Difference between NULL and DBNull

Difference between NULL and DBNull

External Stylesheets issue in Telerik Reporting

Situation:
I was able to create an stylesheet, exported into an xml file and then referenced it into another report and even though I could see the styles in the designer, when I run my project the styles simply disappeared.

Solution 1:
In the page where the report is called add the following code (replace the path properly):


Dim ess As New Telerik.Reporting.Drawing.ExternalStyleSheet("..\StyleSheets\TahomaSmall.xml")
myReport.ExternalStyleSheets.Add(ess)
Me.ReportViewer1.Report = myReport

Solution 2:
Replace the path properly in the rpt.designer.vb
Me.ExternalStyleSheets.Add(New Telerik.Reporting.Drawing.ExternalStyleSheet("..\StyleSheets\TahomaSmall.xml"))


Issue cause:
Even though the report has a reference to the external stylesheet in its vb code if your report is not in the same directory as your stylesheet it has to be estated like that in the reference.

Telerik Reporting Report

Issue when deploying a report. If the error shows sth like this inside, just add this into the web.config file

Issues with generated WebProject dll

When I try to build my solution I often get this error:
Unable to copy file "obj\Debug\MyProjectXXX.dll" to "bin\Debug\MyProjectXXX.dll". The process cannot access the file 'bin\Debug\MyProjectXXX.dll' because it is being used by another process.
The project it's trying to build is a class library referenced by a couple of other projects in the solution.

Solution

1. Delete whatever files exist in obj/Debug (just files)
2. Add these two lines to the "Pre-build event command line" in the MyProjectXXX properties:

if exist "$(TargetPath).locked" del "$(TargetPath).locked"
if exist "$(TargetPath)" if not exist "$(TargetPath).locked" move "$(TargetPath)" "$(TargetPath).locked"

1. Build the project again.


Reference:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/csharpide/thread/68648642-08d8-4cff-b0c3-c2782f010589

Telerik Reporting

This is up to the moment the best Alternative to SRS.

Advantages over SRS:
1. It doesn't need to work with SQL Server, thus it doesn't depend on any SQL upgrade.
2.Since it doesn't need SQL Server information, the program (VStudio) can perfectly send a dataset which will be directly read by the telerik reporting report control.
3.We can easily define user functions using vb sintaxis and everything we are used to use in VStudio.
4.Stylesheets are easy to implement.


Using stylesheets in Telerik Reporting Reports
To use stylesheets in a Telerik reporting report you just need to do this two steps:
1. Define your own styles for a report (template report)
2. Export your styles to a xml file in order to be called from other reports.
http://www.telerik.com/help/reporting/style-exportingand-reusing-style-sheets.html

How to send a Telerik Reporting Report by email?

I will explain it step by step following the architecture I have here, which is one complete project for all the application reports, so that all the reports will be stored in only one place and called from wherever is needed.

MyWebProject - Architecture

rptFilters.aspx.- It contains the report filters (user input to get the data). These pages are created by report.

ReportPreview.aspx.- It contains the ReportViewer control. It is only one ReportPreview page for all the report filters pages because the filter page from it gets the data is a parameter.

Report.vb.- This is the report.

 

Report.vb code extract

Getting the information from a dll method (the hatParams table has been filled in the rptFilters.aspx.vb page)

Public Sub New(ByVal strParams As String, ByVal strUser As String, ByVal strServer As String, ByVal strPort As String, ByVal intComp As Integer, ByVal strLang As String)

    Dim cSynergy As DLLSynReports.clsReports

    Dim hatParams As Hashtable = Nothing

    Dim dsData As System.Data.DataSet = Nothing

    Dim iResult As Integer

    cSynergy = New DLLSynReports.clsReports(strUser, strServer, strPort, intComp, strLang, strPath, strModName)

    hatParams = FillHashTableByReports(strUser, "rptOrderStatus", strParams)

    InitializeComponent()

    Try

        iResult = cSynergy.GetUnicSOReport(CType(hatParams("WhseFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("WhseTo"), Integer), CType(hatParams("ReqDateFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("ReqDateTo"), Integer), CType(hatParams("PlantDateFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("PlantDateTo"), Integer), CType(hatParams("ShipDateFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("ShipDateTo"), Integer), hatParams("ProductFrom").ToString, _

                            hatParams("ProductTo").ToString, CType(hatParams("GroupProdFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("GroupProdTo"), Integer), CType(hatParams("ShipToFrom"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("ShipToTo"), Integer), CType(hatParams("Dept"), Integer), _

                            CType(hatParams("SalesManFrom"), Integer), CType(hatParams("SalesManTo"), Integer))

        Me.DataSource = dsData

    Catch ex As System.Exception

        'An error has occurred while filling the data set. Please check the exception for more information.

