You can easily use external objects for data binding in FlexReport. Here, we discuss data binding using Open Data Protocol (OData) client library. The OData allows you to access data in the same style as in Representational State Transfer (REST) resources. The use of Simple.OData.Client library for data binding is illustrated below.

Create a Report Definition

Create a report definition using code to bind the data using OData client library.

1. Add the following namespace in code view:
   using Simple.OData.Client;
2. Create an object of FlexReport using the following code:
   
   • Visual Basic
   • C#

   • Visual Basic

   Dim _report As New C1FlexReport()
   

   • C#

   C1FlexReport _report = new C1FlexReport();
   

3. Add following code to request data from OData service:
   • Visual Basic
   • C#

   • Visual Basic

   ' request data from OData service
   Dim client = New ODataClient(ODataUri)
   ' select all categries and products of each category
   Dim categories = (Await client.[For](Of Category)().Expand(Function(x) New From { _
           x.Products _
   }).FindEntriesAsync()).ToList()
   Dim products = (From c In categoriesFrom p In c.ProductsNew With { _
           Key .CategoryID = c.ID, _
           Key .CategoryName = c.Name, _
           Key .ID = p.ID, _
           Key .Name = p.Name, _
           Key .Description = p.Description, _
           Key .ReleaseDate = p.ReleaseDate, _
           Key .DiscontinuedDate = p.DiscontinuedDate, _
           Key .Rating = p.Rating, _
           Key .Price = p.Price _
   }).ToList()
   

   • C#

   // request data from OData service
   var client = new ODataClient(ODataUri);
   // select all categries and products of each category
   var categories = (await client.For<Category>().Expand(x => new { x.Products }).FindEntriesAsync()).ToList();
   var products = (
   from c in categories
   from p in c.Products
   select new
   {
       CategoryID = c.ID,
       CategoryName = c.Name,
       ID = p.ID,
       Name = p.Name,
       Description = p.Description,
       ReleaseDate = p.ReleaseDate,
       DiscontinuedDate = p.DiscontinuedDate,
       Rating = p.Rating,
       Price = p.Price,
   }).ToList();
   

4. Add a new folder named Resources to your application and add a report to it. In our case, we are using Reports.flxr report.
5. Load the report definition from Resources folder using the following code:
   • Visual Basic
   • C#

   • Visual Basic

   ' load report definition from resources
   Dim asm As Assembly = GetType(MainPage).GetTypeInfo().Assembly
   Using stream As Stream = asm.GetManifestResourceStream("Binding.Resources.Reports.flxr")
           _report.Load(stream, "Products")
   End Using
   
   ' assign dataset to the report
   _report.DataSource.Recordset = products
   

   • C#

   // load report definition from resources
   Assembly asm = typeof(MainPage).GetTypeInfo().Assembly;
   using (Stream stream = asm.GetManifestResourceStream("Binding.Resources.Reports.flxr"))
   _report.Load(stream, "Products");
   
   // assign dataset to the report
   _report.DataSource.Recordset = products;
   

6. Use the following code to build your report and view it in FlexViewer control after loading the report definition:
   • Visual Basic
   • C#

   • Visual Basic

   Try
           ' build report
           prMain.IsActive = True
           Await BuildProductsReport()
           prMain.IsActive = False
   
           ' assign report to the preview pane
           flxViewer.DocumentSource = Nothing
           flxViewer.DocumentSource = _report
   Catch ex As Exception
           Dim md As New MessageDialog(String.Format("Failed to show ""{0}"" report, error:" & vbCr & vbLf & "{1}", reportName, ex.Message))
           Await md.ShowAsync()
   End Try
   

   • C#

   try
   {
      // build report
      prMain.IsActive = true;
      await BuildProductsReport();
      prMain.IsActive = false;
   
      // assign report to the preview pane
      flxViewer.DocumentSource = null;
      flxViewer.DocumentSource = _report;
   }
   catch (Exception ex)
   {
      MessageDialog md = new MessageDialog(string.Format("Failed to show \"{0}\" report, error:\r\n{1}", reportName, ex.Message));
      await md.ShowAsync();
   }
   

The report appears similar to the following: