Create Reports with Editable Form Fields in .NET Reports

The new Editable Fields introduced in ActiveReports 14 allow users to export a PDF containing input fields. These input fields can be used for further processing by the end-user. This articles demonstrates the newly added input field feature in the ActiveReports 14 Designer.

Read the full ActiveReports 14 release

The sample below is an example of what can be created.

There are currently two main features added within the Input Field: text input and the checkbox. First, we'll talk about text input.

Getting Started with Input Fields: Text Input

To place an input field, click on the input field button in the left toolbar. Once you place your Editable Field, you will notice it looks very similar to a textbox. This is because the “InputType” property is set to “Text.”

To export the page, go to the preview option (shortcut: F5). Notice that the input field will appear as a white background in the preview tab. This is normal. Once exported, it will have a different color for the input background.

Next, export the file (shortcut: Ctrl+E). The export format should be set to “Portable Document Format (PDF).” Save the file, then open it. Now you can type text in the text input field.

There is also a new “Exported PDF” property tab located directly below the Design property. It includes several options for the input field.

Below you’ll find the descriptions included for each property:

• FieldName: Specifies the unique name of the field.
• MaxLength: Specifies the maximum length of the text entered. When null, the text is not restricted.
• ReadOnly: Prevents the user from changing the form field content.
• Required: Forces the user to fill in the selected field.
• SpellCheck: Indicates whether the text should be spell checked during input.

Getting Started with Input Fields: Check Box

We will now talk about the Check Box input field. On your input field change the “InputType” property to “CheckBox.”

Once the “InputType” property is changed, you will see a few properties under “Exported PDF.”

The first property is “CheckStyle.” This property allows you to change the style inside the checkbox. There are now six different styles you can use. These styles are: check, circle, cross, diamond, square, and star.

There is also “FieldName,” “ReadOnly,” and “Required.” These properties act the exact same way as the Text InputType properties mentioned above.

Once you have the desired properties for your checkbox, preview the page (Shortcut:F5) and then export. After you export your page, you will have a checkbox that acts as an input field.

What’s Next: Input Field Types in .NET Reports

As of now, text input and checkbox are the two input field types included in Active Reports 14. Using both of these input fields will allow you to create the sample shown at the start of the blog, and many other reports!