The main sequence of working with C1FlexReport is as follows:

1. You start by creating a report using the FlexReportDesigner application to create report definitions; report definitions are saved as .flxr files, and can be designed from scratch or imported from existing Microsoft Access Reports and Crystal Reports. You can then modify the basic report using the designer.
2. The C1FlexReport component reads the report definitions and renders the reports using data from any standard .NET data source.
3. The report definitions can be loaded at design time, and embedded in your application, or they can be read and modified at run time. (You can even create report definitions from scratch, using the C1FlexReport object model.)
4. Reports can be rendered directly to a printer, into a FlexViewer control, or exported to different formats.

The following diagram shows the relationship between the components in the FlexReport for WinForms package:

The following numbers refer to the numbered arrows in the image, indicating relationships between the components:

1. Use the C1FlexReportDesigner application to create, edit, and save FLXR report definition files.
2. The C1FlexReport component loads report definitions from the FLXR files created with the designer. This can be done at design time (in this case the FLXR file is persisted with the control and not needed at run time) or at run time using the Load method.
3. The C1FlexReport component loads data from the data source specified in the report definition file. Alternatively, you can provide your own custom data source.
4. The C1FlexReport component formats the data according to the report definition and renders reports to a (a) printer, (b) to a previewing control, (c) or to one of several file formats.
5. Custom applications can communicate with the C1FlexReport component using a rich object model, so you can easily customize your reports or generate entirely new ones. C1FlexReportDesigner is a good example of such an application.