Design View (Visual Studio Report Designer)

Graphical design mode provides a visual design surface that you can use to create client report definition (.rdlc) files that are used with ReportViewer controls. Graphical design mode includes a design grid that you can use to align report items on the page. When you select the report definition, a Report menu appears so that you can access property dialog boxes, define embedded images, add report parameters, and so on.

Report Design Grid

The design grid consists of three sections: body, page header, and page footer. The page header and footer are not part of the report template by default. To add a header or footer, choose Page Header or Page Footer from the Report menu.

To add items to the design grid, use the Toolbox. The Toolbox contains data regions and other report items that can be added to the report. After you add a data region or a text box to the report, you can open the Data Sources window and drag fields into specific cells. Each item on the report design surface contains properties that can be managed using a properties dialog box or the Properties window.

Toolbox, Data Sources Window, and Properties Window

The Toolbox, Data Sources window, and Properties window provide a means for adding and manipulating items in the report. To view these, in the View menu, click Toolbox or Properties Window. To view the Data Sources window, choose Show Data Sources from the Data menu. To use the properties dialog boxes, right-click the report item, and then click Properties.

See Also

Concepts

Creating Client Report Definition (.rdlc) Files
Report Overview (Visual Studio)
Creating Data Sources for a Report
ReportViewer Controls (Visual Studio)
ReportViewer Web Server and Windows Forms Controls

Other Resources

Samples and Walkthroughs
Report Designer User Interface Reference (Visual Studio)