List & Label Reporting Blog

InMemoryDataProviderWrapper: Data Provider on Steroids

InMemoryDataProviderWrapper: Data Provider on Steroids

ByJochen BartlauApr 15, 20242 min read
The features of different data providers vary widely. Depending on the data source, sorting, native aggregate functions or filters at database level may be available directly. Or not. For example, none of this is available in file-based formats such as JSON or XML, or even in “web” formats such as REST. These are typically read “front to back” and therefore cannot offer sorting or native aggregation. With List & Label 29, we have something new to offer.
dialog to set custom shapefiles as report element

SVG images in reports, Custom Shapefiles & more | Report Server 23

ByAlexander HorakSep 7, 20172 min read
Upon the release of version 23 of our List & Label reporting tool, the combit Report Server will become part of the List & Label Enterprise Edition. Hence, it is about time we reported on the new features of our enterprise reporting solution!
expanded data values in tree view

Virtual Formula Variables for Drag & Drop

ByJochen BartlauAug 29, 20171 min read
In LL21, we improved the Drag & Drop behavior thoroughly. However there was one thing still missing. When dropping e.g. a date field, at times you don't need the actual date in the report but rather e.g. the year. The same for numerical values – do you want decimals? If yes, how many? Do you require a local formatting? Or a currency symbol? While you can easily achieve any of these formattings using simple formulas or the "Format" property, you have to do just that. So drag and drop is not the no-brainer it is supposed to be in a perfect world. In LL23, the world will actually become a little more perfect.
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Using Your Own .NET Designer Objects in Unmanaged Code – Designer Object Bridge

ByDaniel SteinAug 18, 20175 min read
Many things can often be implemented significantly easier and faster in managed code than in unmanaged code, such as with Delphi or C++. Sometimes, there already exist ready-made .NET modules which contain the desired requirements and which need to be used in your own unmanaged application. But the question then is: How can a .NET module be made accessible to an unmanaged system?
example printing performance boost

Unbelievable Printing Performance Boost

ByJochen BartlauJul 28, 20172 min read
Continuing the journey of improving the performance, we decided to tweak a bit on the printing side as well. These optimizations help when using the same table several times with different fields. Think of a tabular report with some charts and a crosstab. Typically you have different views on your data in these objects. For these cases, the improvement is huge – I mean really huge.
Huge Designer Speed-Up for Large Databases

Huge Designer Speed-Up for Large Databases

ByJochen BartlauJul 14, 20173 min read
Historically, List & Label has always been working without a database in the background. During the years, we've added powerful databinding to the components, however at the core, the principle stayed the same: your application (or the databinding layer) passes all available data before opening the Designer.
New Designer Features and Flexible Sorting

New Designer Features and Flexible Sorting

ByJochen BartlauJun 30, 20171 min read
Today, I’d like to outline a few more minor new features of LL22 before they get lost in the upcoming blog posts on LL23. There are still plenty of nifty things in LL22 to discover that I haven’t blogged about yet.
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Our TTFHW is Just 30 Seconds!

ByJochen BartlauMay 26, 20171 min read
Have you ever stumbled across TTFHW? This is an important nerd metric, meaning "time to first hello world". Basically it tells you how long it will take you as a developer to get to your first hello world success using a platform / API.
Report Server Soon Included in Enterprise Edition

Report Server Soon Included in Enterprise Edition

ByJochen BartlauMay 11, 20172 min read
This is a major, bold new addition that will be available with List & Label 23. Currently the combit Report Server is available as a standalone out-of-the-box, self-service reporting solution. You can configure data sources, ad-hoc-design your reports, preview in your browser, export reports to a huge variety of formats or schedule email blasts. All of this in a responsive web application that works on any device. Starting with version 23, this server product will be included in the List & Label Enterprise Edition.
Presenting skills for devs

Six Hints for Developer Presentations

ByJochen BartlauApr 13, 20173 min read
One of the nice parts of my job is getting around quite often. Through the years, I've held some hundred presentations. At developer conferences, user group meetings and our own roadshows (the next will happen this fall). I thought I'll share some hints and tools I've found valuable.
Visual Studio Special Delivery

combit’s Visual Studio Love Story

ByJochen BartlauMar 7, 20172 min read
Today marks the launch of Microsoft Visual Studio 2017. We're also celebrating 15 years of .NET and 20 years of Visual Studio. It's been a long way! Actually, I had the honor to attend the VS Live in San Francisco when .NET was released.