# Text Control Reporting Framework: What Sets It Apart? > The DocumentServer.MailMerge class merges data from various sources into MS Word compatible templates across Windows Forms, WPF, and ASP.NET. It supports flow-type layouts, programmable merge events, PDF document import for templates, and both HTML5 and native Windows designers. - **Author:** Bjoern Meyer - **Published:** 2014-10-01 - **Modified:** 2026-07-17 - **Description:** The DocumentServer.MailMerge class merges data from various sources into MS Word compatible templates across Windows Forms, WPF, and ASP.NET. It supports flow-type layouts, programmable merge events, PDF document import for templates, and both HTML5 and native Windows designers. - **3 min read** (591 words) - **Tags:** - Reporting - **Web URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2014/10/01/text-control-reporting-framework-what-sets-it-apart/ - **LLMs URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2014/10/01/text-control-reporting-framework-what-sets-it-apart/llms.txt - **LLMs-Full URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2014/10/01/text-control-reporting-framework-what-sets-it-apart/llms-full.txt --- The [Text Control Reporting Framework](https://www.textcontrol.com/technology/reporting/) is shipped and can be used with all TX Text Control .NET products: Windows Forms, WPF and ASP.NET. A unique advantage of the reporting concept is that the templates and the custom code can be reused in all of these platforms. ![Text Control Reporting Framework: What sets it apart?](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2014/10/01/a/assets/banner_reporting.webp "Text Control Reporting Framework: What sets it apart?")The Text Control Reporting Framework is basically the namespace *DocumentServer* that includes the [MailMerge](https://docs.textcontrol.com/textcontrol/windows-forms/ref.txtextcontrol.documentserver.mailmerge.class.htm) class. The MailMerge class is the reporting engine that merges data from various data sources into an MS Word compatible template by matching merge field names and block names with existing data in the data source. Relations between tables and objects are evaluated automatically and applied to the template. This concept allows developers to create fully featured reports with Master-Detail views based on MS Word compatible documents. MS Word Compatible ------------------ Existing templates including merge fields and all types of formatting elements from MS Word 2003 - 2013 can be reused. Templates that are populated with data from business objects and DataSets can be also stored in MS Word standard formats such as RTF, DOC and DOCX. It is not required to keep the templates in a proprietary format. End-users and designers are able to modify templates in MS Word or the freely distributable TX Text Control based editors. Flow Type Layout Reporting -------------------------- Conventional banded report designers are complex - Text Control reporting is easy to understand and thanks to WYSIWYG, the template is rendered exactly the same like on paper or in an Adobe PDF. Like in Microsoft Word, users can easily add elements to the report such as tables, pictures, barcodes and headers and footers. Fully Programmable ------------------ The Text Control Reporting Framework is completely programmable. Each merge field, block row or object that is merged triggers an event that can be used to interact with the report. Text can be changed, formatted text can be injected and a fully-featured API gives access to each and every element in the document. Cross-Browser Designer ---------------------- The first true WYSIWYG, HTML5-based web editor and reporting template designer. Give your users an MS Word compatible editor to create powerful reporting templates anywhere - in any browser on any device. Zero footprint - no plug-ins, nothing! This is not 'yet another HTML editor'. You'll get a fully featured look & feel of MS Word in your browser. Windows Designer ---------------- Powered by TX Text Control, the royalty-free template designer for Windows Forms and WPF is used to create templates with typical word processing features such as page columns, tables, images and headers and footers. The Windows designers come with full sources and can be completely customized. Reuse PDF Documents ------------------- TX Text Control is able to import "born digital" PDF documents, so that you can view, edit or convert these files. The PDF document is imported and can be modified just like any other format such as DOC or DOCX. The fully featured API can be used to change the content or to search on the document. Those PDF documents can be reused as templates for the Text Control Reporting Framework. Start today and see our live demo platform that uses the HTML5 based template designer and the reporting engine in an ASP.NET Web application. [Launch live demo ](http://reportingserver.textcontrol.com/ "Launch live demo") --- ## About Bjoern Meyer As CEO, Bjoern is the visionary behind our strategic direction and business development, bridging the gap between our customers and engineering teams. His deep passion for