Generate Reports in C# Like Crystal Reports (.NET 10)

Report generation is essential for business applications, but few developers enjoy implementing it. For over two decades, Crystal Reports dominated the .NET ecosystem, generating invoices, summaries, inventories, and other business documents. Developers learned reporting by dragging fields onto sections and configuring formulas in Crystal’s designer.

The software landscape has changed dramatically since Crystal Reports’ peak. As .NET development has shifted toward cloud-native and cross-platform architectures, legacy reporting tools have become a bottleneck. Development teams are now seeking alternatives that align with modern CI/CD practices without the heavy dependencies of the past.

This tutorial takes a different approach to report generation. It uses HTML and CSS templates rendered to PDF through IronPDF. Instead of learning a proprietary designer and formula language, you can apply existing HTML, CSS, and Razor view skills. Allowing developers to create reports that work everywhere .NET runs. The learning curve is minimal since you build on your web development knowledge. Additionally, this covers three comprehensive report examples: a sales invoice with line items, tax calculations, and payment terms; an employee directory with grouped departments, contact info, and photo placement; and an inventory report with conditional formatting for low-stock cases. It shows how to add branding to headers and footers, generate interactive charts with JavaScript, create tables of contents, and batch-process hundreds of reports. By the end, you will have a toolkit to replace Crystal Reports in .NET applications.

Table of Contents

C# Report Generator: HTML Templates to PDF

HTML-to-PDF generation relies on a linear architectural pipeline. Instead of a proprietary file format, the application uses standard data models to populate Razor views or HTML templates. The resulting HTML string is then passed to a rendering engine like IronPDF, which captures the visual output as a PDF document. This approach decouples the report design from the hosting environment, allowing the exact same code to execute on any platform that supports .NET.

This workflow mirrors standard web development. Front-end developers create the layout using CSS and preview it immediately in any browser. Backend developers then bind the data using C#. This separation allows teams to use their existing version control, code review, and continuous deployment processes for reports just as they do for the rest of the application.

HTML enables features unavailable in Crystal Reports: interactive charts, responsive tables, and shared styles for consistent branding.

Quickstart: Replace Crystal Reports With HTML to PDF in C#

Use IronPDF's RenderHtmlAsPdf method to convert HTML templates into PDF documents. Replace Crystal Reports' proprietary .rpt files with standard HTML and CSS that renders identically across all platforms.

Nuget IconGet started making PDFs with NuGet now:

  1. Install IronPDF with NuGet Package Manager

    PM > Install-Package IronPdf

  2. Copy and run this code snippet.

    // Install-Package IronPdf
    var pdf = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
        .RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Sales Report</h1><table><tr><td>Q1</td><td>$50,000</td></tr></table>")
        .SaveAs("sales-report.pdf");
  3. Deploy to test on your live environment

    Start using IronPDF in your project today with a free trial
    arrow pointer

Why Replace Crystal Reports in .NET Applications

The migration away from Crystal Reports is not the result of a single catastrophic issue or sudden abandonment by SAP. Instead, it is the accumulation of friction points that collectively make the platform increasingly difficult to justify for new projects and more challenging to maintain in existing solutions. Identifying these pain points clarifies why many teams are searching for alternatives and which criteria are most important when evaluating replacement options.

No .NET 8 or .NET Core Support

Crystal Reports does not support .NET Core or .NET 5-10. SAP has stated on forums that they do not plan to add support. The SDK uses COM components, which are incompatible with cross-platform .NET. Support for modern .NET would require a complete rewrite, which SAP has declined to do.

As a result, teams building new applications on current .NET versions cannot use Crystal Reports. Organizations standardized on .NET 8 or .NET 10 are unable to integrate it. For existing applications, upgrading to a modern .NET runtime requires replacing the reporting system first.

Complex Licensing and Hidden Costs

Crystal Reports licensing distinguishes between designer licenses, runtime licenses, server deployments, and embedded use. Rules vary for desktop, web, and terminal services. Compliance in one setup may need extra licenses in another. If gaps appear after deployment, unexpected costs arise. Many organizations decide that the uncertainty is worse than migrating to a solution with clearer licensing.

Windows-Only Platform Lock-In

Crystal Reports only runs on Windows with the legacy .NET Framework. You cannot deploy these applications to Linux containers, Azure App Service on Linux, AWS Lambda, or Google Cloud Run. As organizations use containerized, platform-agnostic, and serverless systems, these restrictions become more important.

Development teams building microservices face extra challenges. If nine services run in lightweight Linux containers but one needs Windows for Crystal Reports, deployment is more complicated. You need Windows container images, Windows-compatible hosting, and separate deployment settings. The reporting service becomes an exception, blocking standardization.

Set Up a C# Report Generator in .NET 10

Getting started with IronPDF is simple. Install the library through NuGet like any other .NET dependency. There is no extra software to download or a separate runtime installer for production servers.

Choose a Template Approach: Razor, HTML, or Hybrid

IronPDF supports three distinct approaches to building report templates. Each approach offers specific advantages depending on team composition, project requirements, and long-term maintenance considerations.

Razor Views offer the richest development experience for teams already working in the .NET ecosystem. Strongly-typed models with full IntelliSense support in Visual Studio and VS Code, compile-time checking, and the full power of C# for loops, conditionals, null handling, and string formatting are available. Razor's syntax is familiar to those who have built ASP.NET Core applications, eliminating the learning curve associated with template engines from other ecosystems. The templates reside in the project alongside other source files, participate in refactoring operations, and compile as part of the normal build process.

Plain HTML with String Interpolation works well for simpler reports or teams that prefer keeping templates separate from .NET code entirely. HTML templates can be stored as embedded resources compiled into the assembly, external files deployed alongside the application, or even retrieved from a database or content management system at runtime. Basic data binding uses string.Replace() for single values or a lightweight templating library like Scriban or Fluid for more advanced scenarios. This approach maximizes portability, allowing designers to edit templates without any .NET tooling installed, using only a text editor and a web browser for preview.

