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.

Our FastReport .NET has quite rich capabilities and wide functionality. Today we will look at connecting to the database using the FastReport plugin for the report designer. Below is an example of the FastReport .NET installation path that would be: C:\Program Files (x86)\FastReports\WinForms 1.    Go to the installation folder and then follow the path Extras\Core\FastReport.Data\FastReport.Data.Postgres Important! The path should be exactly like this; there may be outdated projects along other paths. 2.    We find there the project file FastReport.Data.Postgres.csproj in Visual Studio.  Important! There are several files in this folder, you need to open this one. 3.    Several projects will open in Visual Studio. Select FastReport.Data.Postgres and right-click on it, and then click “Set as Startup Project” in the context menu.   4.    Select the “Release” build and the “net462” target.   5.    In the decision tree, expand the project -> Dependencies -> net462 -> Projects and Packages. Pay attention to the exclamation marks in the triangles.   6.    Delete “FastReport” in “Projects”. We don’t delete anything else in the dependencies. Now you need to add nuget packages FastReport.N et and Npgsql .  Important! FastReport.Net must be added as a package, since the method of adding FastReport.dll no longer works. 7.    In the “Dependencies” context menu, select “Manage NuGet Packages”.   8.    You need to add two package sources: nuget.org and the source referring to our nuget-server, or to the local folder  C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\FastReports\WinForms\Nugets. 9.    Select the nuget.org source.   10.    On the “Installed” or “Updates” tab, find the Npgsql package and click on it.   11.    We look on the right and see the following information: the current version associated with the project is 3.2.7, the latest version of the package is 8.0.3, the Uninstall and Update buttons. 12.    Click on the Update button. 13.    Select the second package source. The example uses the Nuget Server of Fast Reports Inc.   14.    Go to the Browse tab and enter fastreport.net in the search field    15.    Select the FastReport.Net package or FastReport.Net.Demo for the trial version.  Important! It should be one of these two packages, as the FastReport.Net.Pro package is outdated and no longer used.  16.    We carefully look at the version and select the one that we have installed. This manual covers 2024.2.12 version.   17.    Click the Install button. We accept the license agreement and wait for the package to be installed. 18.    Right-click on the FastReport.Data.Postgres project and click Build in the context menu.   19.    At the bottom left we see the inscription “Build succeeded.” This means that the plugin is built correctly and Visual Studio can be closed. 20.    Go to the folder where FastReport .NET is installed, as indicated at the beginning of the instruction, this is C:\Program Files (x86)\FastReports\WinForms. There should be "Designer.exe" here. 21.    We move from this folder to the following folders along the path: Extras\Core\FastReport.Data\FastReport.Data.Postgres\bin\Release 22.    We find 2 folders “net462” and “net6.0-windows7.0”, go to the net462 folder. 23.    Copy the following files from this folder:  FastReport.Data.Postgres.dll, Npgsql.dll, Microsoft.Bcl.AsyncInterfaces.dll, Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions.dll, System.Threading.Tasks.Extensions.dll, System.Memory.dll  24.    Paste the copied files into the folder where Designer.exe is located. 25.    Run “Designer.exe”, go to the File -> Options menu (View -> Options if the Ribbon interface is disabled). Go to the “Plugins” tab. 26.    If there is already a FastReport.Data.Postgres plugin, you need to remove it and repeat step 21.   27.    Click on the “Add” button, go to the designer folder, in this example it is  C:\Program Files (x86)\FastReports\WinForms  28.    Select the FastReport.Data.Postgres.dll file and click the “Open” button. The plugin appears in the list.   29.    Pay attention to the text at the bottom left, which indicates that the Designer needs to be restarted. Click the OK button. Close the designer. 30.    Launch Designer.exe again. If you have followed this instruction, the connection to Postgres should appear in the list of connections.   31.    If you see the following errors when trying to connect:   Then you need to close the designer, copy the file indicated in the error from the С:\Program Files(x86)\Fast Reports\WinForms \Extras\Core\FastReport.Data\FastReport.Data.Postgres\bin\Release\net462 to the folder where you have Designer.exe. In FastReport .NET, it is very easy to assemble and connect various connectors to a variety of databases.