NIReports questions

[RobertoBozzolo]

I am evaluating the use of NIReports instead of traditional panel printing to produce test reports in my application. I have some questions about it.

The documentation says that the NIReports ActiveX Automation server must be running on target machines in order to use this tool: I suppose it will be included in the distribution kit if I make one, but may I install it without passing from the DK? And does my customer need to purchase some licence to use this tool or is it free software?

Another question refers to easyness in creating the reports: may I obtain a screen preview of the report without necessarily print it on paper? This can save me a lot of wasted paper and time, since printing a page is obviously slower that displaying it on screen (this without considering that "my" printer is really in another room: shouldn't I have a preview, I can save my weekly gym! )

[RobertoBozzolo]

OK, seems that noone is able to answer to this question...

Anyway, since I consider this a useful addition to that tool, I would like to notify the developers: so, where is the CVI wishlist form to fill in?

[bilalD]

Hi Roberto

You don't need any additional licenses to distribute applications that use the NI-Reports server.

You can install it without using the DK, but you will need a tool that can handle merge modules. The redist folder provides a nireports.msm that you can use if you have another installer tool.

We don't have a print preview tool in ni-reports. You could use the Word_DocumentPrintPreview() function thats in the Word ActiveX library along with the Word Report instrument. You can pass in the document handle to the print preview function.

Check out the word report example under ..\samples\activex\word\wordrpt.prj. In the print callback you call comment out the existing code and add the following to get the preview of the document.

    Word_DocumentPrintPreview (docHandle, NULL);

You can file product feedback using this link.

I hope this helps

[RobertoBozzolo]

I didn't know of the possibility to use Word to preview the reports created with NIReports: thank you for letting me know it.

Do I need to have full Word program installed on my machine or a simple (and free!) word viewer is enough for report preview?

Message Edited by Roberto Bozzolo on 07-29-2005 12:01 AM

[bilalD]

I should clarify some more. What I meant to say was to use the Word Report generation instrument instead of using NI-Reports so that you can get print previews, which are available as a part of Microsoft Word functionality.  You will need to have Microsoft Word installed on your machine to have this functionality. Sorry about the confusion.

[RobertoBozzolo]

Ah, ok. In effect I had misinterpreted your answer.

Thanks for the info.