Language Integrated Query (LINQ, pronounced "link") is a Microsoft .NET Framework component that adds native data querying capabilities to .NET languages. It defines a set of proprietary query operators that can be used to query, project and filter data in arrays, enumerable classes, XML (XLINQ), relational database, and third party data sources. While it allows any data source to be queried, it requires that the data be encapsulated as objects. So, if the data source does not natively store data as objects, the data must be mapped as objects. The results of a query are returned as a collection of in-memory objects that can be enumerated using a standard iterator function such as C#'s foreach.
So how do you do .NET reporting using ActiveReports and LINQ? There are couple of blog postings and a knowledgebase article that provides good examples.
This knowledgebase article lists detailed steps in configuring LINQ to SQL in your project using the Northwind database as an example database, and provides example syntax.
A more detailed .NET reporting and LINQ programming sample is described by David Longnecker as a result of his trying out LINQ and ORM with ActiveReports for .NET.
Jon Smith, our support lead, did notice that David was using the ActiveReports Fields collection outside of the FetchData/DataInitialize event. Breaking one of our three rules for report design with ActiveReports. The correct way of doing this is to use bind the textbox to the field, then access the textbox’s Value property during the Format event.
