.Add(designer);
    Controls.Add(propertyGrid);
    Controls.Add(reportExplorer);
}

Add the following code to create the PageReport and ReportSection objects.

private void CreateReport()
{
     report = new PageReport();
     section = new ReportSection();
     section.Name = "Section1";
     section.Width = "15cm";
     section.Body.Height = "20cm";
     report.Report.ReportSections.Add(section);
}

Add the following code to create data regions that will contain report data.

```csharp
private void CreateDataRegions()
{
    List listMovies = new List()
    {
        Name = "List_Movies",
        Top = "0.8cm",
        Left = "0.6cm",
        Width = "11cm",
        Height = "5cm",
        Style = new Style() { FontFamily = "Arial" },
        DataSetName = "Movies",
        ZIndex = 1
    };
    listMovies.ReportItems.Add(new TextBox()
    {
        Name = "TextBox_Title",
        Top = "0.6cm",
        Left = "1cm",
        Width = "2.5cm",
        Height = "0.75cm",
        Style = new Style()
        {
            FontFamily = "Arial",
            PaddingBottom = "2pt",
            PaddingLeft = "2pt",
            PaddingRight = "2pt",
            PaddingTop = "2pt"
        },
        Value = "=Fields!Title.Value",
        DataElementName = "Title",
        ZIndex = 1
    });
    List listCast = new List()
    {
        Name = "List_Cast",
        Top = "1.8cm",
        Left = "1.4cm",
        Width = "5cm",
        Height = "2.2cm",
        Style = new Style() { FontFamily = "Arial" },
        ZIndex = 2,
        DataSetName = "Cast"
    };
    listCast.ReportItems.Add(new TextBox()
    {
        Name = "TextBox_Name",
        Top = "0.6cm",
        Left = "0.6cm",
        Width = "2.5cm",
        Height = "0.75cm",
        Style = new Style()
        {
            FontFamily = "Arial",
            PaddingBottom = "2pt",
            PaddingLeft = "2pt",
            PaddingRight = "2pt",
            PaddingTop = "2pt"
        },
        DataElementName = "Name",
        Value = "=Fields!Name.Value",
    });
    listMovies.ReportItems.Add(listCast);
    section.Body.ReportItems.Add(listMovies);
}


11. Add the following code to create a JSON data source, add a dataset and a nested dataset, and add fields to both datasets.

```auto
```csharp
private void CreateDataSource()
{
    DataSource dataSource = new DataSource();
    dataSource.Name = "JSONDataSource";
    dataSource.ConnectionProperties = new ConnectionProperties()
    {
        DataProvider = "JSON",
        ConnectString = "jsondoc={path to file}\\JSON With Nested Data.json"
    };
    report.Report.DataSources.Add(dataSource);
    report.Report.DataSets.Add(CreateDataSet(dataSource));
    report.Report.DataSets.Add(CreateSecondDataSet());
}
private DataSet CreateDataSet(DataSource _DataSource)
{
    Query query = new Query
    {
        Timeout = 30,
        CommandText = "$.Movie[*]",
        DataSourceName = _DataSource.Name,
    };
    DataSet dataSet = new DataSet
    {
        Query = query,
        Name = "Movies",
    };
    CreateFieldsToDataSet(dataSet);
    return dataSet;
}
private DataSet CreateSecondDataSet()
{
    Query query = new Query
    {
        Timeout = 30,
        CommandText = "$",
        DataSourceName = "$dataset:Movies/Cast",
    };
    DataSet dataSet = new DataSet
    {
        Query = query,
        Name = "Cast",
    };
    CreateFieldsToSecondDataSet(dataSet);
    return dataSet;
}
private void CreateFieldsToDataSet(DataSet dataSet)
{
    Field field = new Field
    {
        DataField = "Title",
        Name = "Title"
    };
    dataSet.Fields.Add(field);
}
private void CreateFieldsToSecondDataSet(DataSet dataSet)
{
    Field field = new Field
    {
        DataField = "Name",
        Name = "Name"
    };
    dataSet.Fields.Add(field);
}


12. Add the following code to load the report to the Designer in Form1\_Load event.

```auto
```csharp
designer.LoadReport(XmlReader.Create(new StringReader(report.ToRdlString())), DesignerReportType.Page);


13. Run the project and preview the report.

## See Also

[Quick Start](gcdocsite__documentlink?toc-item-id=a589d793-861b-4106-96d8-d2f05c417002)

#### Report Authors

[Nested Datasets (JSON and XML)](gcdocsite__documentlink?toc-item-id=e02a6082-b971-499e-8da6-4a3dc47ad8cd)