DevExpress focuses on user accessibility

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By David Worthington

August 26, 2008 — A component maker has updated its reporting control suite to provide end users with more finite control over parameters and meaningful aliases for property names, as well as adding new capabilities for calculations.

Yesterday, Developer Express released XtraReports Suite Version 2008 vol 2, a collection of WinForms and ASP.NET reporting libraries.

The new version of the suite introduces a report parameters feature that permits end users to modify parameter values before a report is generated. The customization dialog can be invoked at any time while previewing the report, and the report is regenerated. Developers are responsible for creating the parameters.

Developers may substitute property names with phrases that would be meaningful to end users. Aliasing is now the default UI option, but may be reverted back to the previous XtraReports interface.

Likewise, a report cannot be understood if the end user cannot read it. DevExpress is providing localization options for its Property Grid, a list of items that can be changed in the product, including property and control names.

DevExpress does not provide language support, explained Julian Bucknall, the company's CTO. Instead, developers can convert an XML resource file into their own language by using Visual Studio to change a string, then recompiling, he said. Customers have donated some translations.

In this release, ordinary data fields may be converted into calculated fields. Developers can add calculated fields to data sources and build formulas to be used for value calculations. Once a field is set up, it can be used anywhere across reports, according to the company.

Running sum and percentage summary types are now available to provide cumulative values. XtraReports allows developers to specify whether that should continue across all pages or be reset with each new data group or page.

XtraReports works with both Visual Studio 2005 and 2008. Existing customers can upgrade for US$199.99 with full source code, and $139.99 without full source code. Regular pricing is $499.99 with full source code, and $349.99 without full source code.

Related Search Term(s): reporting, software development, DevExpress

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