Use the WinForms ReportViewer control

To view reports that are deployed to a report server or reports that exist on the local file system, use the WinForms ReportViewer control to render them in a Windows application.

Add the ReportViewer control to a Windows application

  1. Create a new Windows application using either Microsoft C# or Microsoft Visual Basic.

    - Or -

    Open an exiting Windows application project and add a new form.

  2. Locate the ReportViewer control in the Toolbox. If the Toolbox isn't visible, you can access it from the View menu by selecting Toolbox.

    Screenshot of the Toolbox, highlighting ReportViewer control.

  3. Drag the ReportViewer control onto the design surface of the Windows Form.

    A ReportViewer control named reportViewer1 is added to the form.

After the control is added to the form, the ReportViewer Tasks smart tag appears and prompts you to select a report.

If the report you wish to view is deployed to a report server, select the <Server Report> option from the Choose Report drop-down list. After the <Server Report> option is selected, two more properties appear: Report Server Url and Report Path. The Report Server Url is the address to the report server and the Report Path is the full path to the report to render.

Screenshot of the ReportViewer Tasks smart tag, highlighting the server report.

If the report you wish to view a report in local mode, select either the Design a new report option to launch the report designer or select a report that is already part of the existing project.

Screenshot of the ReportViewer Tasks smart tag, highlighting the local report.

Viewing reports in remote processing mode

The following example demonstrates how to render a report that is deployed to a report server using the WinForms ReportViewer control. This example uses the Sales Order Detail report that is included with the AdventureWorks2022 sample reports project.

C#

public partial class Form1 : Form  
{  
    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)  
    {  
        // Set the processing mode for the ReportViewer to Remote  
        reportViewer1.ProcessingMode = ProcessingMode.Remote;  
  
        ServerReport serverReport = reportViewer1.ServerReport;  
  
        // Get a reference to the default credentials  
        System.Net.ICredentials credentials =  
            System.Net.CredentialCache.DefaultCredentials;  
  
        // Get a reference to the report server credentials  
        ReportServerCredentials rsCredentials =  
            serverReport.ReportServerCredentials;  
  
        // Set the credentials for the server report  
        rsCredentials.NetworkCredentials = credentials;  
  
        // Set the report server URL and report path  
        serverReport.ReportServerUrl =   
            new Uri("https:// <Server Name>/reportserver");  
        serverReport.ReportPath =   
            "/AdventureWorks Sample Reports/Sales Order Detail";  
  
        // Create the sales order number report parameter  
        ReportParameter salesOrderNumber = new ReportParameter();  
        salesOrderNumber.Name = "SalesOrderNumber";  
        salesOrderNumber.Values.Add("SO43661");  
  
        // Set the report parameters for the report  
        reportViewer1.ServerReport.SetParameters(  
            new ReportParameter[] { salesOrderNumber });  
  
        // Refresh the report  
        reportViewer1.RefreshReport();  
    }  
}  

VB.NET

Imports Microsoft.Reporting.WinForms  
  
Public Class Form1  
  
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, _  
                           ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _  
                           Handles MyBase.Load  
  
        'Set the processing mode for the ReportViewer to Remote  
        reportViewer1.ProcessingMode = ProcessingMode.Remote  
  
        Dim serverReport As ServerReport  
        serverReport = reportViewer1.ServerReport  
  
        'Get a reference to the default credentials  
        Dim credentials As System.Net.ICredentials  
        credentials = System.Net.CredentialCache.DefaultCredentials  
  
        'Get a reference to the report server credentials  
        Dim rsCredentials As ReportServerCredentials  
        rsCredentials = serverReport.ReportServerCredentials  
  
        'Set the credentials for the server report  
        rsCredentials.NetworkCredentials = credentials  
  
        'Set the report server URL and report path  
        serverReport.ReportServerUrl = _  
           New Uri("https://<Server Name>/reportserver")  
        serverReport.ReportPath = _  
           "/AdventureWorks Sample Reports/Sales Order Detail"  
  
        'Create the sales order number report parameter  
        Dim salesOrderNumber As New ReportParameter()  
        salesOrderNumber.Name = "SalesOrderNumber"  
        salesOrderNumber.Values.Add("SO43661")  
  
        'Set the report parameters for the report  
        Dim parameters() As ReportParameter = {salesOrderNumber}  
        serverReport.SetParameters(parameters)  
  
        'Refresh the report  
        reportViewer1.RefreshReport()  
    End Sub  
  
End Class  

View reports in local processing mode

The following example demonstrates how to render a report that is part of the Windows application and isn't deployed to a report server.

