You can use custom objects as data sources. The only requirement is that the custom object must implement the IC1ReportRecordset interface.

IC1ReportRecordset is a simple and easy-to-implement interface that can be added easily to virtually any collection of data. This is often more efficient than creating a DataTable object and copying all the data into it. For example, you could use custom data source objects to wrap a file system or custom XML files.

To use a custom data source objects, load the report definition and then assign the object to the C1Report's Recordset property. For example:

To write code in Visual Basic

' get custom data source object        
Dim rs As IC1ReportRecordset = CType(GetMyCustomDataSource(), IC1ReportRecordset)

' load report definition (before setting the data source)        
c1r.Load(reportFile, reportName)

' use custom data source object in C1Report component        
c1r.DataSource.Recordset = rs

To write code in C#

// get custom data source object        
IC1ReportRecordset rs = (IC1ReportRecordset)GetMyCustomDataSource();
        
// load report definition (before setting the data source)        
c1r.Load(reportFile, reportName);
    
// use custom data source object in C1Report component        
c1r.DataSource.Recordset = rs;