How to pre-register of data sources before create a new report

In order to send a data source to a report it must previously be pre-registered in the report. Then, within the report select an available source from the list and only after that - start to work. It would be great if the data source could be available to a paste when you open the report designer. Better yet, if it was already selected in the report designer. In this case, you could immediately begin to develop a report, not worrying about the data.

Such an approach would avoid the routine work during the extensive report development.

Make registration of a data source and its automatic choice in a report at the launch of the designer - not a difficult task. The main problem is to keep the registered data source when creating a new report using the File menu.

The essence of the method that I want to introduce - to intercept the process of creating a new report by using the File menu.

Let's consider the following example. Create an application with a form and a single button.

The required for work libraries are:

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using FastReport;
using FastReport.Utils;
using FastReport.Data;
using FastReport.Design;
using FastReport.Wizards;

 Declare the data source and then  create it:

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private DataSet FDataSet;
 
private void CreateDataSource()
 {
 FDataSet = new DataSet(); 
 FDataSet.ReadXml(Environment.CurrentDirectory + "//nwind.xml");
 }

 In this case, I use XML database from the FastReport .Net package.

Create a method of data source registration :

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private void RegisterData(Report FReport)
 {
 FReport.RegisterData(FDataSet, "NorthWind");
 
 // activate all data sources by default
 foreach (DataSourceBase source in FReport.Dictionary.DataSources)
 {
 source.Enabled = true;
 }
 }

Here, the loop iterates through all the data sources that are registered in the report and activates them. Thus they will be immediately available in the data window.

Call an event handler of starting Report Designer:

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private void DesignerSettings_DesignerLoaded(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
 (sender as Designer).cmdNew.CustomAction += new EventHandler(cmdNew_CustomAction);
 }

 Add a custom handler for the event of creation the new report from the File menu.

Now we need to write the custom handler. It will create a new, blank report with already added data source: 

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void cmdNew_CustomAction(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
 Designer designer = sender as Designer;
 
 //StandardReportWizard wizard = new StandardReportWizard(); // you can use any wizard form package
 BlankReportWizard wizard = new BlankReportWizard();
 wizard.Run(designer);
 
 RegisterData(designer.Report);
 // refresh data tree view
 designer.SetModified(this, "EditData");
 }

 Here we create an instance of a blank report or run the "standard report wizard." It's your choice. Then open a new report in the designer. Re-register a data source and update the list in the data tree.

It remains to write the handler pressing:        

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private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
 Report FReport = new Report();
 Config.DesignerSettings.DesignerLoaded += DesignerSettings_DesignerLoaded;
 CreateDataSource(); 
 
 // FReport.Load("myreport.frx"); // load report
 RegisterData(FReport); // register data before design
 FReport.Design();
 }

 Create a copy of the report object. Assign a handler of loading report designer, which we have written, instead of the standard one. Create a data source. Now you can download the report, or not do it. Then it will be created empty report. Before calling the designer is required to register the data.

Now, with the launch of the designer, the database tables will be displayed immediately in the "Data" window. Also when creating a new report from the File menu, the data source will be added.

In this article I showed you how to intercept the process of creating a new report, if to create it via the File menu. The same principle can override other actions of the designer, such as Save.