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sql server reporting services
group:Q: General "should I use" questions regard Rep Services
sql server reporting services:
We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. For example: What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as .csv, or something similar)? We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and cannot do. Any help appreciated, -Mark
My 2 cents, having used both Crystal Reports since version 8 and now SRS,
you cant beat the cost of SRS, and the report developer tool is a great product. BUT SRS does not stand up really well beyond doing anything outside of the norm. Getting anything done dynamically is just a huge PIA in my opinion. SRS does all the things you described - works against databases in run time, offers a robust subscription and security model thats tightly integrated with Windows ACL security, a number of report export format options, etc. Formatting is just OK - its all pretty simple, nothing too flashy (but I like it that way). Its also not terribly well documented, for some unknown reason, at least to me. I had to integrate my reports with a large ASP.NET application, passing parameters at runtime. Seemed like an easy task, but I was very surprised at how far I had to dig just to find decent samples within the books online, as well as Google. In the end I stumbled on my answer. Some samples provided are just not adequate. From my standpoint, I spend less time developing... but more time researching the "how do I" part. At least at my current stage of expertise with the product. [quoted text, click to view] "Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1A06C358-0D1F-437D-8FE3-4407A7AD19A8@microsoft.com... > Hi, > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > For example: > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as > .csv, > or something similar)? > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > cannot do. > > Any help appreciated, > -Mark >
Hi Elliot,
Thanks for your response. From what you say, I think we might at least test it out to see if it has what we want. We're not looking for anything too pretty. Managers just want the numbers ASAP and have some ability to slice and dice. I don't think we'll use a cube, but I assume SRS has the ability to "save" static reports so that if multiple people view the report it's not always querying the data warehouse. Good luck on your side. I know how it is when you're spending too much time on the "how do I" parts -- not much fun. -Mark [quoted text, click to view] "Elliot Rodriguez" wrote:
> My 2 cents, having used both Crystal Reports since version 8 and now SRS, > you cant beat the cost of SRS, and the report developer tool is a great > product. > > BUT SRS does not stand up really well beyond doing anything outside of the > norm. Getting anything done dynamically is just a huge PIA in my opinion. > > SRS does all the things you described - works against databases in run time, > offers a robust subscription and security model thats tightly integrated > with Windows ACL security, a number of report export format options, etc. > Formatting is just OK - its all pretty simple, nothing too flashy (but I > like it that way). > > Its also not terribly well documented, for some unknown reason, at least to > me. I had to integrate my reports with a large ASP.NET application, passing > parameters at runtime. Seemed like an easy task, but I was very surprised at > how far I had to dig just to find decent samples within the books online, as > well as Google. In the end I stumbled on my answer. Some samples provided > are just not adequate. > > From my standpoint, I spend less time developing... but more time > researching the "how do I" part. At least at my current stage of expertise > with the product. > > > "Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:1A06C358-0D1F-437D-8FE3-4407A7AD19A8@microsoft.com... > > Hi, > > > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > > > For example: > > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as > > .csv, > > or something similar)? > > > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > > cannot do. > > > > Any help appreciated, > > -Mark > > > >
It sounds to me that you will be using the Report Manager (the portal that
ships with RS). If so, the issue described by the other poster (integration issues) will not be an issue for you. -- Bruce Loehle-Conger MVP SQL Server Reporting Services [quoted text, click to view] "Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1074759B-2228-482E-BCC2-C7B57D7C3708@microsoft.com... > Hi Elliot, > > Thanks for your response. From what you say, I think we might at least > test > it out to see if it has what we want. We're not looking for anything too > pretty. Managers just want the numbers ASAP and have some ability to slice > and dice. I don't think we'll use a cube, but I assume SRS has the ability > to > "save" static reports so that if multiple people view the report it's not > always querying the data warehouse. > > Good luck on your side. I know how it is when you're spending too much > time > on the "how do I" parts -- not much fun. > > -Mark > > > "Elliot Rodriguez" wrote: > >> My 2 cents, having used both Crystal Reports since version 8 and now SRS, >> you cant beat the cost of SRS, and the report developer tool is a great >> product. >> >> BUT SRS does not stand up really well beyond doing anything outside of >> the >> norm. Getting anything done dynamically is just a huge PIA in my opinion. >> >> SRS does all the things you described - works against databases in run >> time, >> offers a robust subscription and security model thats tightly integrated >> with Windows ACL security, a number of report export format options, etc. >> Formatting is just OK - its all pretty simple, nothing too flashy (but I >> like it that way). >> >> Its also not terribly well documented, for some unknown reason, at least >> to >> me. I had to integrate my reports with a large ASP.NET application, >> passing >> parameters at runtime. Seemed like an easy task, but I was very surprised >> at >> how far I had to dig just to find decent samples within the books online, >> as >> well as Google. In the end I stumbled on my answer. Some samples provided >> are just not adequate. >> >> From my standpoint, I spend less time developing... but more time >> researching the "how do I" part. At least at my current stage of >> expertise >> with the product. >> >> >> "Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:1A06C358-0D1F-437D-8FE3-4407A7AD19A8@microsoft.com... >> > Hi, >> > >> > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business >> > Objects, >> > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting >> > Services >> > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be >> > the >> > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. >> > >> > For example: >> > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? >> > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? >> > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? >> > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? >> > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as >> > .csv, >> > or something similar)? >> > >> > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other >> > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a >> > hard >> > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and >> > cannot do. >> > >> > Any help appreciated, >> > -Mark >> > >> >> >>