coding and web technologies drives the creation of innovative products. If you're at a tech conference, be sure to stop by our booth - you'll most likely meet Bjoern in person. With an advanced graduate degree (Dipl. Inf.) in Computer Science, specializing in AI, from the University of Bremen, Bjoern brings significant expertise to his role. In his spare time, Bjoern enjoys running, paragliding, mountain biking, and playing the piano. - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjoernmeyer/) - [X](https://x.com/txbjoern) - [GitHub](https://github.com/bjoerntx) --- ## Related Posts - [C# Document Generation: A Developer's Guide for .NET](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2026/07/08/csharp-document-generation-developer-guide-for-dotnet/llms.txt) - [Convert SSRS RDL Reports to DOCX and TX Text Control Templates in .NET C#](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2026/06/22/convert-ssrs-rdl-reports-to-docx-and-tx-text-control-templates-in-dotnet-csharp/llms.txt) - [.NET C# PDF Generation Techniques: Which Method is Right for Your Project?](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2024/10/30/net-csharp-pdf-generation-techniques-which-method-is-right-for-your-project/llms.txt) - [Best Practices for Mail Merge and Form Field Processing in ASP.NET Core C# Applications](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2024/07/30/best-practices-for-mail-merge-and-form-field-processing-in-asp-net-core-csharp-applications/llms.txt) - [Advantages of Flow Type Layout Reporting vs. Banded Reporting or PDF Template Engines in .NET C#](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2024/07/29/advantages-of-flow-type-layout-reporting-vs-banded-reporting-or-pdf-template-engines-in-net-c-sharp/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control 32.0 Has Been Released](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2023/09/13/tx-text-control-320-has-been-released/llms.txt) - [Getting Started: Angular Document Editor Attributes Explained](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2023/02/01/getting-started-angular-document-editor-attributes-explained/llms.txt) - [Getting Started: Programming the Angular Document Editor using JavaScript](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2023/01/30/getting-started-programming-the-angular-document-editor-using-javascript/llms.txt) - [Getting Started: Loading and Saving Documents using Angular](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2023/01/30/loading-and-saving-documents-using-angular/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control 31.0 and TX Spell .NET 10.0 Have Been Released](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2022/09/07/tx-text-control-31-released/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control 30.0 and TX Spell .NET 9.0 Have Been Released](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2021/11/29/tx-text-control-30-released/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control X19 and TX Spell 8.0 Have Been Released](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/12/02/tx-text-control-x19-released/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control for Angular X18 Published](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/03/18/tx-text-control-for-angular-x18-published/llms.txt) - [MVC NuGet Packages for X18 Published](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/03/17/mvc-nuget-packages-for-x18-published/llms.txt) - [TX Text Control X18 has been Released](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/03/16/tx-text-control-x18-released/llms.txt) - [Impressions from NDC London 2020](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/02/01/impressions-from-ndc-london-2020/llms.txt) - [Sneak Peek X18: Form Field Conditional Instructions](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/01/03/sneak-peek-x18-form-field-conditional-instructions/llms.txt) - [DocumentViewer: New Two Page View Mode](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/01/02/documentviewer-new-two-page-view-mode/llms.txt) - [Creating Your First ASP.NET Reporting Application](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2020/01/01/creating-your-first-aspnet-reporting-application/llms.txt) - [What a Year! 2019 Recap and Outlook 2020](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/12/23/what-a-year-2019-recap-and-outlook-2020/llms.txt) - [MailMerge Class Settings Explained](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/12/05/mailmerge-settings-explained/llms.txt) - [Impressions from DDC in Cologne](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/12/02/impressions-from-ddc-in-cologne/llms.txt) - [See Text Control at DDC in Cologne](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/11/24/see-text-control-at-ddc-in-cologne/llms.txt) - [Impressions from DEVintersection Fall 2019](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/11/22/impressions-from-devintersection-fall-2019/llms.txt) - [Impressions from TechBash 2019](https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2019/11/14/impressions-from-techbash-2019/llms.txt)