Working with Snapshots

An .rdlx-snap file is a rendered RDLX report containing the exact data captured at the moment of generation. Unlike an .rdlx report, the snapshot is fixed — the data will not change even if the source database is updated or removed. The key benefits of this format are:

Pre‑Rendered & Static. Data and layout are locked in, ensuring a consistent, unalterable record.
No Database Connection Required. You can view or export the snapshot without re‑querying the database. This is ideal for:
- Archiving — Store historical reports, e.g., end‑of‑month financials.
- Auditing — Provide immutable records to meet compliance requirements.
- Performance — Complex reports open faster because rendering is already done.
- Offline Access — Share reports with users who lack direct database access.
Layout Fidelity. Preserves exact pagination and formatting, critical for printing or producing PDF outputs that must match a specific template.

Saving Report as Snapshot

Install the required MESCIUS.ActiveReports package via NuGet:
- In Solution Explorer, right‑click your project and select Manage NuGet Packages…
- Search for and install MESCIUS.ActiveReports.
Ensure you have access to an existing Page or RDLX report file (.rdlx) to snapshot.
To save your Page/RDLX report to a snapshot, use the following code.

using System.IO;

var rptPath = @"C:\Temp\Report1.rdlx";
var rpt = new PageReport(new FileInfo(rptPath));

rpt.Run();
    
rpt.Document.SaveSnapshot(
    new FileInfo(@"C:\Temp\Report1.rdlx-snap")
);

Loading Report from Snapshot

Install the required MESCIUS.ActiveReports package via NuGet:
- In Solution Explorer, right‑click your project and select Manage NuGet Packages…
- Search for and install MESCIUS.ActiveReports.
Ensure you have an .rdlx-snap file created with the SaveSnapshot method.
To load your Page/RDLX report to a snapshot, use the following code.

using System.IO;

string path = System.IO.Path.Combine(rootPath, "SampleSnapshotFile.rdlx-snap");

using (var fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open))
{
     PageDocument document = PageDocument.LoadSnapshot(
        fs, 
        new SampleResourceLocator()
    );
}

Using Loaded Snapshot

Once your .rdlx-snap file is loaded, you can perform the same actions as you would with a freshly generated report — without reconnecting to the database or re-rendering.

View the Snapshot in a Report Viewer
You can display the loaded snapshot in any supported viewer:
Export to Other Formats
You can export snapshots (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.) without regenerating the report. For details, see Export Page / RDLX Reports.
Print the Snapshot
You can print directly, again without connecting to the data source. For details, see Print Reports.