Preview Reports with AI-generated Test Data (WinForms Report Designer)

Nov 11, 2025
4 minutes to read

Users can generate AI-powered test data to preview reports without connecting to a live data source directly within the WinForms Report Designer. Follow the instructions in this help topic to activate AI-generated Test Data in the Report Designer.

How It Works

Once AI-generated Test Data is activated, the Report Designer displays the Test Data tab. Click it to preview the report with AI-generated test data. The Report Designer requests data from an LLM and populates the report with meaningful values for preview.

Activate AI-powered Extension

Prerequisites

.NET8+ or NET Framework v4.7.2+

Install NuGet Packages

Install the following NuGet packages:

DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting
DevExpress.Win.Design (activates design-time features for DevExpress WinForms UI controls in .NET projects)
Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI (Version=”9.7.1-preview.1.25365.4”)
Azure.AI.OpenAI (Version=”2.2.0-beta.5”)

See the following help topics for information on how to obtain the DevExpress NuGet Feed and install DevExpress NuGet packages:

Register AI Client

The following code snippet registers an Azure OpenAI client at application startup:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using Azure.AI.OpenAI;
using DevExpress.AIIntegration;
using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using System.ClientModel;

internal static class Program {
    static string AzureOpenAIEndpoint { get { return "AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"; } }
    static string AzureOpenAIKey { get { return "AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY"; } }
    static string DeploymentName { get { return "MODEL_NAME"; } } // For example, gpt-4.1.
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(){
        IChatClient client = new AzureOpenAIClient(
            new Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint),
            new ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey))
                .GetChatClient(DeploymentName).AsIChatClient(); 
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(client);
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

Imports Azure.AI.OpenAI
Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration
Imports Microsoft.Extensions.AI
Imports System.ClientModel

Friend Module Program
    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIEndpoint() As String
        Get
            Return "AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"
        End Get
    End Property
    Private ReadOnly Property AzureOpenAIKey() As String
        Get
            Return "AZURE_OPENAI_APIKEY"
        End Get
    End Property
    Private ReadOnly Property DeploymentName() As String
        Get
            Return "MODEL_NAME"
        End Get
    End Property
        <STAThread>
        Sub Main()
        Dim client As IChatClient = (New AzureOpenAIClient(New Uri(AzureOpenAIEndpoint), New ApiKeyCredential(AzureOpenAIKey))).GetChatClient(DeploymentName).AsIChatClient()
        AIExtensionsContainerDesktop.Default.RegisterChatClient(client)
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
        End Sub
End Module

Tip

How to Register OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Ollama, and Semantic Kernel Clients.

Create and Configure Behavior Object

Follow the steps below to attach a Report Test Data Source Behavior to the WinForms Report Designer at design time:

Drop the BehaviorManager component from the Toolbox onto a Form that contains the WinForms Report Designer.
Invoke the BehaviorManager‘s smart tag menu and click Edit Behaviors to open the Behavior Collection Editor.
Add a Report Test Data Source Behavior and specify its RowCount and Temperature settings.

Create and Configure Behavior Object in Code

Drop the BehaviorManager component from the Toolbox onto a Form that contains the WinForms Report Designer control. Use the following code to register a ReportTestDataSourceBehavior and attach it to the WinForms Report Designer (reportDesigner1):

C#
VB.NET

csharp

using DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting;

namespace DXAppReportsTestData {
    public partial class XtraForm1 : DevExpress.XtraBars.Ribbon.RibbonForm {
        public XtraForm2() {
            InitializeComponent();

            behaviorManager1.Attach<ReportTestDataSourceBehavior>(reportDesigner1, behavior => {
                behavior.Properties.Temperature = 0.3f;
                behavior.Properties.RowCount = 10;
            });

            reportDesigner1.OpenReport(new Report1());
        }
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting

Namespace DXAppReportsTestData
    Partial Public Class XtraForm1
        Inherits DevExpress.XtraBars.Ribbon.RibbonForm

        Public Sub New()
            InitializeComponent()

            behaviorManager1.Attach(Of ReportTestDataSourceBehavior)(reportDesigner1,
                Sub(behavior)
                    behavior.Properties.Temperature = 0.3F
                    behavior.Properties.RowCount = 10
                End Sub)

            reportDesigner1.OpenReport(New Report1())
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Note

Call the BehaviorInitializer.Initialize() method at application startup if your project targets the .NET Framework and you create AI-powered behaviors in code. Otherwise, an exception is thrown.

csharp

internal static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        //...
        // The Initialize() method forcibly initializes the behavior manager in .NET Framework apps.
        DevExpress.AIIntegration.WinForms.Reporting.BehaviorInitializer.Initialize();
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}