Hybrid Approaches combine both techniques for scenarios requiring flexibility. For instance, a Razor view might be rendered to generate the main HTML structure, then post-processed with additional string replacements for dynamic elements that do not fit cleanly into the view model. Alternatively, an HTML template designed by a non-developer can be loaded, and Razor partial views can be used to render only the complex, data-driven sections before combining everything. The HTML-to-PDF conversion is agnostic to the HTML source, allowing you to mix approaches based on each report’s needs.

Given these options, this tutorial focuses primarily on Razor views because they offer the best balance of type safety, maintainability, and feature richness for typical business reporting scenarios. The skills transfer directly if future requirements include working with plain HTML templates, as both methods produce HTML strings.

Build a Data-Driven PDF Report in C#

This section demonstrates the complete creation of a sales invoice report, from start to finish. The example covers the essential pattern used for all reports: define a model that structures the data, create a Razor template that transforms data into formatted HTML, render that template to an HTML string, and convert the HTML to a PDF document ready for viewing, emailing, or archiving.

Create the HTML/CSS Report Template

The first step is to define the data model. A real invoice requires customer information, line items with descriptions and pricing, calculated totals, tax handling, and company branding elements. Model classes should be structured to reflect these groupings:

// Invoice data model with customer, company, and line item details
public class InvoiceModel
{
    public string InvoiceNumber { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public DateTime InvoiceDate { get; set; }
    public DateTime DueDate { get; set; }

    public CompanyInfo Company { get; set; } = new();
    public CustomerInfo Customer { get; set; } = new();
    public List<LineItem> Items { get; set; } = new();

    // Computed totals - business logic stays in the model
    public decimal Subtotal => Items.Sum(x => x.Total);
    public decimal TaxRate { get; set; } = 0.08m;
    public decimal TaxAmount => Subtotal * TaxRate;
    public decimal GrandTotal => Subtotal + TaxAmount;
}

// Company details for invoice header
public class CompanyInfo
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Address { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string City { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Phone { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string LogoPath { get; set; } = string.Empty;
}

// Customer billing information
public class CustomerInfo
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Address { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string City { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
}

// Individual invoice line item
public class LineItem
{
    public string Description { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public int Quantity { get; set; }
    public decimal UnitPrice { get; set; }
    public decimal Total => Quantity * UnitPrice;
}
// Invoice data model with customer, company, and line item details
public class InvoiceModel
{
    public string InvoiceNumber { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public DateTime InvoiceDate { get; set; }
    public DateTime DueDate { get; set; }

    public CompanyInfo Company { get; set; } = new();
    public CustomerInfo Customer { get; set; } = new();
    public List<LineItem> Items { get; set; } = new();

    // Computed totals - business logic stays in the model
    public decimal Subtotal => Items.Sum(x => x.Total);
    public decimal TaxRate { get; set; } = 0.08m;
    public decimal TaxAmount => Subtotal * TaxRate;
    public decimal GrandTotal => Subtotal + TaxAmount;
}

// Company details for invoice header
public class CompanyInfo
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Address { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string City { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Phone { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string LogoPath { get; set; } = string.Empty;
}

// Customer billing information
public class CustomerInfo
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Address { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string City { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
}

// Individual invoice line item
public class LineItem
{
    public string Description { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public int Quantity { get; set; }
    public decimal UnitPrice { get; set; }
    public decimal Total => Quantity * UnitPrice;
}
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Linq

' Invoice data model with customer, company, and line item details
Public Class InvoiceModel
    Public Property InvoiceNumber As String = String.Empty
    Public Property InvoiceDate As DateTime
    Public Property DueDate As DateTime

    Public Property Company As New CompanyInfo()
    Public Property Customer As New CustomerInfo()
    Public Property Items As New List(Of LineItem)()

    ' Computed totals - business logic stays in the model
    Public ReadOnly Property Subtotal As Decimal
        Get
            Return Items.Sum(Function(x) x.Total)
        End Get
    End Property

    Public Property TaxRate As Decimal = 0.08D

    Public ReadOnly Property TaxAmount As Decimal
        Get
            Return Subtotal * TaxRate
        End Get
    End Property

    Public ReadOnly Property GrandTotal As Decimal
        Get
            Return Subtotal + TaxAmount
        End Get
    End Property
End Class

' Company details for invoice header
Public Class CompanyInfo
    Public Property Name As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Address As String = String.Empty
    Public Property City As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Phone As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Email As String = String.Empty
    Public Property LogoPath As String = String.Empty
End Class

' Customer billing information
Public Class CustomerInfo
    Public Property Name As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Address As String = String.Empty
    Public Property City As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Email As String = String.Empty
End Class

' Individual invoice line item
Public Class LineItem
    Public Property Description As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Quantity As Integer
    Public Property UnitPrice As Decimal

    Public ReadOnly Property Total As Decimal
        Get
            Return Quantity * UnitPrice
        End Get
    End Property
End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

The computed properties for Subtotal, TaxAmount, and GrandTotal are included in the model. These calculations belong in the model rather than the template, keeping Razor views focused on presentation while the model handles business logic. This separation makes unit testing straightforward, allowing calculations to be verified without rendering any HTML.

