What's New in ActiveReports v18
ActiveReports v18.1 - June 19, 2024
Hey everyone! Today, we’re happy to announce the arrival of ActiveReports.NET 18.1, the first of three service packs that will be released for ActiveReports.NET 18. As well as the usual fixes and performance optimizations, this update includes a handful of features requested by customers like you, which we will outline below!
Enriched Chart Customization
Before (SymbolSize 5, LabelRowCount 1)
After (SymbolSize 10, LabelRowCount 2)
We have introduced new properties to enrich the customization and visual communication of charts for RDLX, Page, and Dashboard reports.
- LabelRowCount: This property, applied to the X-axis of charts, allows you to set the number of rows for axis labels, enabling a multi-row arrangement for better readability and organization of labels. Note that this feature is only applicable to charts that have an X-axis.
- SymbolSize: This property allows you to adjust the size of plot symbols, providing greater flexibility in data presentation. It is supported in the following chart types:
These updates aim to enhance the clarity and customization of your chart presentations.
Updated JSON Data Provider in Section Reports
The JSON data provider in Section Reports now includes the Embedded option within the data source connection settings. This new feature allows you to embed JSON data directly into your reports, streamlining data management and simplifying the deployment process. The embedded option is particularly useful for development purposes, such as sharing reports with co-workers, as it ensures that all necessary data is contained within the report itself. This makes your reports more self-contained and less dependent on external sources, enhancing portability and ease of collaboration.
Enhanced SubReport in Section Reports
In Section Reports, you can now choose a report for the SubReport control directly through the ReportNameproperty, eliminating the need for code. This enhancement simplifies the process of adding subreports and is also available in the Web Designer. This update streamlines report design, making it easier and faster to create complex, nested reports.
Improved Tabular Data Display Options in Page and RDLX Reports
You now have greater control over the display of table data in Page and RDLX Reports with two new properties:
- MaxDetailsPerPage: This property allows you to set the maximum number of detail rows displayed per page. If the number of rows exceeds the specified value, a page break is added after the set number of rows.
- PreventOrphanedHeader: This option ensures that the table’s header or the table's group header always prints together with at least one detail row of the table or table group. This prevents headers from being isolated at the bottom of a page without accompanying data.
These features improve the readability and organization of table data in your reports, ensuring a more professional and polished presentation.
Document Map for Report Sections
In RDLX and RDLX Dashboard Reports, report sections can now be displayed in the report viewer's Document Map and in the TableOfContents control in rendered or exported reports. To achieve this, you can use the newly introduced Label property of a report section. This enhancement provides better navigation and organization within your reports, making it easier for users to locate and reference specific sections.
Document Map | TableOfContents
New SheetMode Property for Excel Export
A new SheetMode property has been added to Excel export, allowing you to control how a report's pages or sections are exported. This property provides the flexibility to:
- Display each report page as a separate sheet
- Display each report section as a separate sheet
- Export the entire report as a single sheet
This feature enhances the organization and usability of exported Excel reports, making it easier to navigate and analyze the data.
AR 18.1 Patch Notes
- AR-32012 – Added property for alternating labels for Charts (LabelRowCount)
- AR-32366 – Added property for adjusting plot symbol size in Charts (SymbolSize)
- AR-32337 – Fixed an issue where frozen cells that had been merged would display incorrectly after scrolling
- AR-30792 – Added support for embedded JSON in Section Reports
- AR-30783 – Added “Bring to Front” and “Send to Back” buttons to adjust Z-index of report layers
- AR-30529 – Added property to set target SubReport in Section Reports without using a script (ReportName)
- AR-32952 – Added property for restricting the max number of details in a Table per page (MaxDetailsPerPage)
- AR-33217 – Added property to prevent Table headers from rendering on a page if there is not space for at least one detail row (PreventOrphanedHeader)
- AR-32297 – Fixed an issue with word-wrapping in HTML in the FormattedText control
- AR-31678 – Fixed an issue where Excel imports would fail on Linux/MacOS if libgdiplus was not installed
AR 18.1.1 Patch Notes
- AR-33744 – Fixed an issue where Japanese versions of the Visual Studio extensions would automatically update to the English version
- AR-33687 – Fixed an issue where MESCIUS.ActiveReports.Core.Rendering.dll was unsigned
- AR-33714 – Fixed an issue where custom themes for the JSViewer were being applied incorrectly
- AR-33497 – Fixed an issue where paper size was not reflected correctly when printing to a specific printer
- AR-33480 – Fixed an issue where paper size and orientation were not reflected properly when printing a Page Report
ActiveReports v18 - February 27, 2024
Hey everyone! We're happy to announce that ActiveReports.NET 18.0 is here! This is our annual major release update, and as usual, we will have two Service Packs to provide improvements and optimizations over the course of the year, as well as hotfix builds in between when necessary. We have some exciting new features coming with this one and a whole bunch of improvements that you’ll find listed below!
