We can create Crystal Reports in VB.NET using SQL Query String . Here we create a Strongly Typed dataset for Crystal Reports design and create a connection object and execute the SQL Query String .

All Crystal Report programming samples in this tutorials is based on the following database (crystaldb) . Please take a look at the database structure before you start this tutorial - Click here to see Database Structure .

The basics of Crystal Reports creation you can find in the previous section of this tutorial , before we start this tutorial you can take a look at the step by step Crystal Report.

Generating a Strongly Typed DataSet

In the previous section you can see a detailed tutorial about to create a strongly typed datset and its Crystal Reports design . After create the dataset and Crystal Reports design you should create a connection object and fetch the data from database.

Select the default form (Form1.vb) you created in VB.NET and drag one button and CrystalReportViewer control to your form.

Put the following source code in the button click events

Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine
Imports CrystalDecisions.Shared
Imports System.Data
Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
        ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

		Dim ds As New DataSet1
        Dim cnn As SqlConnection
        Dim connectionString As String
        Dim sql As String 

        connectionString = "data source=servername; _
	initial catalog=crystaldb;user id=username;password=password;"
        cnn = New SqlConnection(connectionString)
        cnn.Open()
	sql = "SELECT Product_id,Product_name,Product_price FROM Product"
        Dim dscmd As New SqlDataAdapter(sql, cnn)
        Dim ds As New DataSet1
        dscmd.Fill(ds, "Product")
        MsgBox(ds.Tables(1).Rows.Count)
        cnn.Close()

        Dim objRpt As New CrystalReport1
        objRpt.SetDataSource(ds.Tables(1))
        CrystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = objRpt
        CrystalReportViewer1.Refresh()
    End Sub
End Class