Troubleshooting: Adding WebViewer of ActiveReports to Your ASP.NET Page

Adding the WebViewer control from ActiveReports to an ASP.NET page can sometimes be a frustrating task, especially when it seems like nothing is working. If you’ve recently installed ActiveReports and find that you can’t drag the WebViewer onto your page, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll walk through the challenges you may face and provide a clear solution to get your reports up and running.

The Problem

After installing ActiveReports, many users have encountered issues when attempting to add the WebViewer control to their ASP.NET projects. Common symptoms include:

  • No markup being added to the page when dragging the control from the toolbox.
  • No display of the WebViewer control on the page.
  • Absence of DataDynamics related tags in the web.config file.

These symptoms can lead to frustration and confusion, particularly for those who are new to ActiveReports or ASP.NET development.

The Solution: Steps to Fix the Issue

If you’ve faced the problem mentioned above, here’s a step-by-step approach to resolving it.

1. Identify Version Conflicts

One of the first things to investigate is whether you have multiple versions of ActiveReports installed. It is possible that the version you were working with became deactivated or removed, which can create a mismatch between the controls in your toolbox and the actual assemblies.

2. Uninstall Previous Versions

To ensure no remnants of previous installations conflict with the current one, follow these steps:

  • Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
  • Look for any entries related to ActiveReports and uninstall all versions.

3. Install the Latest Version

Next, you need to install the most recent version of ActiveReports. Here’s how:

  • Download the latest version of ActiveReports from their official site.
  • Run the installer and follow the prompts to install the software.

4. Clean Up the Toolbox

After installing the latest version, you’ll want to clean your Visual Studio toolbox:

  • Open Visual Studio.
  • Go to the Toolbox.
  • Remove any outdated or unneeded components related to ActiveReports.

5. Add the WebViewer Control Again

With a clean slate, return to your ASP.NET project and add the WebViewer control again:

  • Open your desired ASP.NET page in design view.
  • Drag the newly added WebViewer control from the toolbox onto the page.

6. Check the web.config File

Once the control is on your page, ensure your web.config file includes the necessary DataDynamics components:

  • Open the web.config file associated with your ASP.NET project.
  • Look for entries related to ActiveReports and ensure they are present and correctly configured.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to successfully add the WebViewer of ActiveReports to your ASP.NET page. The key takeaway is to ensure that you are working with the correct version of ActiveReports, free from any conflicts. Once you’ve installed the latest version and cleaned up your toolbox, the control should be available for use without any issues.

If you continue to have trouble, consider consulting the ActiveReports support documentation or community forums for additional troubleshooting tips.