Ready to Dive into v18? Download ActiveReports.NET Today!
Customizable UI with Themes for JS Viewer and Web Designer
ActiveReports.NET 18 introduces theme support for both JS Viewer and Web Designer components, allowing you to personalize the user interface according to your preferences. Choose from a selection of built-in UI themes, or craft a custom theme to tailor the look and feel of these components to match your application's aesthetic or branding requirements.
Apply Themes to WebDesigner and Js Viewer Components | WebDesigner API | JS Viewer API
WinForms Viewer UI Design Refresh
The WinForms Viewer has undergone a design overhaul, offering a modernized and more user-friendly interface. This refresh improves the overall user experience by making report viewing more pleasant and intuitive.
.NET 8.0 Support
By supporting .NET 8.0, ActiveReports.NET 18 ensures compatibility with the latest .NET framework, allowing developers to utilize new features and improve their report applications.
Report Creation and Data Binding Wizard
A new wizard guides users through the steps of creating a basic report, simplifying the report design process for new or occasional users by providing a structured approach to report creation.
- Data Binding Wizard: This wizard streamlines the process of connecting reports to data sources, making it easier for users to bind their reports to various types of data and ensuring a smoother report design experience.
Master Reports in Web Designer
The introduction of master reports in the web designer enables users to create reusable report templates, streamlining the report design process and ensuring consistency across multiple reports.
Nested JSON/XML Data Support
ActiveReports.NET 18 can now handle nested JSON and XML data, allowing more complex JSON data structures to be used as data sources. This feature makes working with modern web APIs and complex data models easier.
Nested Datasets (JSON and XML) | Nested Datasets
Improved SVG Rendering Quality and Performance in WinViewer
This feature enhances the quality and speed of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) rendering within the Windows Viewer. Users will experience crisper visuals and faster load times for SVG elements in their reports, leading to a more visually appealing and efficient reporting experience.
Enhanced Visual Studio Project Templates
In our commitment to streamlining your experience with ActiveReports.NET, we've introduced new Visual Studio project templates. These templates are designed to replace previous versions, offering a more intuitive and efficient start to your reporting projects.
- ActiveReports Windows Forms Application: Tailored for desktop environments, this template sets the stage for rich, interactive reports on Windows Forms
- ActiveReports ASP.NET Core Application: Perfect for web developers, this template integrates seamlessly with ASP.NET Core MVC for dynamic, server-side reporting
- ActiveReports Blazor Server Application: Leverage the power of Blazor Server to create interactive and real-time reporting applications
- ActiveReports Blazor WebAssembly Application: Build client-side reporting applications with the modern capabilities of Blazor WebAssembly
DataEngine Performance Improvements for Medium to Large Data Sets
By optimizing the DataEngine, ActiveReports.NET 18 significantly speeds up the processing of medium to large datasets. This improvement means quicker report generation and reduced waiting times for users working with substantial amounts of data, making the tool more suitable for data-intensive applications.
Enhanced Visualization with Advanced Tablix Group Editor
The Tablix Group Editor in ActiveReports.NET 18 has been improved to enhance how users interact with and visualize the hierarchy of group members. When selecting single or multiple rows, columns, or cells within the Tablix body, the editor automatically highlights the corresponding hierarchy, making it easier to understand and manage group relationships.
Simultaneous TextBox Updates
ActiveReports.NET’s Web Report Designer now supports simultaneous updates to multiple TextBoxes through the "Current Textbox Value" option in the Expression Editor. This enhancement simplifies the process of applying uniform expressions, significantly improving efficiency and consistency in report design.