To add the Sales Order Detail report to a Windows application

  1. Open the Windows project to which the report will be added.

  2. From the Project menu, select Add Existing Item.

  3. Browse to the location where you installed the AdventureWorks2022 Report Samples project.

    The download the report samples, go to AdventureWorks Report Samples

  4. Select the Sales Order Detail.rdl file and select the Add button.

    The Sales Order Detail.rdl file should now be part of the project.

    Screenshot of the Solution Explorer, highlighting the Sales Order Detail Report.

  5. Right-click the Sales Order Detail.rdl file in Solution Explorer and select Rename. Rename the report to Sales Order Detail.rdlc and press ENTER.

    If Solution Explorer isn't visible, you can open it from the View menu by selecting Solution Explorer.

    Note

    Renaming the file extension from rdl to rdlc will allow you to edit the report using report designer for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.

  6. After the report is renamed, select the file and locate the Properties window. Change the Copy to Output Directory property to Copy if Newer.

    Screenshot of the Properties window, highlighting the Copy To Output setting.

    If the Properties window isn't visible, you can open it from the View menu by selecting Properties Window.

The following code example creates a dataset for the sales order data and then renders the Sales Order Detail report in local mode.

C#

public partial class Form1 : Form  
{  
    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)  
    {  
        // Set the processing mode for the ReportViewer to Local  
        reportViewer1.ProcessingMode = ProcessingMode.Local;  
  
        LocalReport localReport = reportViewer1.LocalReport;  
  
        localReport.ReportPath = "Sales Order Detail.rdlc";  
  
        DataSet dataset = new DataSet("Sales Order Detail");  
  
        string salesOrderNumber = "SO43661";  
  
        // Get the sales order data  
        GetSalesOrderData(salesOrderNumber, ref dataset);  
  
        // Create a report data source for the sales order data  
        ReportDataSource dsSalesOrder = new ReportDataSource();  
        dsSalesOrder.Name = "SalesOrder";  
        dsSalesOrder.Value = dataset.Tables["SalesOrder"];  
  
        localReport.DataSources.Add(dsSalesOrder);  
  
        // Get the sales order detail data  
        GetSalesOrderDetailData(salesOrderNumber, ref dataset);  
  
        // Create a report data source for the sales order detail   
        // data  
        ReportDataSource dsSalesOrderDetail =  
            new ReportDataSource();  
        dsSalesOrderDetail.Name = "SalesOrderDetail";  
        dsSalesOrderDetail.Value =  
            dataset.Tables["SalesOrderDetail"];  
  
        localReport.DataSources.Add(dsSalesOrderDetail);  
  
        // Create a report parameter for the sales order number   
        ReportParameter rpSalesOrderNumber = new ReportParameter();  
        rpSalesOrderNumber.Name = "SalesOrderNumber";  
        rpSalesOrderNumber.Values.Add("SO43661");  
  
        // Set the report parameters for the report  
        localReport.SetParameters(  
            new ReportParameter[] { rpSalesOrderNumber });  
  
