How to Choose the Right C# .NET Report Type in Your Application

ActiveReports.NET offers multiple reporting options, including RDLX Reports, Page Reports, Dashboard Reports, and Section Reports (code-based and RPX). While Section Reports are the original reporting format, modern development primarily favors RDL-style reports due to ease of use, better performance, and richer features.

However, Section Reports still have their place in specific scenarios. In this guide, we'll explain the key differences between each report type, why new projects typically benefit from using RDL or Page Reports, and when it still makes sense to use a Section report instead.

• Overview of Report Types
• Key Differences Between Report Types
• Why New Projects Should Prefer RDL/Page Reports
• When Should You Still Use Section Reports
• Advice for Existing Users: Migrating from Section to RDL
• Comparison Table

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Overview of Report Types

• RDL Reports (Continuous Layout): Flowing content layout, multiple data sets, interactive elements, expression-based dynamic behavior.

• Page Reports (Fixed Layout): Pixel-perfect, fixed-position controls ideal for form-based layouts.

• Dashboard Reports (Pageless): Interactive visual dashboards optimized for on-screen use.

• Section Reports (Code-based .cs/.vb, XML-based .rpx): Traditional banded layout, event-driven, highly flexible through code/scripts.

Key Differences Between Report Types

Layout and Design

• RDL Reports: Continuous layout, automatically expanding content, ideal for reports with flexible content and interactive features

• Page Reports: Fixed layout, each page individually designed, perfect for forms requiring exact placement

• Dashboard Reports: Free-form canvas designed for interactive visual data exploration

• Section Reports: Banded layout (header/detail/footer), suited for lists/forms with repeating sections

  • Note: The banded layout can be replicated in RDL reports using the Banded List control.

Data Binding and Interactivity

• RDL Reports: Multiple datasets, advanced interactivity (drill-down, sorting) without coding

• Page Reports: Single or multiple datasets per page, limited interactivity, emphasizing fixed layouts

• Dashboard Reports: Multiple datasets, highly interactive, designed for dynamic filtering and drilling

• Section Reports: Single data source per report; manual scripting for multiple data sources. Limited built-in interactivity

Customization Method

• RDL/Page Reports: Customization via expressions; no event-driven code. Easier to maintain and modify without coding

• Dashboard Reports: Expressions and declarative interactive actions, no scripting required

• Section Reports: Extensive customization through code and events, suitable for complex dynamic behaviors

Why New Projects Should Prefer RDL/Page Reports

Most modern reporting needs are more efficiently met using RDL/Page Reports due to several key advantages:

Ease of Design and Maintenance

RDL/Page reports allow drag-and-drop design, intuitive layout tools, and more built-in controls, dramatically simplifying report creation and maintenance.

Rich Built-in Features

• Advanced Controls: Tables, Tablix, Charts, Gauges, Maps, Sparklines, and more

• Interactive Features: Drill-down/through, filtering/sorting, conditional visibility without coding, etc

• Multiple Data Sources: Easily combine and display data from multiple datasets

Performance and Scalability

The optimized engine for RDL/Page reports efficiently handles large datasets and complex reports, often outperforming manually scripted Section Reports.

Future-Proof and Maintainable

RDL/Page reports store definitions in XML, easily version-controlled and modified visually or via XML editors, significantly reducing maintenance overhead.

Better Integration and Export Options

• Robust exports including Word, Excel, CSV, JSON

• Integration with web-based and end-user report designers

• Cross-platform compatibility for modern deployment scenarios (.NET Core, Linux, cloud)

When Should You Still Use Section Reports?

Section Reports remain the best choice in certain scenarios:

Dynamic Report Generation via Code

If you must build reports entirely in code at runtime (dynamic layouts, user-defined columns), Section Reports offer unmatched flexibility.

Advanced Runtime Logic

Complex logic, like custom data processing or conditional layouts executed during rendering, is easier with Section Reports' event-driven model.

Legacy Feature Support

Certain features unique to Section Reports, such as:

• Cross-section lines/boxes for continuous shapes across sections

• Customizable subreport logic in events

• Exact legacy print formatting.

Developer Preference

If your team heavily relies on code-centric reporting or Visual Studio integration, Section Reports offer familiarity and speed. 

Advice for Existing Users: Migrating from Section to RDL

For current Section Report users, migrating to RDL/Page reports offers considerable benefits, including simpler maintenance, improved performance, and richer features. While migration isn't necessary for all reports, consider converting reports that:

• Require frequent modifications

• Benefit from interactivity or advanced visualizations

• Experience performance bottlenecks

Use the ActiveReports Import Wizard to ease migration from RPX to RDL. This tool automates most of the process, though manual adjustments for complex scripts will likely be required.

Comparison Table (Quick Reference)

Conclusion

Section Reports remain valuable for specific advanced or legacy scenarios, particularly involving heavy coding and dynamic generation. However, new ActiveReports.NET users and new projects will typically find RDL/Page reports easier to design, more maintainable, and better suited to modern requirements. Existing users should consider migrating to RDL to leverage richer features, simpler design processes, and improved performance.

Choosing the right report type now will simplify your reporting tasks today and ensure you’re well-prepared for future growth.

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