Now create the Razor view that transforms this model into a professionally formatted invoice. Save this as InvoiceTemplate.cshtml in your Views folder:

@model InvoiceModel
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <style>
        /* Reset and base styles */
        * { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }
        body { font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #333; line-height: 1.5; }
        .invoice-container { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px; }

        /* Header with company info and invoice title */
        .header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 40px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 2px solid #3498db; }
        .company-info h1 { font-size: 24px; color: #2c3e50; margin-bottom: 10px; }
        .company-info p { color: #7f8c8d; font-size: 11px; }
        .invoice-title { text-align: right; }
        .invoice-title h2 { font-size: 32px; color: #3498db; margin-bottom: 10px; }
        .invoice-title p { font-size: 12px; color: #7f8c8d; }

        /* Address blocks */
        .addresses { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .address-block { width: 45%; }
        .address-block h3 { font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #95a5a6; margin-bottom: 8px; letter-spacing: 1px; }
        .address-block p { font-size: 12px; }

        /* Line items table */
        .items-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .items-table th { background-color: #3498db; color: white; padding: 12px; text-align: left; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.5px; }
        .items-table th:last-child, .items-table td:last-child { text-align: right; }
        .items-table td { padding: 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ecf0f1; }
        .items-table tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f9f9f9; }

        /* Totals section */
        .totals { float: right; width: 300px; }
        .totals-row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 8px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #ecf0f1; }
        .totals-row.grand-total { border-bottom: none; border-top: 2px solid #3498db; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #2c3e50; padding-top: 12px; }

        /* Footer */
        .footer { clear: both; margin-top: 60px; padding-top: 20px; border-top: 1px solid #ecf0f1; text-align: center; color: #95a5a6; font-size: 10px; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="invoice-container">

        <div class="header">
            <div class="company-info">
                <h1>@Model.Company.Name</h1>
                <p>@Model.Company.Address</p>
                <p>@Model.Company.City</p>
                <p>@Model.Company.Phone | @Model.Company.Email</p>
            </div>
            <div class="invoice-title">
                <h2>INVOICE</h2>
                <p>Invoice #: @Model.InvoiceNumber</p>
                <p>Date: @Model.InvoiceDate.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy")</p>
                <p>Due Date: @Model.DueDate.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy")</p>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class="addresses">
            <div class="address-block">
                <h3>Bill To</h3>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Name</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Address</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.City</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Email</p>
            </div>
        </div>

        <table class="items-table">
            <thead>
                <tr><th>Description</th><th>Quantity</th><th>Unit Price</th><th>Total</th></tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
                @foreach (var item in Model.Items)
                {
                    <tr>
                        <td>@item.Description</td>
                        <td>@item.Quantity</td>
                        <td>@item.UnitPrice.ToString("C")</td>
                        <td>@item.Total.ToString("C")</td>
                    </tr>
                }
            </tbody>
        </table>

        <div class="totals">
            <div class="totals-row"><span>Subtotal:</span><span>@Model.Subtotal.ToString("C")</span></div>
            <div class="totals-row"><span>Tax (@(Model.TaxRate * 100)%):</span><span>@Model.TaxAmount.ToString("C")</span></div>
            <div class="totals-row grand-total"><span>Total Due:</span><span>@Model.GrandTotal.ToString("C")</span></div>
        </div>

        <div class="footer">
            <p>Thank you for your business!</p>
            <p>Payment is due within 30 days. Please include invoice number with your payment.</p>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
</html>
@model InvoiceModel
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <style>
        /* Reset and base styles */
        * { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }
        body { font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #333; line-height: 1.5; }
        .invoice-container { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px; }

        /* Header with company info and invoice title */
        .header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start; margin-bottom: 40px; padding-bottom: 20px; border-bottom: 2px solid #3498db; }
        .company-info h1 { font-size: 24px; color: #2c3e50; margin-bottom: 10px; }
        .company-info p { color: #7f8c8d; font-size: 11px; }
        .invoice-title { text-align: right; }
        .invoice-title h2 { font-size: 32px; color: #3498db; margin-bottom: 10px; }
        .invoice-title p { font-size: 12px; color: #7f8c8d; }

        /* Address blocks */
        .addresses { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .address-block { width: 45%; }
        .address-block h3 { font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #95a5a6; margin-bottom: 8px; letter-spacing: 1px; }
        .address-block p { font-size: 12px; }

        /* Line items table */
        .items-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 30px; }
        .items-table th { background-color: #3498db; color: white; padding: 12px; text-align: left; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.5px; }
        .items-table th:last-child, .items-table td:last-child { text-align: right; }
        .items-table td { padding: 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ecf0f1; }
        .items-table tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f9f9f9; }

        /* Totals section */
        .totals { float: right; width: 300px; }
        .totals-row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 8px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #ecf0f1; }
        .totals-row.grand-total { border-bottom: none; border-top: 2px solid #3498db; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #2c3e50; padding-top: 12px; }

        /* Footer */
        .footer { clear: both; margin-top: 60px; padding-top: 20px; border-top: 1px solid #ecf0f1; text-align: center; color: #95a5a6; font-size: 10px; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="invoice-container">

        <div class="header">
            <div class="company-info">
                <h1>@Model.Company.Name</h1>
                <p>@Model.Company.Address</p>
                <p>@Model.Company.City</p>
                <p>@Model.Company.Phone | @Model.Company.Email</p>
            </div>
            <div class="invoice-title">
                <h2>INVOICE</h2>
                <p>Invoice #: @Model.InvoiceNumber</p>
                <p>Date: @Model.InvoiceDate.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy")</p>
                <p>Due Date: @Model.DueDate.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy")</p>
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class="addresses">
            <div class="address-block">
                <h3>Bill To</h3>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Name</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Address</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.City</p>
                <p>@Model.Customer.Email</p>
            </div>
        </div>

        <table class="items-table">
            <thead>
                <tr><th>Description</th><th>Quantity</th><th>Unit Price</th><th>Total</th></tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
                @foreach (var item in Model.Items)
                {
                    <tr>
                        <td>@item.Description</td>
                        <td>@item.Quantity</td>
                        <td>@item.UnitPrice.ToString("C")</td>
                        <td>@item.Total.ToString("C")</td>
                    </tr>
                }
            </tbody>
        </table>

        <div class="totals">
            <div class="totals-row"><span>Subtotal:</span><span>@Model.Subtotal.ToString("C")</span></div>
            <div class="totals-row"><span>Tax (@(Model.TaxRate * 100)%):</span><span>@Model.TaxAmount.ToString("C")</span></div>
            <div class="totals-row grand-total"><span>Total Due:</span><span>@Model.GrandTotal.ToString("C")</span></div>
        </div>

        <div class="footer">
            <p>Thank you for your business!</p>
            <p>Payment is due within 30 days. Please include invoice number with your payment.</p>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
</html>
HTML

The CSS embedded in this template handles all visual styling such as colors, fonts, spacing, and table formatting. IronPDF also supports modern CSS features like flexbox, grid layouts, and CSS variables. The rendered PDF matches Chrome's print preview exactly, which makes debugging straightforward: if something looks wrong in the PDF, open the HTML in a browser and use developer tools to inspect and adjust styles.

