Definition
List & Label is a commercial reporting software development kit (SDK) that enables developers to design, generate, and export formatted reports and documents from applications. It is produced and maintained by GrapeCity, a multinational software company.
Overview
List & Label provides a visual report designer that can be embedded into desktop, web, and mobile applications. The tool supports a wide range of programming environments, including .NET (WinForms, WPF, ASP.NET, .NET Core, .NET 5/6), Java, C++, Delphi, and VBA. Reports created with List & Label can be rendered to multiple output formats such as PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, HTML, RTF, and various image types. The product is marketed toward enterprise and independent software vendors (ISVs) that require integrated reporting capabilities without relying on external reporting servers.
The software has been continuously updated to accommodate modern operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux via .NET Core) and to integrate with contemporary data sources, including SQL databases, OData services, and in‑memory data collections. Licensing is typically provided on a per‑developer or per‑runtime basis.
Etymology / Origin
The name “List & Label” combines two generic terms relevant to reporting: “list,” referring to collections of data items, and “label,” denoting the textual or graphical output that appears on a printed or displayed document. The product was originally developed by a German company that marketed it under the same name before being acquired by GrapeCity. Precise details of the initial release year are not publicly confirmed; sources suggest the tool originated in the early‑1990s.
Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Report Designer | Drag‑and‑drop interface for layout creation, supporting visual elements such as tables, charts, barcodes, and images. |
| Programming APIs | Rich object‑oriented APIs for report generation, parameter handling, data binding, and event‑driven customization. |
| Multi‑format Export | Native export to PDF, DOCX, XLSX, HTML, RTF, CSV, and various image formats (PNG, JPEG, TIFF). |
| Cross‑platform Support | Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux (via .NET Core) and can be used in web browsers through ASP.NET or Java servlet containers. |
| Internationalization | Built‑in support for Unicode, right‑to‑left languages, and locale‑specific formatting (dates, numbers, currencies). |
| Performance Optimizations | Streaming generation for large data sets and memory‑efficient rendering modes. |
| Extensibility | Plug‑in architecture allowing custom rendering extensions, third‑party charting libraries, and integration with ERP/CRM systems. |
| Security | Capability to embed digital signatures and enforce permissions on generated documents. |
Related Topics
- GrapeCity – The parent company that develops List & Label and other developer tools such as ActiveReports.
- Reporting Tools – Software solutions like Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Crystal Reports, and Telerik Reporting that serve similar purposes.
- Business Intelligence (BI) – The broader domain encompassing data analysis, visualization, and reporting, of which List & Label is a component.
- Document Generation Libraries – APIs such as iText, Apache POI, and Aspose that focus on file creation rather than interactive report design.
- Software Development Kits (SDKs) – Collections of tools, documentation, and libraries that facilitate the incorporation of specific functionalities (e.g., reporting) into applications.