In some instances, I prefer working with custom objects instead of strongly typed datasets and data rows. However, it seems like Microsoft Reporting (included with VS2005) requires strongly typed datasets.
Is there a way to use my custom objects to design and populate reports?
I found the answer. Yes, it's possible. You just have to add a custom object as a datasource in visual studio.
http://www.gotreportviewer.com/objectdatasources/index.html
I could never choose one of my own POCOs in Report Data setup from my project to be a model for the report - the alleged 'global' option mentioned in the walkthrough was not there. So I ended up having to edit the XML to define the type and an imitation data source (which does not actually exist in my project).
I assign the data of type Aies.Core.Model.Invoice.MemberInvoice
to the report in code
reportViewer.LocalReport.DataSources.Add(new ReportDataSource("MemberInvoice", new[] { invoice1 }));
And the custom definition is:
<DataSources>
<DataSource Name="MemberInvoice">
<ConnectionProperties>
<DataProvider>System.Data.DataSet</DataProvider>
<ConnectString>/* Local Connection */</ConnectString>
</ConnectionProperties>
<rd:DataSourceID>3fe04def-105a-4e9b-99db-630c1f8bb2c9</rd:DataSourceID>
</DataSource>
</DataSources>
<DataSets>
<DataSet Name="MemberInvoice">
<Fields>
<Field Name="MemberId">
<DataField>MemberId</DataField>
<rd:TypeName>System.Int32</rd:TypeName>
</Field>
<Field Name="DateOfIssue">
<DataField>DateOfIssue</DataField>
<rd:TypeName>System.DateTime</rd:TypeName>
</Field>
<Field Name="DateDue">
<DataField>DateDue</DataField>
<rd:TypeName>System.DateTime</rd:TypeName>
</Field>
<Field Name="Amount">
<DataField>Amount</DataField>
<rd:TypeName>System.Decimal</rd:TypeName>
</Field>
</Fields>
<Query>
<DataSourceName>MemberInvoice</DataSourceName>
<CommandText>/* Local Query */</CommandText>
</Query>
<rd:DataSetInfo>
<rd:DataSetName>Aies.Core.Model.Invoice</rd:DataSetName>
<rd:TableName>MemberInvoiceData</rd:TableName>
<rd:ObjectDataSourceSelectMethod>GetInvoices</rd:ObjectDataSourceSelectMethod>
<rd:ObjectDataSourceSelectMethodSignature>System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1[Aies.Core.Model.Invoice.MemberInvoice] GetInvoices()</rd:ObjectDataSourceSelectMethodSignature>
<rd:ObjectDataSourceType>Aies.Core.Model.Invoice.MemberInvoiceData, Aies.Core, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null</rd:ObjectDataSourceType>
</rd:DataSetInfo>
</DataSet>
</DataSets>
I believe you can set up SSRS to read data values from a more or less arbitrary object. This Link describes the IDataReaderFieldProperties object in the API which (IIRC) allows you to specify the getter method to invoke to get a value.