Bind Data to the Template

With the model and template in place, rendering the PDF requires connecting them through IronPDF's ChromePdfRenderer. The key step is converting the Razor view to an HTML string, then passing that string to the renderer:

using IronPdf;

// Service class for generating invoice PDFs from Razor views
public class InvoiceReportService
{
    private readonly IRazorViewEngine _razorViewEngine;
    private readonly ITempDataProvider _tempDataProvider;
    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;

    public InvoiceReportService(
        IRazorViewEngine razorViewEngine,
        ITempDataProvider tempDataProvider,
        IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
    {
        _razorViewEngine = razorViewEngine;
        _tempDataProvider = tempDataProvider;
        _serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
    }

    // Generate PDF from invoice model
    public async Task<byte[]> GenerateInvoicePdfAsync(InvoiceModel invoice)
    {
        // Render Razor view to HTML string
        string html = await RenderViewToStringAsync("InvoiceTemplate", invoice);

        // Configure PDF renderer with margins and paper size
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.Letter;

        // Convert HTML to PDF and return bytes
        var pdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        return pdfDocument.BinaryData;
    }

    // Helper method to render a Razor view to string
    private async Task<string> RenderViewToStringAsync<TModel>(string viewName, TModel model)
    {
        var httpContext = new DefaultHttpContext { RequestServices = _serviceProvider };
        var actionContext = new ActionContext(httpContext, new RouteData(), new ActionDescriptor());

        using var stringWriter = new StringWriter();
        var viewResult = _razorViewEngine.FindView(actionContext, viewName, false);

        if (!viewResult.Success)
            throw new InvalidOperationException($"View '{viewName}' not found.");

        var viewDictionary = new ViewDataDictionary<TModel>(
            new EmptyModelMetadataProvider(), new ModelStateDictionary()) { Model = model };

        var viewContext = new ViewContext(actionContext, viewResult.View, viewDictionary,
            new TempDataDictionary(actionContext.HttpContext, _tempDataProvider),
            stringWriter, new HtmlHelperOptions());

        await viewResult.View.RenderAsync(viewContext);
        return stringWriter.ToString();
    }
}
using IronPdf;

// Service class for generating invoice PDFs from Razor views
public class InvoiceReportService
{
    private readonly IRazorViewEngine _razorViewEngine;
    private readonly ITempDataProvider _tempDataProvider;
    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;

    public InvoiceReportService(
        IRazorViewEngine razorViewEngine,
        ITempDataProvider tempDataProvider,
        IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
    {
        _razorViewEngine = razorViewEngine;
        _tempDataProvider = tempDataProvider;
        _serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
    }

    // Generate PDF from invoice model
    public async Task<byte[]> GenerateInvoicePdfAsync(InvoiceModel invoice)
    {
        // Render Razor view to HTML string
        string html = await RenderViewToStringAsync("InvoiceTemplate", invoice);

        // Configure PDF renderer with margins and paper size
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.Letter;

        // Convert HTML to PDF and return bytes
        var pdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        return pdfDocument.BinaryData;
    }

    // Helper method to render a Razor view to string
    private async Task<string> RenderViewToStringAsync<TModel>(string viewName, TModel model)
    {
        var httpContext = new DefaultHttpContext { RequestServices = _serviceProvider };
        var actionContext = new ActionContext(httpContext, new RouteData(), new ActionDescriptor());

        using var stringWriter = new StringWriter();
        var viewResult = _razorViewEngine.FindView(actionContext, viewName, false);

        if (!viewResult.Success)
            throw new InvalidOperationException($"View '{viewName}' not found.");

        var viewDictionary = new ViewDataDictionary<TModel>(
            new EmptyModelMetadataProvider(), new ModelStateDictionary()) { Model = model };

        var viewContext = new ViewContext(actionContext, viewResult.View, viewDictionary,
            new TempDataDictionary(actionContext.HttpContext, _tempDataProvider),
            stringWriter, new HtmlHelperOptions());

        await viewResult.View.RenderAsync(viewContext);
        return stringWriter.ToString();
    }
}
Imports IronPdf
Imports Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Razor
Imports Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.ViewFeatures
Imports Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection
Imports Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http
Imports Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc
Imports Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Threading.Tasks

' Service class for generating invoice PDFs from Razor views
Public Class InvoiceReportService
    Private ReadOnly _razorViewEngine As IRazorViewEngine
    Private ReadOnly _tempDataProvider As ITempDataProvider
    Private ReadOnly _serviceProvider As IServiceProvider

    Public Sub New(razorViewEngine As IRazorViewEngine, tempDataProvider As ITempDataProvider, serviceProvider As IServiceProvider)
        _razorViewEngine = razorViewEngine
        _tempDataProvider = tempDataProvider
        _serviceProvider = serviceProvider
    End Sub

    ' Generate PDF from invoice model
    Public Async Function GenerateInvoicePdfAsync(invoice As InvoiceModel) As Task(Of Byte())
        ' Render Razor view to HTML string
        Dim html As String = Await RenderViewToStringAsync("InvoiceTemplate", invoice)

