VCL Reports for Delphi and C++Builder

Use TdxReport.ShowViewer/ShowDesigner methods.

procedure TMainForm.btShowDesignerClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  DemoDataModule.dxReport1.ShowDesigner;
end;

procedure TMainForm.btShowViewerClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  DemoDataModule.dxReport1.ShowViewer;
end;
            

You can design and preview reports via the Report Designer at design-time (within your RAD Studio) or runtime (within a running VCL application). When you create a new report in the designer, you can use our intuitive Report Wizard. This wizard allows you to specify report layouts (table, vertical, cross-tab, etc.), specify database settings (tables, stored procedures, SQL queries and parameters, result set fields, etc.), specify a JSON data source, etc. Of course, you can design a blank report from scratch, should you need to.

ExpressReports seamlessly integrates the DevExpress JavaScript Report Designer and Viewer and bridges native VCL apps with modern web-based design capabilities using WebView and ASP.NET Core. All required .NET and JS dependencies are embedded into a single self-contained EXE file transparently and developers can still use Delphi/C++Builder for many report customizations, maintaining one of the key advantages of VCL as a platform.

When a report viewer or designer is invoked, the desktop VCL app uses a WebView2-powered DevExpress skinned form to host a web page with required DevExpress ASP.NET Core/JS Reporting widgets. Our JS widgets obtain data and execute other important commands from Web API controllers (for loaded reports).

The VCL desktop application also hosts the embedded Kestrel web server (to run Web API controllers). This ASP.NET Core backend interacts with the report viewer and designer using RPC over Named Pipes. In general, it can be any transport technology - it is easily replaceable and just works under the hood (transparently for VCL customers). For additional information, review the schemas in the following articles: Document Viewer for Web and End-User Report Designer for Web.

No. We've done our best to keep things simple and transparent for major report-related tasks/requirements. VCL developers can continue using the programming language they prefer. Some basic knowledge of DevExpress Reports may be required: for example, how to design a banded report layout using our WYSIWYG designer. Only very advanced customizations (such as using the report control, UI, backend, or databases) may require additional background knowledge.

No. This maintains one of the key advantages of VCL as a platform.

Your end VCL reporting application only needs the WebView2Loader.dll (a part of the WebView2 runtime) in the EXE folder.

All required .NET runtime and JS dependencies (both DevExpress ASP.NET Core/JS Reporting and Microsoft .NET) are embedded into a single self-contained EXE file transparently - no extra steps are required for VCL developers. The size of a VCL reporting app using these features is about 100 MB, and this includes both client and server implementations.

See the following help topics for additional information: ExpressReports App Deployment and ExpressReports Prerequisites.

Performance is not much different from desktop app performance across similar usage scenarios. For end-users, hybrid desktop apps will feel and behave (performance-wise) no differently than Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio Code, Outlook (new), and similar hybrid examples. This is also technically feasible due to modern web browsers running on the same desktop devices under the hood. Our target reporting scenarios also do not include heavy or CPU-intensive calculations where JS and ASP.NET Core code would make a noticeable difference (as compared to VCL or DirectX libraries).

Our ASP.NET Core/JS Reporting tools have already been used by thousands of customers in production for more than a decade. Our ASP.NET Core reporting demo is available at https://demos.devexpress.com/ASPNetCore/Demo/Reporting/ - everyone can test it for free without upgrading today. ExpressReports is 100% based on these DevExpress .NET/JS libraries. Here is the bottom line in this regard: Web apps have been part of our everyday life for many years. Web or hybrid application usage continues to grow at an incredible pace. It is our position that this growth would not occur if fundamental differences existed in user experience and performance.

Download our compiled demos (with full source code) and explore the comprehensive feature set of DevExpress VCL Components.

Our new reporting solution will require the purchase of our VCL Subscription + OR an existing active VCL subscription along with any .NET subscription that includes DevExpress Reports for ASP.NET Core/JavaScript (including Reporting, ASP.NET/Blazor, DXperience, or Universal Subscription).

For more information, please review our New VCL Subscription for Delphi/C++Builder: Modern Web & Reporting Solutions.