Using Entity Framework with Crystal Master Detail Reporting

Question

My project is a WPF project connected to a SQL Server Compact Edition database.  Since Crystal does not support nullable types, I have created classes specifically for the report to consume.  This is a simplified version of what I am attempting to do.
For example...
class Band
public string BandName { get; set; }
public string BandCity { get; set; }
public List<BandRecording> RecordingsList { get; set; }
class BandRecording
public string Year { get; set; }
public string Description { get; set; }
In my code behind for this report, I am using Entity Framework to pull the data.  Just pulling information for one band...
using (RockEntities re = new RockEntities())
var bandinfo = (from b in re.Band
where b.BandName == "BT"
select new
b.BandName,
b.BandCity,
Recordings = b.Recordings.OrderBy(z => z.Year)
}).FirstOrDefault();
OK, now I start moving to the data to class I have defined...
Band b = new Band();
b.RecordingsList = new List<BandRecording>();
b.BandName = bandinfo.BandName;
b.BandCity = bandinfo.BandCity;
foreach(var Recording in bandinfo.Recordings)
BandRecording br = new BandRecording();
br.Year = Recording.Year;
br.Description = Recording.Description;
b.RecordingsList.Add(br);
Since Crystal Supports IEnumerable, I create a list to hold the main record (although I am only reporting on one band)...
List<Band> lb = new List<Band>();
lb.Add(lb);
ReportDocument rd = new ReportDocument();
rd.Load("BandReport.rpt");
rd.SetDataSource(lb);
I have put the Band info in the Report Header section.  This is all working fine. In the details section I would like to put the Band Recording info.  I haven't figured out how to do this.  I have put the fields in the Details section, but how do I tell the details section to use the inner List<BandRecordings>?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Only way I can see of doing this would be to place emprty formulas into the section. The populate the formula(s) with the required field;
Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine
Imports CrystalDecisions.Shared
Public Class Form1
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
Dim Report As New CrystalReport1()
Dim FormulaFields As FormulaFieldDefinitions
Dim FormulaField As FormulaFieldDefinition
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
FormulaFields = Report.DataDefinition.FormulaFields
FormulaField = FormulaFields.Item(0)
FormulaField.Text = "[formula text]"
CrystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = Report
End Sub
Ludek
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