        ' Configure PDF renderer with margins and paper size
        Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 10
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 10
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfPaperSize.Letter

        ' Convert HTML to PDF and return bytes
        Dim pdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)
        Return pdfDocument.BinaryData
    End Function

    ' Helper method to render a Razor view to string
    Private Async Function RenderViewToStringAsync(Of TModel)(viewName As String, model As TModel) As Task(Of String)
        Dim httpContext As New DefaultHttpContext With {.RequestServices = _serviceProvider}
        Dim actionContext As New ActionContext(httpContext, New RouteData(), New ActionDescriptor())

        Using stringWriter As New StringWriter()
            Dim viewResult = _razorViewEngine.FindView(actionContext, viewName, False)

            If Not viewResult.Success Then
                Throw New InvalidOperationException($"View '{viewName}' not found.")
            End If

            Dim viewDictionary As New ViewDataDictionary(Of TModel)(
                New EmptyModelMetadataProvider(), New ModelStateDictionary()) With {.Model = model}

            Dim viewContext As New ViewContext(actionContext, viewResult.View, viewDictionary,
                New TempDataDictionary(actionContext.HttpContext, _tempDataProvider),
                stringWriter, New HtmlHelperOptions())

            Await viewResult.View.RenderAsync(viewContext)
            Return stringWriter.ToString()
        End Using
    End Function
End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

For simpler scenarios, when you don't need the full ASP.NET Core MVC setup, like in a console app or background service, you can just use HTML strings with interpolation and StringBuilder for the dynamic parts.

Sample Output

Add Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

Professional reports typically include consistent headers and footers across all pages, displaying company branding, document titles, generation dates, and page numbers. IronPDF provides two approaches for implementing these elements: text-based headers for simple content requiring minimal formatting, and HTML headers for full styling control with logos and custom layouts.

Text-based headers work well for basic information and render faster since they don't require additional HTML parsing:

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/tutorials/crystal-reports-alternative-csharp/text-headers-footers.cs
using IronPdf;

// Configure text-based headers and footers
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Set starting page number
renderer.RenderingOptions.FirstPageNumber = 1;

// Add centered header with divider line
renderer.RenderingOptions.TextHeader = new TextHeaderFooter
{
    CenterText = "CONFIDENTIAL - Internal Use Only",
    DrawDividerLine = true,
    FontFamily = "Arial",
    FontSize = 10
};

// Add footer with date on left, page numbers on right
renderer.RenderingOptions.TextFooter = new TextHeaderFooter
{
    LeftText = "{date} {time}",
    RightText = "Page {page} of {total-pages}",
    DrawDividerLine = true,
    FontFamily = "Arial",
    FontSize = 9
};

// Set margins to accommodate header/footer
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 25;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20;
Imports IronPdf

' Configure text-based headers and footers
Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()

' Set starting page number
renderer.RenderingOptions.FirstPageNumber = 1

' Add centered header with divider line
renderer.RenderingOptions.TextHeader = New TextHeaderFooter With {
    .CenterText = "CONFIDENTIAL - Internal Use Only",
    .DrawDividerLine = True,
    .FontFamily = "Arial",
    .FontSize = 10
}

' Add footer with date on left, page numbers on right
renderer.RenderingOptions.TextFooter = New TextHeaderFooter With {
    .LeftText = "{date} {time}",
    .RightText = "Page {page} of {total-pages}",
    .DrawDividerLine = True,
    .FontFamily = "Arial",
    .FontSize = 9
}

' Set margins to accommodate header/footer
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 25
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

The merge fields available include {page} for the current page number, {total-pages} for the document's total page count, {date} and {time} for generation timestamps, {url} for the source URL if rendering from a web page, and {html-title} and {pdf-title} for document titles. These placeholders are automatically replaced during rendering.

For headers with logos, custom fonts, or complex multi-column layouts, use HTML headers that support full CSS styling:

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/tutorials/crystal-reports-alternative-csharp/html-headers-footers.cs
using IronPdf;

// Configure HTML header with logo and custom layout
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter
{
    MaxHeight = 30,
    HtmlFragment = @"
        <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center;
                    width: 100%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; color: #666;'>
            <img src='logo.png' style='height: 25px;'>
            <span>Company Name Inc.</span>
            <span>Invoice Report</span>
        </div>",
    BaseUrl = new Uri(@"C:\assets\images\").AbsoluteUri
};

// Configure HTML footer with page info and generation date
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = new HtmlHeaderFooter
{
    MaxHeight = 20,
    HtmlFragment = @"
        <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #999;
                    border-top: 1px solid #ddd; padding-top: 5px;'>
            Page {page} of {total-pages} | Generated on {date}
        </div>",
    DrawDividerLine = false
};
Imports IronPdf

' Configure HTML header with logo and custom layout
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlHeader = New HtmlHeaderFooter With {
    .MaxHeight = 30,
    .HtmlFragment = "
        <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center;
                    width: 100%; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; color: #666;'>
            <img src='logo.png' style='height: 25px;'>
            <span>Company Name Inc.</span>
            <span>Invoice Report</span>
        </div>",
    .BaseUrl = New Uri("C:\assets\images\").AbsoluteUri
}

' Configure HTML footer with page info and generation date
renderer.RenderingOptions.HtmlFooter = New HtmlHeaderFooter With {
    .MaxHeight = 20,
    .HtmlFragment = "
        <div style='text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #999;
                    border-top: 1px solid #ddd; padding-top: 5px;'>
            Page {page} of {total-pages} | Generated on {date}
        </div>",
    .DrawDividerLine = False
}
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Sample Output

Create Dynamic Tables and Repeating Sections

Reports often need to display collections of data that span multiple pages. Razor's loop constructs handle this naturally by iterating over collections and generating table rows or card elements for each item.

