Is there an easy way to get the current instance of a detail report in DevExpress XtraReports?

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1

I’m working on a project with DevExpress XtraReports and ran into a tricky situation. I have a subreport that prints multiple times for each query result. I use the BeforePrint event on an XRTable in the subreport to update cell content. The issue is that when the text is updated in one instance, it changes every instance of the table. Although resetting the text in each BeforePrint event works around the problem, it feels like a band-aid solution and raises concerns about potential bugs.

Is there a way to target just the current instance of the table during printing? I need a strategy that allows adjustments to only the specific report instance being printed. Any advice or alternative approaches for handling this scenario in XtraReports would be really appreciated.

Here’s a modified example of the approach I’m using now:

private void xrTable_BeforePrint(object sender, PrintEventArgs e)
{
    XRTable tableInstance = sender as XRTable;
    // Currently, this updates every instance of the table
    tableInstance.Cells[0].Text = GenerateCalculatedValue();
}

Does anyone have suggestions to make this process instance-specific?

2

hey alex, i’ve run into this before. try using the Report.CurrentRowIndex property in ur BeforePrint event. it’ll give u the current instance being printed. somthin like:

tableInstance.Cells[0].Text = $“Instance {((XtraReport)sender).Report.CurrentRowIndex}: {GenerateCalculatedValue()}”;

this way each instance gets its own unique text. hope it helps!

3

I’ve faced a similar challenge with XtraReports, and I found a workaround that might help. Instead of relying solely on the BeforePrint event, I started using the DataSource of the report more effectively.

Try binding your table cells directly to data fields or calculated fields in your report’s DataSource. This way, each instance of the subreport will automatically have its own set of values.

For calculated values, you can create a custom field in your DataSource before binding it to the report. Something like:

reportDataSource.Columns.Add("CalculatedField", typeof(string));
foreach (DataRow row in reportDataSource.Rows)
{
    row["CalculatedField"] = GenerateCalculatedValue(row);
}

Then bind this field to your table cell. This approach ensures each instance of the subreport has its unique calculated value, solving the issue of shared updates across instances.

It’s a bit more setup initially, but it’s cleaner and more maintainable in the long run. Hope this helps!

4

Having worked extensively with DevExpress XtraReports, I can offer an alternative approach to your problem. Instead of manipulating the table in the BeforePrint event, consider utilizing the ReportPrintOptions.DetailCountOnEmptyDataSource property. Set this to 1 for your subreport. This ensures that each instance of the subreport is treated independently.

Then, in your main report’s DataSource_BeforePrint event, you can populate the subreport’s DataSource with the specific data for that instance. This method gives you precise control over each subreport instance without the need for complex event handling in the subreport itself.

Here’s a basic implementation:

private void MainReport_BeforePrint(object sender, PrintEventArgs e)
{
    SubReport.ReportPrintOptions.DetailCountOnEmptyDataSource = 1;
    SubReport.DataSource = GetDataForCurrentInstance();
}

This approach should resolve your issue while maintaining clean, instance-specific data handling.