What problem does it solve?
This Skill eliminates the frustration of broken DevExpress XtraReport designers caused by incorrect layout code, and reduces hallucinations and API errors when working with DevExpress reporting components in Visual Studio or JetBrains Rider.
Core Features & Use Cases
- Designer-Compatible Code Patterns: Provides exact, validated patterns for InitializeComponent() structure, band hierarchy, control placement, and serialization order that match what the Visual Studio and JetBrains Rider Report Designers require, so reports open correctly every time.
- Complete Data Binding & Expression Guidance: Covers ExpressionBindings (the only supported binding API), Criteria Language syntax for expressions and summaries, data source setup (including master-detail relations), and parameter configuration for dynamic reports.
- IDE-Specific Troubleshooting: Includes guidance for common issues like JetBrains Rider's requirement to reopen reports after code changes, Visual Studio Report Design Analyzer usage, and fixes for common designer errors.
- Use Case: For example, if a developer needs to add a grouped sales table with per-group subtotals to an existing XtraReport, or fix a report that fails to open in the Rider designer due to misplaced layout code, this Skill provides the exact rules and code patterns to resolve the issue quickly.
Quick Start
Use this skill to generate a correct designer-compatible C# report layout file for a new invoice report with tabular line items, bound to a SQL data source, that works seamlessly in both Visual Studio and JetBrains Rider report designers.