        System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex.Message)

    End Try

End Sub

ReportPreview.aspx.vb

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

    Dim datInfo As Data.DataSet = Nothing

    Dim strParams As String

    Dim strReports As String

    Dim strEmailReports As String

    Dim hatParams As Hashtable

    Dim strFormat As String

    Try

        If Not Page.IsPostBack Then

            datInfo = cUtil.GetSpecificTable("Synergy_session", "", "SYSE_SEQ = '" & strSYSE_SEQ & "' ", "")

            strReports = datInfo.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item("SYSE_PARAM1").ToString

            strEmailReports = datInfo.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item("SYSE_PARAM2").ToString

            strParams = datInfo.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item("SYSE_PARAM3").ToString

            strReportName = "RPT" & strSYSE_SEQ

            hatParams = ConfigReports(strReports, strParams)

            If hatParams.Item("Reports").ToString = "0" Then

                lblError.Text = GetCommonMessage(strGlobalUser, "NoRecord", "en")

            Else

                lblError.Text = ""

                strFormat = Request.QueryString("EmailFormat")

                If strFormat = "" Then

                    strFormat = "PDF"

                End If

                If strEmailReports = "True" Then

                    SendReportTelerik(strGlobalUser, strFormat, CType(ReportViewer1.Report, Telerik.Reporting.Report), hatParams, strReportPath, strReportName, strLang)

                End If

            End If

        End If

    Catch ex As Exception

        Call ManageError(strGlobalUser, strModName, strModName, "Page_Load", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

    Finally

        If Not datInfo Is Nothing Then

            datInfo.Dispose()

            datInfo = Nothing

        End If

        cUtil = Nothing

    End Try

End Sub

Private Function ConfigReports(ByVal strReports As String, ByVal strParams As String) As Hashtable

    Dim cSynergy As DLLSynReports.clsReports

    Dim hatParams As Hashtable = Nothing

    'Dim intUnicId As Integer

    Dim strRpt As String

    Try

        hatParams = FillHashTableByReports(strGlobalUser, strReportName, strParams)

        hatParams.Add("User", strGlobalUser)

        hatParams.Add("Reports", 999)

        strRpt = ""

        Select Case strReports

            Case "rptGlobalInv.aspx"

                Dim myReport As New GlobalInv(strParams, strGlobalUser, strGlobalServer, strGlobalPort, intGlobalComp, strLang)

                myReport.ReportParameters(0).Value = "Danstar"

                myReport.ReportParameters(1).Value = hatParams.Item("User").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(2).Value = hatParams.Item("DateFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(3).Value = hatParams.Item("WhseFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(4).Value = hatParams.Item("WhseTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(5).Value = hatParams.Item("Whse1").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(6).Value = hatParams.Item("Whse2").ToString()

                 Me.ReportViewer1.Report = myReport

            Case "rptOrderStatus.aspx"

                Dim myReport As New OrderPrice(strParams, strGlobalUser, strGlobalServer, strGlobalPort, intGlobalComp, strLang)

                myReport.ReportParameters(0).Value = "Danstar"

                myReport.ReportParameters(1).Value = hatParams.Item("User").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(2).Value = hatParams.Item("WhseFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(3).Value = hatParams.Item("WhseTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(4).Value = hatParams.Item("ReqDateFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(5).Value = hatParams.Item("ReqDateTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(6).Value = hatParams.Item("PlantDateFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(7).Value = hatParams.Item("PlantDateTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(8).Value = hatParams.Item("ShipDateFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(9).Value = hatParams.Item("ShipDateTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(10).Value = hatParams.Item("ProductFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(11).Value = hatParams.Item("ProductTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(12).Value = hatParams.Item("GroupProdFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(13).Value = hatParams.Item("GroupProdTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(14).Value = hatParams.Item("ShipToFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(15).Value = hatParams.Item("ShipToTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(16).Value = hatParams.Item("Dept").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(17).Value = hatParams.Item("SalesManFrom").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(18).Value = hatParams.Item("SalesManTo").ToString()

                myReport.ReportParameters(19).Value = hatParams.Item("PriceType").ToString()

