SQL Server Reporting Services(SSRS) vs Crystal Reports
Cheaper,
the desktop version comes FREE with dotNet
Faster, uses SQL and multiple ADONet datasets
rather than hard-coded views
Better than
Crystal Reports, dashboards , Tablix reports , linked reports
....
Crystal Reports : Originally created in the early 90’s , later taken over by
Seagate Technology , then in 2003 by Business Objects , then in 2007 by SAP.
Microsoft bundled it with Visual Studio from 2003 to 2008 as it’s general reporting
tool , but from Visual Studio 2010 , it is no longer bundled by Microsoft .
It is still available from SAP and can still be used as a reporting tool .
Sql Server Reporting Services ( SSRS ) : Originally released in 2004 ( for use
with Sql Server 2000) and then fully integrated with Sql Server 2005 . Latest
release with Sql Server 2008 includes many powerful new features , most notably
“ Tablix “ reports which implement many complex “cross-tab” style reports .
SSRS operates in two ways ......
Server Based : This would be typically used by large organisations and in effect
provides a reports “ centre “ where users can access reports based on security
level . Reports can be scheduled to run over-night etc . This requires some
IT and data-base admin/support. Users also have a report-builder with access
configured by IT admin
Desk-top Based : This is almost identical to the Crystal Reports mode , in
effect you just run reports against your local data-base such as
Navision , Sage Accounts.
We will build reports for you, using this method
Click
here to view samples of some typical SSRS reports
Click
here to download a demo desk-top AdventureWorks application
( this connects to a live production SQL Server 2008 Instance in USA, a real-world reporting scenario )
