Dot matrix printers are devices that are still utilized in various fields, such as printing receipts, labels, and other documents that require high reliability. In modern applications on the .NET platform, the FastReport library is often used for generating reports. This article will explore how to integrate a dot matrix printer into the process of creating and outputting reports using FastReport .NET.     Where are Dot Matrix Printers Used Today? Although dot matrix printers are considered a "relic of the past" by most people, they are still frequently used in different sectors: Today, one of the largest users of dot matrix printers is government institutions and the banking sector. They print financial reports, forms that require strict accountability, bank books, military IDs, and passports. Since dot matrix printers use pins for printing that create pressure on the paper, they can produce multiple copies of documents simultaneously. In enterprises where printing is needed in aggressive environmental conditions. In some countries, traffic police use dot matrix printers to print tickets for disturbances or parking violations on the spot.     Preparing to Work with a Dot Matrix Printer Before starting to work with a dot matrix printer in FastReport .NET, it is important to ensure that the printer is installed and properly configured in the operating system. Dot matrix printers typically support PCL (Printer Command Language) or ESC/P (Epson Standard Code for Printers) protocols, which are used to send commands to the printer.     Installing the Printer Driver We will install the driver for our dot matrix printer. This can be done through the Windows Control Panel or via the installer provided by the manufacturer. Check the printer settings, such as page orientation, paper size, and other parameters that may affect print quality. Now let's explore the printing functionality in FastReport.NET. To start printing a report, we need to go to the report's Preview and click the "Print" button. Then, a print dialog will appear, where we can: Select the printer (if we have multiple); Specify which pages will be printed (including even or odd); Indicate the number of copies if necessary; Determine the print order (from the beginning or the end); Manage duplex printing; Edit the print scale; Control print modes (page format, number of pages per sheet, etc.).   It is worth noting that we can go to "Settings." In this case, a print settings window will appear, but these settings are system-specific. In other words, FastReport .NET has no relation to them. These settings are also retrieved from the operating system itself. Default values can be set in Windows, and they will also apply to this dialog.   In general, we can already proceed to print if we are satisfied with the settings. Let's try to configure printing through code.     Setting Up Printing from Code First, we need to create a project and install the latest version of the FastReport.NET NuGet package. We will also need a prepared report that we created in the designer. First, let's load the previously created report: using FastReport;// Create a report object  Report report = new Report();// Load the report from file  report.Load("path_to_your_report.frx"); Before sending the report to print, we need to configure the print settings. In FastReport, you can specify the printer that will be used for printing, as well as configure some page settings such as orientation and scaling. // Get the list of available printersPrintSettings printSettings = report.PrintSettings;// Set the printer name (for example, "Epson LQ-590")  printSettings.Printer = "Epson LQ-590";// Set the page orientation (Portrait/Landscape)  printSettings.Landscape = false; // Portrait orientation  // Set the zoomprintSettings.Zoom = 100; //100% zoom   Now we can send the report to print. FastReport provides the Print() method to perform this task: // Print the report  report.Print();     Features of Dot Matrix Printers Dot matrix printers have their features that should be taken into account when creating reports: Fonts: It is best to use monospaced fonts, such as Courier New or Consolas, which are most suitable for dot matrix printers. Page Size: Dot matrix printers often use standard page sizes, such as A4 or Letter. It is important to ensure that the page size in the report matches the capabilities of our printer. Number of Lines: If the report contains many lines, it may be necessary to split it into multiple pages. In FastReport, you can configure automatic page splitting based on the number of lines. Let's create a receipt report that will meet our requirements. We launch the designer and create a new blank template. We go to page settings and set the height and width.   Next, we move to the "Margins" section and set the margins. We need margins of 1.27 cm–2.28 cm.    Now we move to the page of our report. We will make a simple receipt using the Courier New font.   Our report is ready, and now it can be sent to the dot matrix printer.     Conclusion Using a dot matrix printer in FastReport .NET opens up new opportunities for creating and outputting reports in applications on the .NET platform. By following the steps outlined above, you can successfully integrate a dot matrix printer into your work with FastReport and ensure quality and reliable report printing.

