Reports Merged with PDF

This tutorial describes how to add PDF content to a report.

Tip

The Create a Master-Detail Report (Use Subreports) topic describes another way to create a report that merges different documents.

Create a Report Layout

Create a report that should include PDF content.

In this tutorial, the report shows a purchase order. A Detail Report band displays order details and customer information. An inner Detail Report band lists products included in an order.

Add PDF Content

Add a PDF document for each product listed in an order.

1. Add a Detail Report band at the location where you want to place PDF content. As PDF content is rendered on separate pages, the report from this tutorial includes this band at the bottom. Bind the new band to the same data member as in the Create a Report Layout section above.

   

2. Drop the PDF Content item from the Toolbox onto the added band.

   

3. Bind the dropped control to the source of PDF data. Expand the control's smart tag and click the Expression property's ellipsis button below the Source property. In the invoked Expression Editor, select the data source field that stores PDF documents and click OK.

   

   Tip

   Other options are available to bind the PDF Content control to PDF data:

   • Bind to a PDF file
     Specify the file's path or URL in the control's Source URL property. The specified file should be available when a report is generated.
   • Save the PDF content in the report
     Click the Source property's ellipsis button and select the file from which to load content.

The report is ready and can be viewed in the Preview tab. Each PDF document is printed on a separate page and uses its own page settings.