Parameters inside expressions (C# / netframework)
Note
This demo is available in your FlexCel installation at <FlexCel Install Folder>\samples\csharp\VS2022\netframework\20.Reports\50.Expression Parameters and also at https://github.com/tmssoftware/TMS-FlexCel.NET-demos/tree/master/csharp/VS2022/netframework/Modules/20.Reports/50.Expression Parameters
Overview
In FlexCel it is possible to create Expressions that include parameters.
Concepts
How to create report Expressions using parameters.
How to apply an Expression Format to a formula. You can't directly write a formula like: =a1+1<#format cell(blue)> because of course Excel will not recognize it as a valid formula.
But you can use the <#format range> tag to format the formula. On this example, formula is on column "D" and the formatting tag for the formula is on column "E"
Files
AssemblyInfo.cs
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
//
// General Information about an assembly is controlled through the following
// set of attributes. Change these attribute values to modify the information
// associated with an assembly.
//
[assembly: AssemblyTitle("")]
[assembly: AssemblyDescription("")]
[assembly: AssemblyConfiguration("")]
[assembly: AssemblyCompany("")]
[assembly: AssemblyProduct("")]
[assembly: AssemblyCopyright("(c) 2002 - 2025 TMS Software")]
[assembly: AssemblyTrademark("")]
[assembly: AssemblyCulture("")]
//
// Version information for an assembly consists of the following four values:
//
// Major Version
// Minor Version
// Build Number
// Revision
//
// You can specify all the values or you can default the Revision and Build Numbers
// by using the '*' as shown below:
[assembly: AssemblyVersion("7.25.0.0")]
//
// In order to sign your assembly you must specify a key to use. Refer to the
// Microsoft .NET Framework documentation for more information on assembly signing.
//
// Use the attributes below to control which key is used for signing.
//
// Notes:
// (*) If no key is specified, the assembly is not signed.
// (*) KeyName refers to a key that has been installed in the Crypto Service
// Provider (CSP) on your machine. KeyFile refers to a file which contains
// a key.
// (*) If the KeyFile and the KeyName values are both specified, the
// following processing occurs:
// (1) If the KeyName can be found in the CSP, that key is used.
// (2) If the KeyName does not exist and the KeyFile does exist, the key
// in the KeyFile is installed into the CSP and used.
// (*) In order to create a KeyFile, you can use the sn.exe (Strong Name) utility.
// When specifying the KeyFile, the location of the KeyFile should be
// relative to the project output directory which is
// %Project Directory%\obj\<configuration>. For example, if your KeyFile is
// located in the project directory, you would specify the AssemblyKeyFile
// attribute as [assembly: AssemblyKeyFile("..\\..\\mykey.snk")]
// (*) Delay Signing is an advanced option - see the Microsoft .NET Framework
// documentation for more information on this.
//
[assembly: AssemblyDelaySign(false)]
[assembly: AssemblyKeyFile("")]
[assembly: AssemblyKeyName("")]
Form1.cs
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using System.IO;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Reflection;
using FlexCel.Core;
using FlexCel.XlsAdapter;
using FlexCel.Report;
using FlexCel.Demo.SharedData;
namespace ExpressionParameters
{
public partial class mainForm: System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
private FlexCel.Report.FlexCelReport ordersReport;
public mainForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
AutoRun();
}
public void AutoRun()
{
using (FlexCelReport ordersReport = SharedData.CreateReport())
{
ordersReport.SetValue("Date", DateTime.Now);
string DataPath = Path.Combine(Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location), ".."), "..") + Path.DirectorySeparatorChar;
if (saveFileDialog1.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{
ordersReport.Run(DataPath + "Expression Parameters.template.xls", saveFileDialog1.FileName);
if (MessageBox.Show("Do you want to open the generated file?", "Confirm", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo) == DialogResult.Yes)
{
using (Process p = new Process())
{
p.StartInfo.FileName = saveFileDialog1.FileName;
p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = true;
p.Start();
}
}
}
}
}
private void btnCancel_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
Close();
}
}
}
Form1.Designer.cs
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using System.IO;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Reflection;
using FlexCel.Core;
using FlexCel.XlsAdapter;
using FlexCel.Report;
using FlexCel.Demo.SharedData;
namespace ExpressionParameters
{
public partial class mainForm: System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
private System.Windows.Forms.Button button1;
private System.Windows.Forms.SaveFileDialog saveFileDialog1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button btnCancel;
/// <summary>
/// Required designer variable.
/// </summary>
private System.ComponentModel.Container components = null;
/// <summary>
/// Clean up any resources being used.
/// </summary>
protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing)
{
if (components != null)
{
components.Dispose();
}
}
base.Dispose(disposing);
}
#region Windows Form Designer generated code
/// <summary>
/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
/// </summary>
private void InitializeComponent()
{
this.button1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.saveFileDialog1 = new System.Windows.Forms.SaveFileDialog();
this.ordersReport = new FlexCel.Report.FlexCelReport();
this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.btnCancel = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.SuspendLayout();
//
// button1
//
this.button1.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.button1.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Green;
this.button1.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
this.button1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(152, 88);
this.button1.Name = "button1";
this.button1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(112, 23);
this.button1.TabIndex = 0;
this.button1.Text = "GO!";
this.button1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button1_Click);
//
// saveFileDialog1
//
this.saveFileDialog1.Filter = "Excel Files|*.xls;*.xlsx;*.xlsm|Excel 97/2003|*.xls|Excel 2007|*.xlsx;*.xlsm|All files|*.*";
this.saveFileDialog1.RestoreDirectory = true;
//
// ordersReport
//
this.ordersReport.DeleteEmptyRanges = false;
this.ordersReport.ErrorActions = FlexCel.Report.TErrorActions.None;
//
// label1
//
this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(24, 24);
this.label1.Name = "label1";
this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(288, 24);
this.label1.TabIndex = 2;
this.label1.Text = "A report with parameters in Expressions";
//
// btnCancel
//
this.btnCancel.Anchor = ((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles)((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top | System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right)));
this.btnCancel.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.FromArgb(((System.Byte)(192)), ((System.Byte)(0)), ((System.Byte)(0)));
this.btnCancel.DialogResult = System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel;
this.btnCancel.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
this.btnCancel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(272, 88);
this.btnCancel.Name = "btnCancel";
this.btnCancel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(112, 23);
this.btnCancel.TabIndex = 3;
this.btnCancel.Text = "Cancel";
this.btnCancel.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.btnCancel_Click);
//
// mainForm
//
this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(416, 133);
this.Controls.Add(this.btnCancel);
this.Controls.Add(this.label1);
this.Controls.Add(this.button1);
this.Name = "mainForm";
this.Text = "Expression Parameters Report";
this.ResumeLayout(false);
}
#endregion
}
}
Program.cs
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace ExpressionParameters
{
static class Program
{
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new mainForm());
}
}
}