Choosing reporting tools is an important step in developing any business application. FastReport, one of the leading solutions in the market, offers powerful capabilities for generating reports of various complexities. However, before purchasing the full version, many developers want to assess the product's potential and ensure it meets their needs. In this case, an excellent solution is to use the FastReport .NET WEB package, which allows you to test the system's core functionalities without the need for an immediate license purchase. In this article, we will discuss how to try the FastReport WEB package, its limitations compared to the full version, and how this can help you make an informed decision about acquiring the tool.     Demo Projects on the Website First, let’s take a look at the demo projects that you can explore on our website.   1) Blazor Server. Using Blazor Server technology, all application logic runs on the server side, while the user interface for the viewer and report designer is displayed in the browser window. When interacting with the interface, the browser sends an event, the server processes it, and sends back updated information. All interactions with the visual components, data processing, and report generation occur on the server side, allowing reporting components to be used on nearly any device. The server’s performance is crucial here. You can check out the demo project at the following link. Blazor Server demo   2) Blazor WebAssembly (WASM). This technology allows you to develop applications directly in the browser. The visual part and event handling are set up using C# code and Razor. The application is compiled into .NET assemblies and fully loaded into the browser using WebAssembly. When using the report generator, browser resources are leveraged, meaning that server requirements are minimal. WebAssembly is suitable for those who need to save server resources and for whom security is not as critical. Files are saved on the client side with access to the report template. In this case, passwords will be sent openly, which is why we recommend creating a REST service for data representation while using our set of WEB components as a “showcase.” You can check out the demo project at this link. WebAssembly demo   3) FastReport Online Designer is the web version of the FastReport .NET report designer. The online report designer is a RIA (Rich Internet Application), allowing it to run from any device with a modern web browser. The online designer will work in the latest versions of popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, IE), unlike the desktop designer which operates only on the Windows operating system. However, despite all the cross-platform advantages, the online version lags behind the desktop version in convenience and functionality. You can check out the Online Designer demo at this link. Online Designer demo   4) ASP.NET is a web application development platform that includes web services, software infrastructure, and a programming model from Microsoft. ASP.NET is part of the .NET Framework and is an evolution of the older Microsoft ASP technology. You can check out the ASP.NET FastReport demo project at this link. ASP.NET demo   5) ASP.NET MVC – The Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture pattern separates the application into three main components: model, view, and controller. The ASP.NET MVC platform provides an alternative to the ASP.NET WebForms template for building MVC-based web applications. You can check out the ASP.NET MVC FastReport demo project at this link. ASP.NET MVC demo   6) .NET Core – is a cross-platform application runtime developed by Microsoft that allows the creation and execution of applications across various operating systems. Core is a universal platform designed for developing web services, cloud applications, and other types of software. It features a modular architecture, allowing developers to choose only the necessary components for their projects, reducing the final product size. What is .NET Core in the context of development? It is an environment that supports automatic memory management, type safety, and many other modern features that simplify the lives of developers. You can check out the .NET Core FastReport demo project at this link. .NET Core demo   In general, this is the complete list of WEB demo applications that we can explore before making a purchase. One of the main conveniences is that there is no need to develop your own project and connect the necessary packages. You just need to follow the link and see the application's functionality in all its glory. But what if we want to create a project on our own? In this case, FastReport has a solution for developers. To create a demo application independently, we will need knowledge of WEB development in C#, NuGet packages, and the magic of .NET.     