        // Refresh the report  
        reportViewer1.RefreshReport();  
    }  
  
    private void GetSalesOrderData(string salesOrderNumber,  
                                   ref DataSet dsSalesOrder)  
    {  
        string sqlSalesOrder =  
            "SELECT SOH.SalesOrderNumber, S.Name AS Store, " +  
            "       SOH.OrderDate, C.FirstName AS SalesFirstName, " +  
            "       C.LastName AS SalesLastName, E.Title AS " +  
            "       SalesTitle, SOH.PurchaseOrderNumber, " +  
            "       SM.Name AS ShipMethod, BA.AddressLine1 " +  
            "       AS BillAddress1, BA.AddressLine2 AS " +  
            "       BillAddress2, BA.City AS BillCity, " +  
            "       BA.PostalCode AS BillPostalCode, BSP.Name " +  
            "       AS BillStateProvince, BCR.Name AS " +  
            "       BillCountryRegion, SA.AddressLine1 AS " +  
            "       ShipAddress1, SA.AddressLine2 AS " +  
            "       ShipAddress2, SA.City AS ShipCity, " +  
            "       SA.PostalCode AS ShipPostalCode, SSP.Name " +  
            "       AS ShipStateProvince, SCR.Name AS " +  
            "       ShipCountryRegion, CC.Phone AS CustPhone, " +  
            "       CC.FirstName AS CustFirstName, CC.LastName " +  
            "       AS CustLastName " +  
            "FROM   Person.Address SA INNER JOIN " +  
            "       Person.StateProvince SSP ON " +  
            "       SA.StateProvinceID = SSP.StateProvinceID " +  
            "       INNER JOIN Person.CountryRegion SCR ON " +  
            "       SSP.CountryRegionCode = SCR.CountryRegionCode " +  
            "       RIGHT OUTER JOIN Sales.SalesOrderHeader SOH " +  
            "       LEFT OUTER JOIN  Person.Contact CC ON " +  
            "       SOH.ContactID = CC.ContactID LEFT OUTER JOIN" +  
            "       Person.Address BA INNER JOIN " +  
            "       Person.StateProvince BSP ON " +  
            "       BA.StateProvinceID = BSP.StateProvinceID " +  
            "       INNER JOIN Person.CountryRegion BCR ON " +  
            "       BSP.CountryRegionCode = " +  
            "       BCR.CountryRegionCode ON SOH.BillToAddressID " +  
            "       = BA.AddressID ON  SA.AddressID = " +  
            "       SOH.ShipToAddressID LEFT OUTER JOIN " +  
            "       Person.Contact C RIGHT OUTER JOIN " +  
            "       HumanResources.Employee E ON C.ContactID = " +  
            "       E.ContactID ON SOH.SalesPersonID = " +  
            "       E.EmployeeID LEFT OUTER JOIN " +  
            "       Purchasing.ShipMethod SM ON SOH.ShipMethodID " +  
            "       = SM.ShipMethodID LEFT OUTER JOIN Sales.Store" +  
            "        S ON SOH.CustomerID = S.CustomerID " +  
            "WHERE  (SOH.SalesOrderNumber = @SalesOrderNumber)";  
  
        SqlConnection connection = new  
            SqlConnection("Data Source=(local); " +  
                          "Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks; " +  
                          "Integrated Security=SSPI");  
  
        SqlCommand command =  
            new SqlCommand(sqlSalesOrder, connection);  
  
        command.Parameters.Add(  
            new SqlParameter("SalesOrderNumber",  
            salesOrderNumber));  
  
        SqlDataAdapter salesOrderAdapter = new  
            SqlDataAdapter(command);  
  
        salesOrderAdapter.Fill(dsSalesOrder, "SalesOrder");  
    }  
  
    private void GetSalesOrderDetailData(string salesOrderNumber,  
                           ref DataSet dsSalesOrder)  
    {  
        string sqlSalesOrderDetail =  
            "SELECT  SOD.SalesOrderDetailID, SOD.OrderQty, " +  
            "        SOD.UnitPrice, CASE WHEN " +  
            "        SOD.UnitPriceDiscount IS NULL THEN 0 " +  
            "        ELSE SOD.UnitPriceDiscount END AS " +  
            "        UnitPriceDiscount, SOD.LineTotal, " +  
            "        SOD.CarrierTrackingNumber, " +  
            "        SOD.SalesOrderID, P.Name, P.ProductNumber " +  
            "FROM    Sales.SalesOrderDetail SOD INNER JOIN " +  
            "        Production.Product P ON SOD.ProductID = " +  
            "        P.ProductID INNER JOIN " +  
            "        Sales.SalesOrderHeader SOH ON " +  
            "        SOD.SalesOrderID = SOH.SalesOrderID " +  
            "WHERE   (SOH.SalesOrderNumber = @SalesOrderNumber) " +  
            "ORDER BY SOD.SalesOrderDetailID";  
  
        using (SqlConnection connection = new  
            SqlConnection("Data Source=(local); " +  
                          "Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks; " +  
                          "Integrated Security=SSPI"))  
        {  
  
