Getting Started
System Requirements
For developing Reporting Services reports (RDL or RDLC) with Neodynamic Barcode Professional for SSRS, you must have the following system and software specifications:
For designing SQL Server Reporting Services reports:
- SQL Server Reporting Services 2005/2008 (R2)/2012/2014/2016/2017 with its latest service pack.
- Visual Studio 2005/2008/2010/2012/2013/2015/2017 or SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio or SQL Server Data Tools.
For designing Visual Studio Local Reports RDLC (ReportViewer controls):
- .NET Framework 2.0 with its latest service pack.
- Visual Studio ReportViewer controls. (More info at http://www.gotreportviewer.com/).
First Steps with Barcode Professional for SSRS
This is a quick start guide about how to use Barcode Professional for SSRS in most possible RDL (Report Definition Language) reporting scenarios. Please read this guide carefully about the different ways you can use Barcode Professional depending on your Reporting Services environment.
Barcode Professional for SSRS Package Content
Barcode Professional for Reporting Services is delivered with the following components:
- a Barcode CRI (Custom Report Item) which is a visual barcode item that can be added to Visual Studio (VS) or Business Intelligent Development Studio (BIDS) or SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) toolbox and used on RDL reports at design-time.
Warning
Barcode CRI IS NOT supported by all SSRS editions! More on this below...
- a Barcode DLL which can be referenced and coded in the Code section of a RDL report for generating barcode images. In this case, the barcode image is generated by writing VB Function and is displayed on reports by using a standard Image item.
Barcode CRI vs. Barcode DLL
Barcode Professional provides you with two different barcode components which you can use for adding barcodes to your RDL reports. The following table lists the Pros and Cons of each component:
| Barcode CRI | Barcode DLL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | • It can be used in report designers like Visual Studio or BIDS or SSDT at design-time providing visual feedback about the barcode being composed through the Barcode Builder feature • Full Barcode Alignment inside a given area • Easy to get "High Quality DPI barcodes" • Easy to get "Fit Barcode To Size" • Codeless approach i.e. you do not need to write VB code in reports for generating barcodes |
• It can be used in ANY Editions of Reporting Services. This is very important if you do not know what edition of Reporting Services your reports will be hosted on OR if your reporting services scenario is a mix of SQL Server editions including Express or Workgroup Eds. |
| Cons | • It CANNOT be used in some editions of Reporting Services like Express, Workgroup and Web Eds. | • It needs a standard Image control to display the barcodes on reports • It needs you write VB code in the reports for generating the barcodes |
Determining which Barcode Component is best for your needs
Before you start using Barcode Professional, you must determine which Reporting Services editions you will be deploying to. After knowing that, you will be able to determine which barcode component is best for you i.e. the visual Barcode CRI or the Barcode DLL.
The following table lists all Reporting Services editions and its support for Barcode CRI or Barcode DLL components:
| SSRS EDITIONS | Barcode CRI | Barcode DLL |
|---|---|---|
| RS 2017 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2017 Web Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2017 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2017 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2016 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2016 Web Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2016 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2016 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2014 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2014 Web Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2014 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2014 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2014 Business Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2012 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2012 Web Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2012 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2012 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2012 Business Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Workgroup Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Web Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2008/R2 Datacenter Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2005 Express Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2005 Workgroup Ed. | ⚪ | ⚫ |
| RS 2005 Standard Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
| RS 2005 Enterprise Ed. | ⚫ | ⚫ |
Based on the table above, you can determine which Barcode Component to use, in short:
- If your deployment scenario includes Workgroup, Express or Web Editions of Reporting Services, then you MUST use the Barcode DLL
- If your deployment scenario DOES NOT include Workgroup, Express nor Web Editions BUT Standard, Enterprise, Business or Datacenter Editions of Reporting Services, then you can safely use both, the Barcode CRI or the Barcode DLL
- If you are not sure or do not know what editions of Reporting Services you will be hosting your reports, then go for the Barcode DLL approach.
Using Barcode Professional for SSRS
After you have determined which is the best barcode component (CRI or DLL) based on your Reporting Services target, you can start using Barcode Professional for generating Linear (1D), Postal, MICR, Composite or 2D barcodes in your RDL reports.
The following guides are simple tutorials about how to use each barcode components in Report Server projects.
Need Assistance?
- For tech assistance please contact our Tech Support