Here's a complete Employee Directory example demonstrating grouped data presentation with departmental sections:

// Employee directory data models
public class EmployeeDirectoryModel
{
    public List<Department> Departments { get; set; } = new();
    public DateTime GeneratedDate { get; set; } = DateTime.Now;
}

// Department grouping with manager info
public class Department
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string ManagerName { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public List<Employee> Employees { get; set; } = new();
}

// Individual employee details
public class Employee
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Title { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Phone { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string PhotoUrl { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public DateTime HireDate { get; set; }
}
// Employee directory data models
public class EmployeeDirectoryModel
{
    public List<Department> Departments { get; set; } = new();
    public DateTime GeneratedDate { get; set; } = DateTime.Now;
}

// Department grouping with manager info
public class Department
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string ManagerName { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public List<Employee> Employees { get; set; } = new();
}

// Individual employee details
public class Employee
{
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Title { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Email { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string Phone { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public string PhotoUrl { get; set; } = string.Empty;
    public DateTime HireDate { get; set; }
}
' Employee directory data models
Public Class EmployeeDirectoryModel
    Public Property Departments As List(Of Department) = New List(Of Department)()
    Public Property GeneratedDate As DateTime = DateTime.Now
End Class

' Department grouping with manager info
Public Class Department
    Public Property Name As String = String.Empty
    Public Property ManagerName As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Employees As List(Of Employee) = New List(Of Employee)()
End Class

' Individual employee details
Public Class Employee
    Public Property Name As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Title As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Email As String = String.Empty
    Public Property Phone As String = String.Empty
    Public Property PhotoUrl As String = String.Empty
    Public Property HireDate As DateTime
End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

The CSS property page-break-inside: avoid on the department class tells the PDF renderer to keep department sections together on a single page when possible. If a department's content would cause a page break mid-section, the renderer moves the entire section to the next page instead. The selector .department:not(:first-child) with page-break-before: always forces each department after the first to start on a new page, creating clean section separation throughout the directory.

Sample Output

Advanced C# Report Generation With IronPDF

Business reports frequently require capabilities beyond static tables and text. Charts visualize trends that would be tedious to comprehend in tabular form. Conditional formatting draws attention to items requiring action. Sub-reports combine data from multiple sources into cohesive documents. This section covers implementing each of these features using IronPDF's Chromium rendering engine.

Add Charts and Graphs to PDF Reports

Because JavaScript executes during rendering, you can use any client-side charting library to generate visualizations directly in your reports. The chart gets rasterized as part of the page and appears in the final PDF exactly as it would on screen. Chart.js offers an excellent balance of simplicity, capability, and documentation for most reporting needs.

Include Chart.js from a CDN and configure your chart with data serialized from your C# model:

@model SalesReportModel

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/chart.js"></script>

<canvas id="salesChart"></canvas>

<script>
    // Initialize bar chart with data from C# model
    const ctx = document.getElementById('salesChart').getContext('2d');
    new Chart(ctx, {
        type: 'bar',
        data: {
            // Serialize model data to JavaScript arrays
            labels: @Html.Raw(System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(Model.MonthLabels)),
            datasets: [{
                label: 'Monthly Sales',
                data: @Html.Raw(System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(Model.MonthlySales)),
                backgroundColor: 'rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.7)'
            }]
        }
    });
</script>
@model SalesReportModel

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/chart.js"></script>

<canvas id="salesChart"></canvas>

<script>
    // Initialize bar chart with data from C# model
    const ctx = document.getElementById('salesChart').getContext('2d');
    new Chart(ctx, {
        type: 'bar',
        data: {
            // Serialize model data to JavaScript arrays
            labels: @Html.Raw(System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(Model.MonthLabels)),
            datasets: [{
                label: 'Monthly Sales',
                data: @Html.Raw(System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(Model.MonthlySales)),
                backgroundColor: 'rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.7)'
            }]
        }
    });
</script>
HTML

When rendering pages that include JavaScript-generated content, configure the renderer to wait for scripts to complete execution before capturing the page:

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/tutorials/crystal-reports-alternative-csharp/javascript-wait-rendering.cs
using IronPdf;

// Configure renderer to wait for JavaScript execution
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(500); // Wait 500ms for JS to complete
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
Imports IronPdf

' Configure renderer to wait for JavaScript execution
Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(500) ' Wait 500ms for JS to complete
Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Sample Output

Apply Conditional Formatting and Business Logic

Inventory reports benefit from visual indicators that immediately draw attention to items requiring action. Rather than forcing users to scan through hundreds of rows looking for problems, conditional formatting makes exceptions visually obvious. Use Razor's inline expressions to apply CSS classes based on data values:


@foreach (var item in Model.Items.OrderBy(x => x.Quantity))
{
    // Apply CSS class based on stock level thresholds
    var rowClass = item.Quantity <= Model.CriticalStockThreshold ? "stock-critical" :
                   item.Quantity <= Model.LowStockThreshold ? "stock-low" : "";

    <tr class="@rowClass">
        <td>@item.SKU</td>
        <td>@item.ProductName</td>
        <td class="text-right">

            <span class="quantity-badge @(item.Quantity <= 5 ? "badge-critical" : "badge-ok")">
                @item.Quantity
            </span>
        </td>
    </tr>
}

@foreach (var item in Model.Items.OrderBy(x => x.Quantity))
{
    // Apply CSS class based on stock level thresholds
    var rowClass = item.Quantity <= Model.CriticalStockThreshold ? "stock-critical" :
                   item.Quantity <= Model.LowStockThreshold ? "stock-low" : "";

    <tr class="@rowClass">
        <td>@item.SKU</td>
        <td>@item.ProductName</td>
        <td class="text-right">

            <span class="quantity-badge @(item.Quantity <= 5 ? "badge-critical" : "badge-ok")">
                @item.Quantity
            </span>
        </td>
    </tr>
}
HTML

Sample Output

Create Sub-Reports and Section Breaks

For combining independently generated reports into one document, use IronPDF's merge functionality:

using IronPdf;

// Combine multiple reports into a single PDF document
public byte[] GenerateCombinedReport(SalesReportModel sales, InventoryReportModel inventory)
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

    // Render each report section separately
    var salesPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderSalesReport(sales));
    var inventoryPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderInventoryReport(inventory));

    // Merge PDFs into one document
    var combined = PdfDocument.Merge(salesPdf, inventoryPdf);
    return combined.BinaryData;
}
using IronPdf;

// Combine multiple reports into a single PDF document
public byte[] GenerateCombinedReport(SalesReportModel sales, InventoryReportModel inventory)
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

    // Render each report section separately
    var salesPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderSalesReport(sales));
    var inventoryPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderInventoryReport(inventory));

    // Merge PDFs into one document
    var combined = PdfDocument.Merge(salesPdf, inventoryPdf);
    return combined.BinaryData;
}
Imports IronPdf

' Combine multiple reports into a single PDF document
Public Function GenerateCombinedReport(sales As SalesReportModel, inventory As InventoryReportModel) As Byte()
    Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()

    ' Render each report section separately
    Dim salesPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderSalesReport(sales))
    Dim inventoryPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(RenderInventoryReport(inventory))

    ' Merge PDFs into one document
    Dim combined = PdfDocument.Merge(salesPdf, inventoryPdf)
    Return combined.BinaryData
End Function
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Sample Output

Generate a Table of Contents

IronPDF can automatically generate a table of contents based on heading elements in your HTML:

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/tutorials/crystal-reports-alternative-csharp/table-of-contents.cs
using IronPdf;

// Generate PDF with automatic table of contents
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.TableOfContents = TableOfContentsTypes.WithPageNumbers;
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("report.html");
Imports IronPdf

' Generate PDF with automatic table of contents
Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.TableOfContents = TableOfContentsTypes.WithPageNumbers
Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("report.html")
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Migrate From Crystal Reports to IronPDF

Migrating an established reporting system requires careful planning to minimize disruption while capturing the opportunity to modernize and simplify. You'll move faster by understanding how Crystal Reports concepts map to the HTML-based approach, rather than trying to replicate every feature literally or preserve every quirk of the original reports.

Map Crystal Reports Concepts to IronPDF

Understanding the conceptual mapping helps you systematically translate existing reports:

Crystal ReportsIronPDF Equivalent
Report sectionsHTML divs with CSS page-break properties
Parameter fieldsModel properties passed to Razor views
Formula fieldsC# computed properties in model classes
Running totalsLINQ aggregations
Sub-reportsPartial views or merged PDF documents
Grouping/sortingLINQ operations before passing data to template
Cross-tab reportsHTML tables using nested loops
Conditional formattingRazor @if blocks with CSS classes

Best Strategy for Converting .rpt Templates

Do not attempt to parse .rpt files programmatically. Instead, treat the existing PDF outputs as visual specifications and rebuild the logic using a systematic four-step strategy:

  1. Inventory: Catalog all .rpt files with their purpose, data sources, and usage frequency. Remove obsolete reports to reduce migration scope.

  2. Prioritize: Migrate high-frequency reports first. Target reports with simple layouts or persistent maintenance issues.

  3. Reference: Export existing Crystal Reports as PDFs. Use these as visual specifications for developers to match.

  4. Validate: Test with production data volumes. Templates that render instantly with 10 rows may slow with 10,000 rows.

Batch Report Generation and Scheduling in .NET

Production systems often need to generate many reports simultaneously or run report jobs on schedules. IronPDF's thread-safe design supports both scenarios efficiently.

Generate Multiple Reports in Parallel

For batch processing, use Parallel.ForEachAsync or async patterns with Task.WhenAll:

using IronPdf;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;

// Generate multiple invoices in parallel using async processing
public async Task<List<ReportResult>> GenerateInvoiceBatchAsync(List<InvoiceModel> invoices)
{
    var results = new ConcurrentBag<ReportResult>();

    // Process invoices concurrently with controlled parallelism
    await Parallel.ForEachAsync(invoices,
        new ParallelOptions { MaxDegreeOfParallelism = Environment.ProcessorCount },
        async (invoice, token) =>
        {
            // Each thread gets its own renderer instance
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
            string html = BuildInvoiceHtml(invoice);
            var pdf = await renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync(html);

            // Save individual invoice PDF
            string filename = $"Invoice_{invoice.InvoiceNumber}.pdf";
            await pdf.SaveAsAsync(filename);

            results.Add(new ReportResult { InvoiceNumber = invoice.InvoiceNumber, Success = true });
        });

    return results.ToList();
}
using IronPdf;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;

// Generate multiple invoices in parallel using async processing
public async Task<List<ReportResult>> GenerateInvoiceBatchAsync(List<InvoiceModel> invoices)
{
    var results = new ConcurrentBag<ReportResult>();

    // Process invoices concurrently with controlled parallelism
    await Parallel.ForEachAsync(invoices,
        new ParallelOptions { MaxDegreeOfParallelism = Environment.ProcessorCount },
        async (invoice, token) =>
        {
            // Each thread gets its own renderer instance
            var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
            string html = BuildInvoiceHtml(invoice);
            var pdf = await renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync(html);

            // Save individual invoice PDF
            string filename = $"Invoice_{invoice.InvoiceNumber}.pdf";
            await pdf.SaveAsAsync(filename);

            results.Add(new ReportResult { InvoiceNumber = invoice.InvoiceNumber, Success = true });
        });

    return results.ToList();
}
Imports IronPdf
Imports System.Collections.Concurrent
Imports System.Threading.Tasks

' Generate multiple invoices in parallel using async processing
Public Async Function GenerateInvoiceBatchAsync(invoices As List(Of InvoiceModel)) As Task(Of List(Of ReportResult))
    Dim results As New ConcurrentBag(Of ReportResult)()

    ' Process invoices concurrently with controlled parallelism
    Await Task.Run(Async Function()
                       Await Parallel.ForEachAsync(invoices,
                           New ParallelOptions With {.MaxDegreeOfParallelism = Environment.ProcessorCount},
                           Async Function(invoice, token)
                               ' Each thread gets its own renderer instance
                               Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
                               Dim html As String = BuildInvoiceHtml(invoice)
                               Dim pdf = Await renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync(html)

                               ' Save individual invoice PDF
                               Dim filename As String = $"Invoice_{invoice.InvoiceNumber}.pdf"
                               Await pdf.SaveAsAsync(filename)

                               results.Add(New ReportResult With {.InvoiceNumber = invoice.InvoiceNumber, .Success = True})
                           End Function)
                   End Function)

    Return results.ToList()
End Function
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Sample Output

The batch processing example generates multiple invoices in parallel. Here's one of the generated batch invoices:

Integrate Report Generation With ASP.NET Core Background Services

Scheduled report generation fits naturally into ASP.NET Core's hosted service infrastructure:

// Background service for scheduled report generation
public class DailyReportService : BackgroundService
{
    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;

    protected override async Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken stoppingToken)
    {
        while (!stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
        {
            // Calculate next run time (6 AM daily)
            var nextRun = DateTime.Now.Date.AddDays(1).AddHours(6);
            await Task.Delay(nextRun - DateTime.Now, stoppingToken);

            // Create scoped service for report generation
            using var scope = _serviceProvider.CreateScope();
            var reportService = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<IReportGenerationService>();

            // Generate and distribute daily report
            var salesReport = await reportService.GenerateDailySalesSummaryAsync();
            // Email or save reports as needed
        }
    }
}
// Background service for scheduled report generation
public class DailyReportService : BackgroundService
{
    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;

    protected override async Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken stoppingToken)
    {
        while (!stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
        {
            // Calculate next run time (6 AM daily)
            var nextRun = DateTime.Now.Date.AddDays(1).AddHours(6);
            await Task.Delay(nextRun - DateTime.Now, stoppingToken);

            // Create scoped service for report generation
            using var scope = _serviceProvider.CreateScope();
            var reportService = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<IReportGenerationService>();

            // Generate and distribute daily report
            var salesReport = await reportService.GenerateDailySalesSummaryAsync();
            // Email or save reports as needed
        }
    }
}
Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Threading.Tasks
Imports Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection

' Background service for scheduled report generation
Public Class DailyReportService
    Inherits BackgroundService

    Private ReadOnly _serviceProvider As IServiceProvider

    Protected Overrides Async Function ExecuteAsync(stoppingToken As CancellationToken) As Task
        While Not stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested
            ' Calculate next run time (6 AM daily)
            Dim nextRun = DateTime.Now.Date.AddDays(1).AddHours(6)
            Await Task.Delay(nextRun - DateTime.Now, stoppingToken)

            ' Create scoped service for report generation
            Using scope = _serviceProvider.CreateScope()
                Dim reportService = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService(Of IReportGenerationService)()

                ' Generate and distribute daily report
                Dim salesReport = Await reportService.GenerateDailySalesSummaryAsync()
                ' Email or save reports as needed
            End Using
        End While
    End Function
End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Download the Complete Test Project

All code examples from this tutorial are available in a ready-to-run .NET 10 test project. The download includes the complete source code, data models, HTML templates, and a test runner that generates all sample PDFs shown above.

Next Steps

The examples throughout this guide demonstrate that IronPDF handles the full range of business reporting needs: simple invoices with line items and totals, complex employee directories with grouped data and photos, inventory reports with conditional formatting and charts, batch processing of hundreds of documents in parallel, and scheduled generation through background services.

If you're evaluating alternatives for an existing Crystal Reports implementation, start with a single high-value report. Rebuild it using the patterns shown here, compare the development experience and output quality, then expand from there. Many teams find that their first converted report takes a few hours as they establish patterns and base templates, while subsequent reports take only minutes to assemble as they reuse components and styling.

IronPDF offers a free trial that allows development testing without watermarks. You can evaluate the library with your actual report designs before making any purchasing decisions. Visit ironpdf.com to download the library and access additional documentation, code samples, and support resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IronPDF?

IronPDF is a C# library that enables developers to create, edit, and generate PDF documents programmatically, offering a modern alternative to traditional reporting tools like Crystal Reports.

How does IronPDF serve as a Crystal Reports alternative?

IronPDF provides a flexible and modern approach to report generation by allowing developers to use HTML/CSS templates, which can be easily styled and modified, as opposed to the more rigid structure of Crystal Reports.

Can I create invoices using IronPDF?

Yes, you can create detailed and customized invoices using HTML/CSS templates with IronPDF, making it easy to design professional-looking documents.

Is it possible to generate employee directories with IronPDF?

Absolutely. IronPDF allows you to generate comprehensive employee directories by leveraging dynamic data and HTML/CSS for clear and organized presentation.

How can IronPDF help with inventory reports?

IronPDF can streamline inventory report creation by using HTML/CSS templates, which can dynamically populate data to provide up-to-date and visually appealing reports.

What are the advantages of using HTML/CSS templates in IronPDF?

Using HTML/CSS templates in IronPDF offers flexibility in design, ease of updates, and compatibility with web technologies, making it easier to maintain and enhance report layouts.

Does IronPDF support .NET 10?

Yes, IronPDF is compatible with .NET 10, ensuring that developers can take advantage of the latest .NET features and improvements for their report generation needs.

How does IronPDF improve report generation speed?

IronPDF is optimized for performance, allowing it to generate reports quickly by efficiently processing HTML/CSS and rendering them into high-quality PDF documents.

Curtis Chau
Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

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