Using the Report Objects

A report is very similar to a Windows form. Just like a form, the report is listed as a separate object under your project in the Solution Explorer window, there are various controls that can be added, and it is a class that has to be instantiated before using it. The objects that are added to a report are also similar to the ones you use when building forms. This section describes the different objects and how they are used. It also gives you a reference for the properties of each object. Every property isn’t listed because that would require reprinting the MSDN documentation. But the properties you’ll need to use on a regular basis are highlighted here.

There are three controls in the report toolbox (see Figure 2-14). You can access these and many others by selecting the menu options Crystal Reports > Insert (see Figure 2-15).

Figure 2-14. The control Toolbox.


Figure 2-15. The Insert menu option.