How to: Display Non-Persistent Objects in a Report

• Dec 03, 2025
• 3 minutes to read

This topic describes how to create a report based on non-persistent data. Use this approach to analyze and report data obtained from runtime calculations, stored procedures, arbitrary SQL queries, or third-party services.

Create a Report and Bind It to a Non-Persistent Data Type

1. Declare a non-persistent class (for example, MyNonPersistentObject), and decorate it with the DomainComponent and VisibleInReports attributes.

2. Create a report for the MyNonPersistentObject data type. You can add a predefined static report in Visual Studio or create a report at runtime.

Supply the Report with Data (Initialize Non-Persistent Objects)

Use the Application Builder

In the Application Builder code, handle the NonPersistentObjectSpace.ObjectsGetting event as shown below:

File : MySolution.Blazor.Server\Startup.cs, MySolution.Win\Startup.cs

• C# (Blazor)

using System.ComponentModel;
using DevExpress.ExpressApp;
using DevExpress.ExpressApp.Core;
// ...
// Handle the `NonPersistentObjectSpace.ObjectsGetting` event.
builder.ObjectSpaceProviders.Events.OnObjectSpaceCreated = context => {
    if (context.ObjectSpace is NonPersistentObjectSpace nonPersistentObjectSpace) {
        nonPersistentObjectSpace.ObjectsGetting += NonPersistentObjectSpace_ObjectsGetting; 
    }
};
// ...
private static void NonPersistentObjectSpace_ObjectsGetting(object sender, ObjectsGettingEventArgs e) {
    // In the event handler, populate the `e.Objects` collection 
    // with non-persistent objects of the required type.
    if (e.ObjectType == typeof(MyNonPersistentObject)) {
        BindingList<MyNonPersistentObject> objects = new BindingList<MyNonPersistentObject>();
        for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
            objects.Add(new MyNonPersistentObject() { Name = string.Format("Object {0}", i) });
        }
        e.Objects = objects;
    }
}
// ...

Implement an IObjectSpaceCustomizer

1. In the module project, implement the IObjectSpaceCustomizer service as shown below:

2. Register your IObjectSpaceCustomizer service implementation in the Starup.cs file of the Blazor and WinForms applications. Use the TryAddEnumerable method to register these services:

The following image demonstrates the result: