ActiveReports.NET v20.2 Has Released
ActiveReports.NET v20.2 gives report authors new ways to explore visualizations, helps developers control when reports run, and improves how report layouts carry over to Word. From AI assistance in the Web Designer to printer-specific paper sizes, this release adds practical improvements across report design, viewing, and export.
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Explore Visualizations with AI in the Web Designer
Choosing how to present a dataset is an important part of building a report. The new Explore option in the ActiveReports Web Designer helps authors get started with AI-generated visualization suggestions.
Select a dataset or just the fields you want to use, then choose Explore. The designer sends the selected field names and types to your configured AI provider, which returns ready-to-use table, tablix, and chart visualizations. Each suggestion includes a plain-language description and a color theme that authors can switch on the generated items.
Explore visualization suggestions and choose a color theme for the generated report items.
Only field names and types are sent to the AI provider; the dataset’s actual data is not sent.
Developers can configure OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Google Gemini, or a fully local Ollama model to fit their application and environment.
For configuration instructions, see Web AI Assistant Setup. For the report author workflow, see AI Assistant in Web Designer.
Choose Paper Sizes for Your Target Printer
Report page setup should reflect the device that will print it. The new Size Source option lets authors populate the Size list with paper sizes supported by a specific printer or use the standard list of sizes.
When the source changes, the available sizes refresh automatically. Authors can select a printer and choose from its supported sizes while configuring the report.
Size Source is available for all report types through the appropriate design interface:
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The Configure Page Settings step in the Report Wizard
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The Property Grid for RDLX Continuous Page Layout and RDLX Fixed Page Layout reports
Size Source is a design-time setting and is not saved in the report layout.
Let Readers Review Parameters Before Running a Report
Default parameter values provide a useful starting point, but readers may want to review them before a report runs.
Previously, a report opened in the viewer would run immediately when all its parameters had default values. In v20.2, the new AutoExecuteWithDefaultParams setting lets developers disable that automatic execution. Readers can review the defaults, make changes, and select Preview when they are ready.
For example, a reader opening a report with a default date range can choose a different period before the initial run. This is especially useful in web applications, where it avoids executing a report before the reader has confirmed their selections.
The setting is available in WinForms, WPF, ASP.NET Web Viewer, Blazor Viewer, and JS Viewer. It remains enabled by default, preserving existing behavior unless developers choose to change it.
Preserve More of Your Report Layout in Word
ActiveReports.NET v20.2 adds two enhancements to Word export.
Multi-column List Layouts
Word export now preserves multiple columns defined by the List report item’s RowsOrColumnsCount property. Reports such as employee badges can retain their column arrangement in the exported document, matching the layout shown in the preview.
See the Multi-Column List sample report for a working example.
Background Images as Watermarks
Word export now exports a background image as a Word document watermark when Background Repeat is set to NoRepeat. This extends support for carrying report background imagery into Word output.
Get Started with v20.2
Try these enhancements with your own reports, from exploring visualization suggestions to reviewing parameters before execution and exporting multi-column layouts. To begin configuring AI assistance for your embedded Web Designer, follow the Web AI Assistant Setup guide.
Want to See What's in the Latest Release? Download ActiveReports.NET Today!
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