                Me.ReportViewer1.Report = myReport

            Case Else

        End Select

        If strRpt <> "" Then

            hatParams.Add("rpt", strRpt)

        End If

        ConfigReports = hatParams

    Catch ex As Exception

        hatParams.Add("User", strGlobalUser)

        hatParams.Add("Reports", 0)

        ConfigReports = hatParams

        Call ManageError(strGlobalUser, strModName, strModName, "ConfigReports (" & strReports & ")", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

    Finally

        cSynergy = Nothing

    End Try

End Function

Public Sub SendReportTelerik(ByVal strUser As String, ByVal strFormat As String, _

                      ByVal report As Telerik.Reporting.Report, ByVal hatParams As Hashtable, ByVal strReportPath As String, _

                      ByVal strReportName As String, ByVal strLang As String)

    Dim strReports As String

    Dim strResult As String

    Try

        strReports = CreateTelerikReports(strUser, strFormat, report, strReportName, strReportPath, hatParams)

        strResult = EmailReports(strUser, strReports, "", strReportName)

    Catch ex As Exception

        Call ManageError(strUser, strAppName, strModName, "SendReport", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

    End Try

End Sub

Public Function CreateTelerikReports(ByVal strUser As String, ByVal strFormat As String, ByVal report As Telerik.Reporting.Report, ByVal strReportName As String, ByVal strReportPath As String, _

                          ByVal hatParams As Hashtable) As String

    Dim bytResult As Byte() = Nothing

    Dim strOutputPath As String

    Dim strDevInfo As String

    Dim strEncoding As Text.Encoding = Nothing

    Dim strMimeType As String = ""

    Dim strExtension As String = ""

    Try

        strOutputPath = "\Reports\" & Mid(strUser, 5)

        strDevInfo = "<DeviceInfo><Toolbar>False</Toolbar></DeviceInfo>"

        Try

            bytResult = Telerik.Reporting.Processing.ReportProcessor.Render("PDF", report, Nothing, strMimeType, strExtension, strEncoding)

        Catch exSoap As SoapException

            Call ManageError(strUser, strAppName, strModName, "CreateTelerikReports", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

        End Try

        Select Case strFormat

            Case "PDF"

                strExtension = ".pdf"

            Case "MHTML"

                strExtension = ".mht"

            Case "EXCEL"

                strExtension = ".xls"

        End Select

        Call CreateStreamFile(strUser, bytResult, strReportName & strExtension, strOutputPath)

        CreateTelerikReports = strOutputPath & "\" & strReportName & strExtension

    Catch ex As Exception

        CreateTelerikReports = ""

        Call ManageError(strUser, strAppName, strModName, "CreateTelerikReports", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

    End Try

End Function

Public Function EmailReports(ByVal strUser As String, ByVal strReports As String, _

                        ByVal strCC As String, ByVal strSubject As String) As String

    Dim cMail As New DLLLallemand.cBIZExchange(strUser, DLLLallemand.DataConnection.Lallemand, ApplicationType.Web)

    Dim cUdtMail As New DLLLallemand.clsUDTMail

    Try

        cUdtMail.strMAIL_FROM = "BatchReports@aaa.com"

        cUdtMail.strMAIL_SUBJECT = strSubject

        cUdtMail.strMAIL_MESSAGE = "Look at the atttachement for your requested Reports !"

        cUdtMail.strMAIL_URL = ""

        cUdtMail.colMAIL_TO.Add(strUser & "@aaa.com")

        cUdtMail.colMAIL_CC.Add(strCC)

        cUdtMail.colMAIL_ATTACHEMENT.Add(System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Request.MapPath("~") & strReports)

        EmailReports = cMail.SendMail(strUser, cUdtMail)

    Catch ex As Exception

        EmailReports = "error"

        Call ManageError(strUser, strAppName, strModName, "EmailReports", intGlobalMain, Err, strGlobalPathError, ApplicationType.Web)

    End Try

End Function

SRS

Making operations with agrupated fields:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157274(SQL.90).aspx