Data binding creates a connection between the data source and the UI component, ensuring that updates in the data source are automatically reflected in the UI component, and vice versa. FlexReport supports binding to various data sources to display records. For details on the supported datasources, see DataSources.

The following sections explore how to retrieve data from database and other sources.

Retrieve Data from Database

A FlexReport definition can include multiple data sources, all accessible through DataSources collection both in .NET and .NET Framework. Each data source in the collection is uniquely identified by its name. These data sources serve as the primary data source, which is referred as the Main data source for a report. The main data source is specified by using DataSourceName property in the report. If the main data source is not specified (DataSourceName is empty or contains a name not found in the DataSources collection), the FlexReport is rendered in unbound mode, containing a single instance of the Detail section.

Follow the steps in below section to access and display data using the OLEDB datasource in .NET and .NET Framework Editions.

1. Create a new report definition in FlexReportDesigner application using FlexReport Wizard as done in the Report Creation section. For example, we use the C1Nwind.mdb database and Employees table for displaying records.
   Note: You can find the C1Nwind.mdb database in Documents\ComponentOne Samples\WinForms\vx.0\FlexReport\CS\FlexReportExplorer\Data folder.
2. Create a new Windows Forms App (For WinForms) or WPF Application (For WPF) in Visual Studio.
3. Add the FlexViewer control to the form. Set the Name of FlexViewer control as c1FlexViewer1.
4. Add the below code to load the report to FlexReport control and bind it with the FlexViewer control.

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   c1FlexReport1.Load(@"..\..\..\employeereport.flxr", "Employees_Report"); DataSource ds1 = new DataSource(); ds1.Name = c1FlexReport1.DataSourceName; ds1.DataProvider = DataProvider.OLEDB; ds1.ConnectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=..\..\..\C1NWind.mdb;Persist Security Info=False"; ds1.RecordSource = "Employees"; ds1.RecordSourceType = RecordSourceType.TableDirect; c1FlexReport1.DataSources.Add(ds1); c1FlexViewer1.DocumentSource = c1FlexReport1;

5. Run the application and observe the output.

DataTable object as DataSource

Many applications require processing data outside of C1FlexReport before loading it into DataTable objects. In these scenarios, DataTable objects can serve as report data sources, eliminating the need for reloading during report rendering.

This approach is also useful in applications where:

• Security restrictions dictate that connection strings must be kept private, and only the data itself may be exposed (not its source).
• The database is not supported by OleDb, the provider used internally by C1FlexReport.
• The data does not come from a database at all. Instead, the DataTable is created and populated using custom code.

Perform the following steps to load and render data from a data table:

1. Create a new report definition in FlexReportDesigner application using FlexReport Wizard as done in the Report Creation section.
2. Create a new Windows Forms App (For WinForms) or WPF Application (For WPF) in Visual Studio.
3. Add the C1FlexViewer control in the design window. Set the Name of C1FlexViewer control as flexdataViewer.
4. Create the following data table with the name GetMyDataTable, as shown in the following code snippet.

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   public DataTable GetMyDataTable() { DataTable result = new DataTable(); result.Columns.Add("PiD", typeof(string)); result.Columns.Add("Name", typeof(string)); result.Columns.Add("Supplier", typeof(string)); result.Columns.Add("UnitPrice", typeof(string)); result.Columns.Add("Discontinued", typeof(string)); result.Rows.Add("P001", "Chai", "Bigfoot Breweries", "S100", "False"); result.Rows.Add("P002", "Chang", "Leka Trading", "S200", "True"); result.Rows.Add("P003", "Aniseed", "Karkki Oy", "S130", "False"); result.Rows.Add("P004", "Syrup", "Ma Maison", "S150", "True"); result.Rows.Add("P005", "Konbu", "Tokyo Traders", "S100", "False"); result.Rows.Add("P001", "Chai", "Leka Trading", "S100", "True"); result.Rows.Add("P011", "Chang", "Leka Trading", "S200", "True"); result.Rows.Add("P012", "Aniseed", "Karkki Oy", "S130", "False"); result.Rows.Add("P013", "Syrup", "Ma Maison", "S150", "True"); result.Rows.Add("P014", "Konbu", "Tokyo Traders", "S100", "False"); result.Rows.Add("P015", "Konbu", "Tokyo Traders", "S100", "False"); return result; }

5. Add the following code to load and render the report. To use a DataTable object as a C1FlexReport data source, simply load the report definition and then assign the DataTable to C1FlexReport.DataSource.Recordset property.

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   rep.Load(@"..\..\..\productreportqs.flxr", "ProductDataBinding"); DataTable dt = GetMyDataTable(); rep.DataSource.Recordset = dt; flexdataViewer.DocumentSource = rep;

6. Run the application and observe the output.

Retrieve Data from a Stored Procedure

Stored procedures facilitate a consistent implementation of logic across applications, enhance performance, and abstract the underlying database table details from users. One key advantage of stored procedures is their ability to accept parameters, enabling the database to filter the recordset. This results in a smaller, more manageable data set that is faster and easier for the report to process.

You can populate a report from a stored procedure in the C1FlexReport Wizard. To open the C1FlexReport Wizard, click the New Report button from the Reports tab the C1FlexReportDesigner application. Complete the following steps:

1. In the C1FlexReportDesigner application, click the New Report button from the Reports tab
2. Populating a report from a stored procedure is no different than using SQL statements or straight tables. In the C1FlexReport Wizard, click the ellipses button to choose a data source. Then choose a Stored Procedure from the list of available Data sources.
3. Select Next and continue through the wizard.
4. Save the report with the name productsreporqs.flxr.
5. Add the following code to load and render the report using stored procedure:

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   flexReport.Load(@"..\..\..\productspreport.flxr", "ProductReportSP"); DataSource ds1 = new DataSource(); ds1.Name = "Mainsp"; ds1.DataProvider = DataProvider.OLEDB; ds1.ConnectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;..\..\..\C1NWind.mdb;Persist Security Info=False"; ds1.RecordSource = "[Products by Category]"; ds1.RecordSourceType = RecordSourceType.StoredProcedure; flexReport.DataSources.Add(ds1); flexViewer.DocumentSource = flexReport;

   In this case the stored procedure name has spaces, so it's enclosed in square brackets.

Retrieve Data Using SQL Query

You can interact with a relational database using SQL statements instead of stored procedures. SQL statements are useful for simple operations where the overhead of invoking a stored procedure is unnecessary. They can be used to query data, insert or update records, delete data, create or modify database objects (such as tables and views), and manage database permissions. Commonly used SQL statements for accessing and modifying data include SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE.

Perform the following steps to load and render data from a database using the SQL statement:

1. Create a new report definition in FlexReportDesigner application using FlexReport Wizard as done in the Report Creation section.
2. Create a new Windows Forms App (For WinForms) or WPF Application (For WPF) in Visual Studio.
3. Add the C1FlexViewer control to the design view. Set the Name of C1FlexViewer control as flexViewer.
4. Add the following code to load the report using SQL query:

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   ds1.ConnectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=..\..\..\C1NWind.mdb;Persist Security Info=False"; ds1.RecordSource = "SELECT DISTINCT Products.ProductID, Products.ProductName,Categories.CategoryName,Products.UnitPrice FROM (Categories INNER JOIN Products ON Categories.CategoryID = Products.CategoryID)"; ds1.RecordSourceType = RecordSourceType.Text;