Report Writers for MSSQL

  • Anyone know of any cheap report writers that can manipulate MSSQL data and are easier to use and more command friendly then T-SQL? I do alot of exporting data to text files and T-SQL is unfriendly. 

  • Here is a list that's a mixture of applications and embedable controls,

    http://www.devdirect.com/ALL/REPORTING_PCAT_1897.aspx

     

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    Colt 45 - the original point and click interface

  • After browsing that list it still comes down to needing to understand T-Sql.  And it's "than" not "then" as in "command friendly then T-SQL?" should read "command friendly than T-SQL?"  then defines a sequence, than defines a choice. (sorry it's a pet peeve of mine)

    T-Sql is not a reporting language it's a Query language, the results of which a report generator formats into a readable format.  Nearly all report generators require that an underlying query be used for retrieving the data.  The ones that don't are not very flexible in what data you can export and how you can export it.  Most include at least a primitive query builder that is better than writing the T-Sql by hand but again not very flexible.  Basicaly in all this you get what you pay for.  The cheap ones are not comprehensive and the comprehensive ones are expensive (relatively that is). 

     

    If you want to put the data on the web there is a great tool available free from Microsoft, Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition » and it has a great deal of tools for database access that you can attach directly to web output (can be formatted for printer and saving to a file as well).  Might be worth checking it out while it's still free.

    Scott

     


    Kindest Regards,

    Scott Beckstead

    "We cannot defend freedom abroad by abandoning it here at home!"
    Edward R. Murrow

    scottbeckstead.com

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