NuGet Packages On our website, you can find many articles on developing WEB applications using FastReport. Now, let's take a closer look at the demo NuGet packages that we can obtain from NuGet.org. FastReport.Core (demo on nuget.org) - a package with the core logic of the program (data retrieval, report rendering, exports, etc.). Some functionality from FastReport.NET is absent due to the cross-platform nature of the package. Works with .NET Framework 4.6.2 and .NET 6 and later. FastReport.Core.Skia (demo on nuget.org) - a package with the core logic of the program for SkiaDrawing (data retrieval, report rendering, exports, etc.). Works with .NET 6 and later. FastReport.Net (demo on nuget.org) - a package containing the FastReport.dll library for .NET Framework 4.6.2 and .NET 6 and above, exclusively for Windows. It can also be obtained in our official Trial installer and allows you to evaluate the product's capabilities for different target platforms on Windows OS. This package has limitations typical of a demo version (random text fragments are replaced with "Demo" or "Demo version"). FastReport.Web (demo on nuget.org) - a package for integrating FastReport into web application scenarios (report rendering in the browser, export and print from the browser, working with the Online Designer) for ASP.NET Core. It includes components for Blazor Server and is used only with FastReport.Core. Works with .NET 6 and later. FastReport.Web.Skia (demo on nuget.org) - a package for integrating FastReport into web application scenarios using SkiaDrawing (report rendering in the browser, export and print from the browser, working with the Online Designer) for ASP.NET Core. It includes components for Blazor Server and is used only with FastReport.Core. Works with .NET 6 and later. FastReport.Core3.Web (demo on nuget.org) - a package for integrating FastReport into web application scenarios (report rendering in the browser, export and print from the browser, working with the Online Designer) for ASP.NET Core. It includes components for Blazor Server and is used only with FastReport.NET for .NET 6 and later. FastReport.Blazor.Wasm (demo on nuget.org) - this package contains Razor components for Blazor WebAssembly. Works with .NET 6 and later. Now, let's figure out how to incorporate these packages into your project. For this example, we will be using Visual Studio. First of all, we create a project. After that, we navigate to Solution -> Dependencies and right-click on "Packages." Then, we go to "Manage NuGet Packages". You can find out more about enabling NuGet packages in this article. Read the article     After that, we will be taken to the NuGet packages menu. By default, the source is set to NuGet.org.     In this section, we can select the desired package and install it in our project. When selecting a package, you can view its detailed description (which platforms the package supports, the latest version, etc.). We install the package using the "Install" button on the right side of the screen. The preparatory stage is complete, and we can start developing our application using the demo packages.     Creating a Report Directly from the Browser Let’s take a look at the demo Online Designer. To do this, follow this link: https://www.fast-report.com:2015/razor/Home/Designer, and you will be taken to the demo application.   Here, we can use the full functionality of the Online Designer. There is only one limitation—saving the report. On the left, there is an element panel from where we can drag text objects, images, tables, etc., into our report. On the right, we have the report properties, events, data, and report tree. Additionally, there is a management menu for the report at the top. If necessary, there is also an option to change the page language. You can find detailed instructions on how to work with the online report designer at this link. Online documentation     Installing FastReport .NET WEB on Windows Now, let's install the demo version of the desktop report designer. To do this, we need to follow this link and install the "Trial version for WinForms, WPF, Avalonia, Mono for Windows." In addition to the WEB packages, we can also obtain various demo versions of products, such as report designer for Avalonia. The trial desktop versions have slightly different limitations:  Words are replaced with "Demo" in random places in the report. Watermarks appear in random places. Otherwise, the functionality is the same as in the full version. After installation, we open the installer. You can familiarize yourself with how to use it at this link. Next, we select the trial component set that we need. We click "Next" and wait for the products to install. Once the selected products are installed, we need to navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Fast Reports\.NET. Here, you will find folders named after the latest available version of the product. We proceed directly to the "FastReport .NET WEB Trial" folder, as shown in the screenshot below.   In this folder, you will find the desktop designer, viewer, localizer, and .dll files. We also have a "Nugets" folder where most trial NuGet packages can be found.   The "Demos" folder contains demo projects, and by going into any of them, you can explore the applications and their code.     Conclusion Thus, using the FastReport WEB package represents an excellent opportunity for developers to test the system's capabilities before making a purchase. With the availability of essential features and tools, you can create test reports, evaluate the user interface's convenience, and ensure the solution's compatibility with your projects. While the trial version has some limitations, they do not hinder gaining a complete understanding of the product's potential. By testing the WEB package before purchasing, you will be able to make an informed choice: whether FastReport meets your needs or if you should consider alternative options. Remember that a well-chosen reporting system is an investment in your application's efficiency and end-user satisfaction.

