Reporting with DevExpress – Modern Reporting Platform
As part of my work at uhb Software GmbH, I modernized and significantly extended the existing reporting landscape used in enterprise healthcare software.
The goal was to replace legacy reporting solutions with a flexible, customer-configurable, and future-proof reporting architecture while ensuring seamless integration into existing systems.
Role & Responsibilities
Software Developer
I was responsible for the conceptual design, implementation, and integration of the new reporting solution across multiple technologies and legacy systems.
Core Technologies
- C# / .NET Framework
- ASP.NET
- WinForms
- DevExpress Reports & Report Designer
- PowerBuilder (legacy integration)
- REST APIs
- SQL-based persistence
Integration & Architecture
- Migration from PowerBuilder-based reports to DevExpress Reports (PDF generation)
- REST-based architecture for report generation and integration
- Database-backed storage of customer-specific report layouts (REPX)
- Hybrid integration with legacy PowerBuilder applications via REST clients
Key Contributions & Impact
- Migrated existing PowerBuilder reports to DevExpress Reports for modern PDF printing and document generation
- Refactored and restructured legacy reporting logic for improved maintainability
- Developed an ASP.NET web interface for uploading and downloading REPX layout files
- Designed and implemented a database model for storing customer-specific report layouts
- Built a REST API to trigger automated report generation from external systems
- Integrated the new reporting solution into existing PowerBuilder programs using REST communication
- Implemented a custom WinForms-based layout designer using the DevExpress Report Designer
- Extended and customized the DevExpress Reporting Engine to support complex, client-specific requirements
Learnings & Takeaways
- Deep understanding of modern reporting architectures in enterprise environments
- Practical experience replacing legacy systems while maintaining backward compatibility
- Strong skills in designing extensible, customer-configurable reporting solutions
- Experience integrating heterogeneous systems (Web, Desktop, Legacy) via REST
- Insight into building maintainable reporting infrastructures for long-term enterprise use