In this article I will explain with an example, how to export Crystal Report to Word, Excel, PDF and CSV in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net.
The Crystal Report will be populated using Typed DataSet in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net.
Note: By default, Visual Studio 2010, 2012 and 2013 does not include Crystal Reports hence you need to download the Crystal Reports 13. Refer my following articles.
Download Crystal Reports for Visual Studio 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
 
 
Database
Here I am making use of Microsoft’s Northwind Database. The download and install instructions are provided in the following article.
Download and install Northwind Database
 
 
Configuring Crystal Report in Windows Forms Application
The Crystal Report configuration has been covered in the following article Basic Crystal Report Tutorial with example in Windows Forms (WinForms) Application using C# and VB.Net.
 
 
Form Design
The Form consists of a CrystalReportViewer control, four RadioButtons in GroupBox and a Button.
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
 
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespaces.
C#
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using CrystalDecisions.Shared;
using CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine;
 
VB.Net
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports CrystalDecisions.Shared
Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine
 
 
Populating the Crystal Report from Database
Inside the Form Load event, first the Customers DataSet is populated with records from the Customers Table.
The Customers DataSet is set as a DataSource for the Crystal Report.
Finally, the Crystal Report is set as ReportSource for the CrystalReportViewer control.
C#
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    CustomerReport crystalReport = new CustomerReport();
    Customers dsCustomers = GetData();
    crystalReport.SetDataSource(dsCustomers);
    this.crystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = crystalReport;
    this.crystalReportViewer1.RefreshReport();
}
 
private Customers GetData()
{
    string constr = @"Data Source=.\Sql2005;Initial Catalog=Northwind;Integrated Security = true";
    using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(constr))
    {
        using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT TOP 20 * FROM Customers"))
        {
            using (SqlDataAdapter sda = new SqlDataAdapter())
            {
                cmd.Connection = con;
                sda.SelectCommand = cmd;
                using (Customers dsCustomers = new Customers())
                {
                    sda.Fill(dsCustomers, "DataTable1");
                    return dsCustomers;
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
 
VB.Net
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Dim crystalReport As New CustomerReport()
    Dim dsCustomers As Customers = GetData()
    crystalReport.SetDataSource(dsCustomers)
    Me.crystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = crystalReport
    Me.crystalReportViewer1.RefreshReport()
End Sub
 
Private Function GetData() As Customers
    Dim constr As String = "Data Source=.\Sql2005;Initial Catalog=Northwind;Integrated Security = true"
    Using con As New SqlConnection(constr)
        Using cmd As New SqlCommand("SELECT TOP 20 * FROM Customers")
            Using sda As New SqlDataAdapter()
                cmd.Connection = con
                sda.SelectCommand = cmd
                Using dsCustomers As New Customers()
                    sda.Fill(dsCustomers, "DataTable1")
                    Return dsCustomers
                End Using
            End Using
        End Using
    End Using
End Function
 
 
Exporting the Crystal Report to Word, Excel, PDF or CSV file
When the Export Button is clicked, based on RadioButton selection the Crystal Report is exported to the desired format i.e. Word, Excel, PDF or CSV file.
C#
private void btnExport_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (rbWord.Checked)
    {
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.WordForWindows, @"D:\Files\CustomerReport.doc");
    }
    else if (rbExcel.Checked)
    {
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.Excel, @"D:\Files\CustomerReport.xls");
    }
    else if (rbPDF.Checked)
    {
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.PortableDocFormat, @"D:\Files\CustomerReport.pdf");
    }
    else if (rbCSV.Checked)
    {
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.CharacterSeparatedValues, @"D:\Files\CustomerReport.csv");
    }
}
 
VB.Net
Private Sub btnExport_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnExport.Click
    If rbWord.Checked Then
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.WordForWindows, "D:\Files\CustomerReport.doc")
    ElseIf rbExcel.Checked Then
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.Excel, "D:\Files\CustomerReport.xls")
    ElseIf rbPDF.Checked Then
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.PortableDocFormat, "D:\Files\CustomerReport.pdf")
    ElseIf rbCSV.Checked Then
        crystalReport.ExportToDisk(ExportFormatType.CharacterSeparatedValues, "D:\Files\CustomerReport.csv")
    End If
End Sub
 
 
Screenshots
The Crystal Report
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
Crystal Report exported to Word Document
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
Crystal Report exported to Excel Spreadsheet
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
Crystal Report exported to PDF file
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
Crystal Report exported to CSV file
Export Crystal Report to Word Excel PDF and CSV in Windows Application using C# and VB.Net
 
Note: If you get the following error while running the above application, please refer my article Crystal Reports: Could not load file or assembly crdb_adoplus.dll.
Could not load file or assembly 'file:///C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\Crystal Reports for .NET Framework 4.0\Common\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86\dotnet1\crdb_adoplus.dll' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
 
 
Downloads
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