Introduction What is FastReport .NET? FastReport is a flexible and powerful reporting tool. It allows users to access data sources in various formats and present them visually. Reports created with FastReport can be easily designed using drag-and-drop logic in the user interface and converted to different formats (PDF, Excel, Word, etc.). FastReport's Role in Reporting Solutions Reporting is a critical need in data-driven applications. FastReport allows users to visualize and analyze their data. Suitable for both desktop and web applications, this tool provides fast results with minimal coding. Advantages of Integration with .NET FastReport works perfectly with .NET applications. When integrated with the powerful development ecosystem offered by .NET, report creation processes can be automated, dynamic reports can be generated, and large data sets can be processed quickly. Additionally, using the flexibility offered by .NET, it is easy to integrate reports with the rest of your application. Purpose of the Blog This article aims to explain step by step how to install FastReport on .NET 8.0 and how to create a simple report. Taking the reporting process from the beginning, it will show how to connect, design, and view reports.     1. FastReport Installation 1.1. Requirements Before you begin, you need to make sure the following requirements are met: .NET 8.0 Requirements: Make sure your project is running on .NET 8.0 platform. To install .NET SDK, download the latest version from Microsoft's official site. IDE: You may be using Visual Studio, JetBrains Rider, or another IDE. Check that .NET 8.0 support is enabled in Visual Studio. 1.2. Adding the FastReport NuGet Package The easiest way to add FastReport to a project is to use the NuGet package manager. NuGet Package Manager with Visual Studio: Right-click on your project and select Manage NuGet Packages. Type FastReport in the search box and select the FastReport.OpenSource package from the results. Click the Install button and wait until the package installation is completed. Command Line Installation: If you prefer the command line, you can add FastReport to the project with the following command: Install-Package FastReport.OpenSource This will include the latest version of FastReport in your project.   1.3. Licensing and Activation  To start using FastReport, it is important to follow the licensing steps correctly: Free Version: Although the free version of FastReport offers some basic reporting features, the full version is required for more advanced features.  Licensing: If you want to use the full version, you can purchase a license from FastReport. After you receive the license key, you can activate the program by entering your license key from the FastReport activation window.  Note: The free version has some limitations, for example, the full list of export formats may not be available. Replacing part of the report content with the text "Demo version" randomly. The label "Demo version" on the report pages when printing and exporting. Since I will explain the reporting tool using the trial version in this article, I downloaded the program from the FastReport installation link. You can proceed directly as the welcome screen provides convenience for automatic installation. Once the user agreement is approved, you can continue the process. Here we mark which type of source we will use. For this article, I will only use .NET Trial.  After the installation is completed, the application is ready to use. 1.4 FastReport.OpenSource FastReport is renowned for its powerful, professional-grade reporting tools and offers two main options based on users' needs: a commercial version and FastReport.OpenSource. FastReport.OpenSource is an ideal choice for developers seeking a fast, cost-free, and customizable reporting solution in small to medium-scale projects. Its open-source nature grants users complete control over the code, enabling them to make in-depth customizations tailored to specific project requirements. FastReport.OpenSource includes many core functions of reporting tools: it allows you to design reports, create data connections, visualize data, and generate report outputs efficiently and quickly. For small-scale projects or budget-constrained initiatives, its open-source format offers access to powerful reporting capabilities without licensing fees. Additionally, its community-driven structure provides developers with a continuously growing pool of resources and up-to-date knowledge. 1.5 Customization and Development Capabilities With FastReport.OpenSource’s open-source structure, developers can create tailored customizations suited to their projects. This flexibility allows you to build custom report formats or make specific adjustments to existing features. The ability to customize gives developers the advantage of aligning reports with the functional and visual requirements of their projects. 1.6 Community Support and Resources One of the key advantages of FastReport.OpenSource is its strong community support. Along with the source code accessible on GitHub, users share their experiences and developments, creating a constant flow of insights. Community support is highly beneficial for troubleshooting and generating new ideas. FastReport’s development team also provides regular updates, ensuring the platform continues to evolve. 1.7 Use Cases FastReport.OpenSource is an excellent solution for educational projects, personal applications, or startup projects. It is particularly suitable for projects that require essential reporting capabilities, such as financial statements, customer reports, inventory lists, and analysis reports. Its open-source nature makes it fully customizable and adaptable to meet the needs of your specific project.     