.NET 7 WPF News

Help Users Create Reports More Quickly and Efficiently

October 9, 2023
ActiveReports.NET 17.2 adds pre-configured Report Parts which allow end users to easily generate complex reports without having to master the technicalities of report design.

ActiveReports.NET is a reporting tool that allows developers to design and deliver reports with intuitive, reliable, and user-friendly report designers and controls. Features include the ability to create reports in a variety of formats, such as PDF, Excel, and HTML. ActiveReports.NET is also highly customizable, with an extensive API and advanced feature library.

ActiveReports.NET v17.2 introduces Report Parts, which can be created from any report item, including tables, charts, text boxes, and images. These Report Parts are created by developers and added to the ActiveReports toolbox for end-users to drag and drop onto the design surface. This makes it easy for end-users to create complex reports without having to learn the intricacies of report design. Developers can specify the properties of the Report Part, such as its data binding, formatting, and visibility so that they that are tailored to the specific needs of their users.

To see a full list of what's new in version 17.2, see our release notes.

For more information, visit our ActiveReports.NET product page.

Exporting Charts to PDF using .NET 7 WPF

October 7, 2023
Distribute charts in a secure, portable, well-supported format by exporting to PDF.

Exporting charts to PDF enables developers to save charts as PDF documents, ensuring their appearance and data are preserved for sharing, printing, or archival purposes. It allows seamless integration of charting capabilities within WPF applications and facilitates the generation of high-quality, portable chart representations in PDF format.

Here is a selection of WPF chart controls that offer PDF export support:

  • ChartDirector for .NET by Advanced Software Engineering is a comprehensive charting library that supports numerous chart types and includes built-in PDF export functionality.
  • TeeChart WPF (part of TeeChart for .NET Standard Business Edition by Steema Software) is a feature-rich charting component that includes PDF export capabilities.
  • NOV Chart for .NET by Nevron provides a wide range of charting options and supports exporting to PDF.

Additionally, the following charting components are available as part of multi-function component suites:

  • DevExpress WPF Chart (Part of DevExpress WPF) provides rich charting capabilities and supports PDF export along with other export formats.
  • Infragistics WPF Charts (Part of Infragistics Ultimate UI for WPF) includes powerful charting controls with PDF export functionality.
  • Telerik WPF Chart (Part of Telerik UI for WPF) offers a wide range of chart types and seamless PDF export capabilities.
  • ComponentOne Charts for WPF (Part of ComponentOne Studio for WPF by GrapeCity) supports PDF export and provides extensive customization options.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET 7 charts.

Compare .NET 7 Charts

Enhancing WPF Apps with a Ribbon Bar

July 4, 2023
Give your users a modern, user-friendly user interface with a ribbon menu.

A ribbon control is a graphical user interface element that consists of a horizontal strip displaying various commands and functions organized into tabs and groups for easy access and navigation. Ribbons are designed to be easy to use and understand. Tools are grouped together in a logical way, making it easy for users to find the commands they need, even if they are not familiar with the application.

Here are some example WPF UI suites that offer a ribbon control:

  • DevExpress WPF provides a comprehensive set of WPF controls, including a feature-rich Ribbon control for creating modern and efficient user interfaces. With its extensive customization options and built-in functionalities, it simplifies the development process and enhances the end-user experience.
  • Infragistics Ultimate UI for WPF offers a ribbon that comes with various design options, seamless integration with other controls, enabling developers to build interactive and visually appealing applications.
  • Telerik UI for WPF includes a versatile RibbonView control that enables developers to design intuitive and productive UIs. RibbonView integrates easily with other Telerik controls and provides a consistent look and feel across different platforms.
  • Actipro WPF Studio offers a highly customizable Ribbon control, empowering developers to craft professional-grade user interfaces. With extensive styling options and support for WPF features like commands and application menus, Actipro enables developers to build stunning ribbon-based applications.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of WPF UI suites.

Compare WPF UI Suites

Adding Sparklines to your Reports with WPF

June 19, 2023
Highlight data trends by adding micro charts within cells in your WPF reports.

Sparklines are miniature line graphs designed to provide a visual representation of data trends within a compact space. They condense information into a single line or bar, often displayed alongside text or numbers. They allow for quick and intuitive understanding of patterns, making them useful for displaying data in tight spaces such as data tables, and providing visual summaries at a glance.

The following WPF reporting controls include support for sparklines:

  • DevExpress Reports (Multi-Platform) (part of DevExpress Reporting) is a versatile solution with sparkline support that allows developers to build visually appealing reports in WPF applications.
  • ActiveReports.NET by MESCIUS (formerly GrapeCity) offers a range of flexible and customizable controls, allowing developers to integrate sparklines seamlessly into their reports and deliver engaging data visualizations.
  • List & Label Enterprise Reporting Edition by combit provides a wide selection of reporting features including sparklines, empowering developers to create interactive and visually informative reports with ease.
  • Stimulsoft Reports.Wpf has an intuitive design environment which helps developers design reports with sparklines to effectively convey insights to end users.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of WPF reporting controls.

Compare WPF Report Controls

Introducing our new .NET Comms & Messaging Comparison

January 11, 2022
Shortlist leading communications and messaging components by platform, function, protocol, and price.

We are pleased to announce our new .NET Communications and Messaging Comparison tool. This comprehensive comparison is designed to help developers compare comms & messaging components for their specific needs.

Communication and messaging components allow developers to easily integrate communications capabilities into their applications. This can include functionality such as sending and receiving data, controlling devices via a network, sharing information between users or systems, and connecting users via voice, video conferencing or chat. They can be used to improve communication, collaboration, and security in software development.

Our unique comparison helps developers efficiently evaluate and select the most suitable .NET comms and messaging components. Whether you need FTP, email, SMS integration or real-time chat features, our comparison can save you time. It includes a comprehensive range of popular .NET components, allowing developers to analyze features, price and compatibility with their existing systems.

Compare comms & messaging components including:

  • IPWorks .NET Edition by /n software is a comprehensive framework for Internet development and provides components for security, sending email, transferring files, and more.
  • Aspose.Email for .NET lets you create, manipulate and convert email formats including MSG, EML, EMLX and MHT without any Microsoft Outlook dependencies.
  • PowerTCP Telnet for .NET by Dart Communications is a lightweight single DLL with support for HTTP, SOCKS4 and SOCKS5, and includes Rexec, Rsh and Rlogin components in addition to Telnet.
  • ComponentOne Upload for ASP.NET Web Forms (part of ComponentOne Studio ASP.NET Web Forms Edition by GrapeCity) provides a simple and reliable way to upload files and streams to a server.
  • Rebex SFTP for .NET makes it easy to securely transfer files between your application and Unix/Windows SSH servers.
  • Xceed FTP for Xamarin lets you easily adding efficient FTP and FTPS file transfer capabilities to your iOS or Android applications.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET communications and messaging components.

Compare .NET Comms & Messaging Components