            SqlCommand command =  
                new SqlCommand(sqlSalesOrderDetail, connection);  
  
            command.Parameters.Add(  
                new SqlParameter("SalesOrderNumber",  
                salesOrderNumber));  
  
            SqlDataAdapter salesOrderDetailAdapter = new  
                SqlDataAdapter(command);  
  
            salesOrderDetailAdapter.Fill(dsSalesOrder,  
                "SalesOrderDetail");  
        }  
    }  
}  

VB.NET

Imports System.Data.SqlClient  
Imports Microsoft.Reporting.WinForms  
  
Public Class Form1  
  
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, _  
                        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _  
                        Handles MyBase.Load  
  
        'Set the processing mode for the ReportViewer to Local  
        reportViewer1.ProcessingMode = ProcessingMode.Local  
  
        Dim localReport As LocalReport  
        localReport = reportViewer1.LocalReport  
  
        localReport.ReportEmbeddedResource = _  
            "ReportViewerIntro.Sales Order Detail.rdlc"  
  
        Dim dataset As New DataSet("Sales Order Detail")  
  
        Dim salesOrderNumber As String = "SO43661"  
  
        'Get the sales order data  
        GetSalesOrderData(salesOrderNumber, dataset)  
  
        'Create a report data source for the sales order data  
        Dim dsSalesOrder As New ReportDataSource()  
        dsSalesOrder.Name = "SalesOrder"  
        dsSalesOrder.Value = dataset.Tables("SalesOrder")  
  
        localReport.DataSources.Add(dsSalesOrder)  
  
        'Get the sales order detail data  
        GetSalesOrderDetailData(salesOrderNumber, dataset)  
  
        'Create a report data source for the sales   
        'order detail data  
        Dim dsSalesOrderDetail As New ReportDataSource()  
        dsSalesOrderDetail.Name = "SalesOrderDetail"  
        dsSalesOrderDetail.Value = _  
            dataset.Tables("SalesOrderDetail")  
  
        localReport.DataSources.Add(dsSalesOrderDetail)  
  
        'Create a report parameter for the sales order number   
        Dim rpSalesOrderNumber As New ReportParameter()  
        rpSalesOrderNumber.Name = "SalesOrderNumber"  
        rpSalesOrderNumber.Values.Add("SO43661")  
  
        'Set the report parameters for the report  
        Dim parameters() As ReportParameter = {rpSalesOrderNumber}  
        localReport.SetParameters(parameters)  
  
        'Refresh the report  
        reportViewer1.RefreshReport()  
  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub GetSalesOrderData(ByVal salesOrderNumber As String, _  
                               ByRef dsSalesOrder As DataSet)  
  
        Dim sqlSalesOrder As String = _  
            "SELECT SOH.SalesOrderNumber, S.Name AS Store, " & _  
            "       SOH.OrderDate, C.FirstName AS SalesFirstName, " & _  
            "       C.LastName AS SalesLastName, E.Title AS " & _  
            "       SalesTitle, SOH.PurchaseOrderNumber, " & _  
            "       SM.Name AS ShipMethod, BA.AddressLine1 " & _  
            "       AS BillAddress1, BA.AddressLine2 AS " & _  
            "       BillAddress2, BA.City AS BillCity, " & _  
            "       BA.PostalCode AS BillPostalCode, BSP.Name " & _  
            "       AS BillStateProvince, BCR.Name AS " & _  
            "       BillCountryRegion, SA.AddressLine1 AS " & _  
            "       ShipAddress1, SA.AddressLine2 AS " & _  
            "       ShipAddress2, SA.City AS ShipCity, " & _  
            "       SA.PostalCode AS ShipPostalCode, SSP.Name " & _  
            "       AS ShipStateProvince, SCR.Name AS " & _  
            "       ShipCountryRegion, CC.Phone AS CustPhone, " & _  
            "       CC.FirstName AS CustFirstName, CC.LastName " & _  
            "       AS CustLastName " & _  
            "FROM   Person.Address SA INNER JOIN " & _  
            "       Person.StateProvince SSP ON " & _  
            "       SA.StateProvinceID = SSP.StateProvinceID " & _  
            "       INNER JOIN Person.CountryRegion SCR ON " & _  
            "       SSP.CountryRegionCode = SCR.CountryRegionCode " & _  
            "       RIGHT OUTER JOIN Sales.SalesOrderHeader SOH " & _  
            "       LEFT OUTER JOIN  Person.Contact CC ON " & _  
            "       SOH.ContactID = CC.ContactID LEFT OUTER JOIN" & _  
            "       Person.Address BA INNER JOIN " & _  
            "       Person.StateProvince BSP ON " & _  
            "       BA.StateProvinceID = BSP.StateProvinceID " & _  
            "       INNER JOIN Person.CountryRegion BCR ON " & _  
            "       BSP.CountryRegionCode = " & _  
            "       BCR.CountryRegionCode ON SOH.BillToAddressID " & _  
            "       = BA.AddressID ON  SA.AddressID = " & _  
            "       SOH.ShipToAddressID LEFT OUTER JOIN " & _  
            "       Person.Contact C RIGHT OUTER JOIN " & _  
            "       HumanResources.Employee E ON C.ContactID = " & _  
            "       E.ContactID ON SOH.SalesPersonID = " & _  
            "       E.EmployeeID LEFT OUTER JOIN " & _  
            "       Purchasing.ShipMethod SM ON SOH.ShipMethodID " & _  
            "       = SM.ShipMethodID LEFT OUTER JOIN Sales.Store" & _  
            "        S ON SOH.CustomerID = S.CustomerID " & _  
            "WHERE  (SOH.SalesOrderNumber = @SalesOrderNumber)"  
  
        Using connection As New SqlConnection( _  
                      "Data Source=(local); " & _  
                      "Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks; " & _  
                      "Integrated Security=SSPI")  
  
            Dim command As New SqlCommand(sqlSalesOrder, connection)  
  
            Dim parameter As New SqlParameter("SalesOrderNumber", _  
                salesOrderNumber)  
            command.Parameters.Add(parameter)  
  
            Dim salesOrderAdapter As New SqlDataAdapter(command)  
  
            salesOrderAdapter.Fill(dsSalesOrder, "SalesOrder")  
  
        End Using  
  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub GetSalesOrderDetailData( _  
                           ByVal salesOrderNumber As String, _  
                           ByRef dsSalesOrder As DataSet)  
  
        Dim sqlSalesOrderDetail As String = _  
            "SELECT  SOD.SalesOrderDetailID, SOD.OrderQty, " & _  
            "        SOD.UnitPrice, CASE WHEN " & _  
            "        SOD.UnitPriceDiscount IS NULL THEN 0 " & _  
            "        ELSE SOD.UnitPriceDiscount END AS " & _  
            "        UnitPriceDiscount, SOD.LineTotal, " & _  
            "        SOD.CarrierTrackingNumber, " & _  
            "        SOD.SalesOrderID, P.Name, P.ProductNumber " & _  
            "FROM    Sales.SalesOrderDetail SOD INNER JOIN " & _  
            "        Production.Product P ON SOD.ProductID = " & _  
            "        P.ProductID INNER JOIN " & _  
            "        Sales.SalesOrderHeader SOH ON " & _  
            "        SOD.SalesOrderID = SOH.SalesOrderID " & _  
            "WHERE   (SOH.SalesOrderNumber = @SalesOrderNumber) " & _  
            "ORDER BY SOD.SalesOrderDetailID"  
  
        Using connection As New SqlConnection( _  
                      "Data Source=(local); " & _  
                      "Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks; " & _  
                      "Integrated Security=SSPI")  
  
            Dim command As New SqlCommand(sqlSalesOrderDetail, _  
                                          connection)  
  
            Dim parameter As New SqlParameter("SalesOrderNumber", _  
                salesOrderNumber)  
            command.Parameters.Add(parameter)  
  
            Dim salesOrderDetailAdapter As New SqlDataAdapter(command)  
  
            salesOrderDetailAdapter.Fill(dsSalesOrder, _  
                "SalesOrderDetail")  
  
        End Using  
  
    End Sub  
  
End Class