RDL Multi-Section and RDL Merged
This change simplifies the report design process by merging RDL (Report Definition Language) multi-section reports with standard RDL reports. All RDL reports will now have optional multi-section functionality instead of having two different options.
Section Report Web Designer Improvements
Enhancements to the web designer for section reports improve usability and functionality, allowing users to design and customize their reports more efficiently and intuitively in a web environment.
- Group Header/Footer Names in Report Explorer: This feature adds the ability to name group headers and footers in the Report Explorer. It improves report organization and makes navigating complex reports with multiple grouping levels easier
- Set Rounding Radius Using Mouse: Users can now adjust the rounding radius of corners directly using the mouse, offering a more intuitive and precise way to style report elements
- Added Clear Borders to Separate Report/Page/Group/Detail Sections: Clear borders have been introduced to visually separate different sections within the report designer. This visual cue helps users quickly distinguish between report, page, group, and detail sections, enhancing the report design process
- Added Event Box in Script Tab: Adding an event box in the script tab allows users to write and manage custom code for report events more easily. This feature enhances customizability and interactivity within reports
- Added InputFieldText and InputFieldCheckBox: These new controls allow users to incorporate text input fields and checkboxes directly into their reports, facilitating interactive and dynamic report designs that can capture user input
- SVG Support in Picture Control: With SVG support in the picture control for section reports, users can now incorporate scalable vector graphics, ensuring high-quality images that are resolution-independent
Expanded Data Source Support for Page/RDLX Reports
In our ongoing effort to enhance data connectivity and flexibility within ActiveReports.NET, we are excited to announce the addition of support for several new built-in data sources. Report authors can now connect their RDLX, Page, and Dashboard reports directly to:
- MySQL: Tap into the power of one of the world's most popular open-source relational database management systems
- PostgreSQL: Leverage this advanced, enterprise-class open-source database system known for its reliability and robustness
- Excel: Directly import data from Excel files, allowing for seamless integration of spreadsheet data into your reports
Format Property for DateTime Parameters
This new property allows users to specify the display format for DateTime parameters, providing greater control over how date and time data is presented in reports.
Enhanced Navigation with Tab Order for Editable Fields in PDF
ActiveReports.NET 18 introduces the ability to precisely control the tab order of editable fields in PDF forms through a new TabIndex property on InputField controls. This addition allows for the customization of navigation, enabling users to set a specific sequence for moving from one field to another using the Tab key. This feature enhances form usability and improves the overall user experience in PDF documents.
InputField (Page/RDLX Report) | InputField (Section Report) | InputFieldCheckBox (Section Report)
Improved ASP.NET Middleware for ActiveReports.NET Web Integration
We've enhanced the ASP.NET middleware in ActiveReports.NET 18, streamlining the integration of ActiveReports.NET Web components for developers. This improvement simplifies the process of embedding reporting capabilities into web applications, ensuring a smoother, more efficient development experience.
WebDesigner Application | Js Viewer Application | Blazor Viewer Application
Shift+Scroll Wheel to Scroll Horizontally in Windows Designer and Preview
This enhancement improves navigation within the Windows Designer and Preview mode, making it more convenient to scroll content with horizontal scroll bars.
Added API to Specify Printer Name When the Print Button is Clicked in the Viewer
This API enhancement allows developers to programmatically specify the printer when the print button is used in the viewer, offering more control over the printing process and enhancing the end-user experience by streamlining print operations.
To find a list of any breaking changes from ActiveReports.NET 17 to ActiveReports.NET 18, please check this documentation article.
As always, if you have any positive or negative feedback or if there’s anything you’d like to see in a future version of ActiveReports.NET, please let us know!
ActiveReports.NET v18 is ready for you! Download a 30-day Free Trial Today!
AR 18.0.1 Patch Notes
- AR-33474 – Fixed an issue where a JsonException occurred when deserializing a report snapshot if JSON depth exceeded 64
- AR-33393 – Fixed an issue where setting Visibility of a Container control to Hidden prevented the Visibility of controls inside the Container from being changed
- AR-33426 – Fixed an issue preventing custom themes from being used in the Blazor WebDesigner