2. Creating a Simple Report 2.1. Using FastReport Designer FastReport Designer is a visual tool that simplifies report design. Introduction to FastReport Designer Interface: FastReport Designer provides a drag-and-drop user interface to design your report. You can easily add components such as data tables, charts, text boxes, etc. to your report. Adding Data Sources: As a first step, you need to add the data sources that you will connect to your report. These sources can be in various formats, such as SQL databases, JSON files, XML format, etc. In FastReport Designer, you can easily define these data sources and include them in your report. After opening a blank report design, you can connect your database here by selecting New Data Source from the Actions box. FastReport does not require us to use only MS SQL. If you wish, you can define your data in formats such as JSON and XML and create your reports. You can flexibly use all the options in your database during import. In addition to tables, procedures and views can also be imported into FastReport and used in reports. 2.2. Report Layout Design Creating a Simple Table Report: When you start designing a report, you can use the table component to show your data. In this sample application, I will create a simple report using information such as age, name, etc. in a table containing company personnel. Adding Headers, Data Fields, and Footers: Make your report more readable by adding header rows to the table. Connect data fields with data from the data source. You can add additional information such as totals and page numbers to the footer rows. Style and Formatting Options: You can use style and formatting options to make your report look more visually professional. For example, you can make headings bold and change the color of data cells. In a simple design, after adding the data source, the entire report can be created by adding only text. In the modal where the texts to be added are opened, there are System Variables and Data Source variables for convenience. By selecting these, the entire report can be created with the drag-and-drop feature. 2.3. Preview the Report Running the Report and Viewing it in Preview Mode: After you design your report, you can run it in preview mode to see if the design looks right. In this mode, you can view your report in different formats and fix any errors. You can see a preview of the report you are working on via File-Preview or Report-Preview. Exporting the Report in Different Formats: FastReport allows you to export reports in different formats such as PDF, Excel, and Word. You can use the “Save” button in preview mode to convert your report to the desired format.     3. .NET Code Integration and Calling the Report from the Application 3.1. Calling a Report with a DB Connection After saving the report we just created as .frx, we can transfer it to our .net project as a file and call the report from this file. In reports prepared with a mssql db connection, you must install the "FastReport.Data.Mssql" package. We are ready to call the report we just prepared from the project. We save our frx file via FastReport and add it to our “BasicFastReportDotnet8” project, which we opened as a .net8 console app. The packages we will use in this operation are: FastReport FastReport.Data FastReport.Export.Image Let's open our .frx extension file and take a look; In fact, we can almost update the report from here. The elements we use in the file are presented in XML format and our data source connections are nicely defined. Great! Now, since we used mssql connection in this report, we need to go and specify it: In this way, we indicate that the report has ready data and there is no need for a preparation process. The rest is child's play! First, create a new report instance and create our report object. Then load the frx file prepared into the relevant report. Give the command to prepare the report. And finally, decide in which format we will save it. Yep, that's all! Let's see how our report turned out:   3.2. Calling Simple Report Template by Feeding Data from Application These operations can also be performed using an empty template. We can repeat the same operation with the desired objects by giving the "report.RegisterData" command to the report object just before the prepared operation.     Conclusion Fast and Efficient Reporting with FastReport FastReport offers a fast and effective reporting solution for both small projects and large-scale applications. Thanks to its user-friendly interface and .NET integration, report design and management can be easily performed. In addition, being able to pull records from the DB at any time increases the speed of report analysis by separating server-side and DB operations. Advantages of FastReport Seamless integration with .NET applications, multiple data source support, and flexible design options make FastReport an attractive choice. Advice on Exploring Advanced Features To explore FastReport’s advanced features, you can browse its official documentation and work with templates, charts, and more complex reporting techniques. Using a Private NuGet Server If you’re using the commercial version of FastReport, you can set up a private NuGet server to access FastReport packages specifically for internal or private projects. This method is especially useful for corporate users who need to maintain control over access management and updates. The flexibility FastReport offers allows you to access NuGet packages in a more secure and manageable way. For more details, refer to the Private NuGet Server Setup article.   The article is written by Liubou Patskevich from Softacom.