Also for you to create dashboard and summary report you have excellent
features available in SRS. you have Dundas chart control integrated into the product without any charge. you can have excellent drilldown and drillthrought features avilable in SRS. you are in right place!! [quoted text, click to view] "Mark" wrote:
> Hi, > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > For example: > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as .csv, > or something similar)? > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > cannot do. > > Any help appreciated, > -Mark
Mark,
my 2 cents worth.....I am pretty familiar with some of the other products and have been using BI tools since 91. We are also building a product based on RS and Dundas components so our experience in RS and Dundas is really pretty good. As ever, wether you decide to go RS depends on 'what do you want to do'. For 'free' you should not expect RS to deliver the same as a tool that costs USD1000 per client copy.....and so yes, there are major differences. However, for a low cost and reasonable functionality solution RS is hard to beat....it takes some coding and some good knowledge and skills to make the best of RS but in the end, it's a very servicable reporting solution. Remember, you can get it at the standard edition of SQL Server, you do not have to buy Enterprise edition to get a serviceable BI Solution from Report Services. For our product we standardised on Standard Edition and it works quite well. (There is a substantial price difference between Standard and Enterprise.) The major differences... 1. There is no metadata layer converting you users view of the database into SQL as in the BO Sematic layer which they think they invented. For my money, not having one of these has become a good thing!! These semantic layers have come to 'get in the way' of what we are trying to do and locked customers into the products which is what the vendors have been trying to do. 2. Automated drill paths.....most products automatically put hot spots and drill parths/hierarchies into reports based on the semantic layer..... 3. General high levels of interactivity....the high end tools have intelligence built into them to pop up things and allow drills on float over so the charts sort of 'come alive'.....wonderful if you have users who are impressed by this but not much value in my book...any user impressed that a bubble pops up on 'float over' probably does not understand what they are looking at in the first place..LOL!! 4. Programming environment. Most tools have limited or primitive programming environments to provide extensions to the tools themselves.....BO has had a go with Foundation to give a decent programming environment....RS uses VS.net which I am extremely familiar with but if you are not it's a little harder to become familiar with. 5. Charting 'out of the box'. We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS....I'd suggest you get these or something similar as a basis for evaluation and not just evaluate RS charts.....they are quite basic charts. They would be a 'top 5'.....obviously there are more differences...... Best Regards Peter Nolan www.peternolan.com [quoted text, click to view] Bava Mani wrote:
> Also for you to create dashboard and summary report you have excellent > features available in SRS. you have Dundas chart control integrated into the > product without any charge. you can have excellent drilldown and > drillthrought features avilable in SRS. you are in right place!! > > "Mark" wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > > > For example: > > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as .csv, > > or something similar)? > > > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > > cannot do. > > > > Any help appreciated, > > -Mark > >
Hi Peter,
great comment. can you clarify the 5th point that you mentioned.. [quoted text, click to view] >We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS is that guage control from Dundas is available in SRS free? i dont think Guage control is availble for free in reporting service. you have to pay extra for that.. please clarify. [quoted text, click to view] "Peter Nolan" wrote:
> Mark, > my 2 cents worth.....I am pretty familiar with some of the other > products and have been using BI tools since 91. > > We are also building a product based on RS and Dundas components so our > experience in RS and Dundas is really pretty good. > > As ever, wether you decide to go RS depends on 'what do you want to > do'. > > For 'free' you should not expect RS to deliver the same as a tool that > costs USD1000 per client copy.....and so yes, there are major > differences. > > However, for a low cost and reasonable functionality solution RS is > hard to beat....it takes some coding and some good knowledge and skills > to make the best of RS but in the end, it's a very servicable reporting > solution. Remember, you can get it at the standard edition of SQL > Server, you do not have to buy Enterprise edition to get a serviceable > BI Solution from Report Services. For our product we standardised on > Standard Edition and it works quite well. (There is a substantial price > difference between Standard and Enterprise.) > > The major differences... > > 1. There is no metadata layer converting you users view of the database > into SQL as in the BO Sematic layer which they think they invented. For > my money, not having one of these has become a good thing!! These > semantic layers have come to 'get in the way' of what we are trying to > do and locked customers into the products which is what the vendors > have been trying to do. > > 2. Automated drill paths.....most products automatically put hot spots > and drill parths/hierarchies into reports based on the semantic > layer..... > > 3. General high levels of interactivity....the high end tools have > intelligence built into them to pop up things and allow drills on float > over so the charts sort of 'come alive'.....wonderful if you have users > who are impressed by this but not much value in my book...any user > impressed that a bubble pops up on 'float over' probably does not > understand what they are looking at in the first place..LOL!! > > 4. Programming environment. Most tools have limited or primitive > programming environments to provide extensions to the tools > themselves.....BO has had a go with Foundation to give a decent > programming environment....RS uses VS.net which I am extremely familiar > with but if you are not it's a little harder to become familiar with. > > 5. Charting 'out of the box'. > We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS....I'd > suggest you get these or something similar as a basis for evaluation > and not just evaluate RS charts.....they are quite basic charts. > > > They would be a 'top 5'.....obviously there are more differences...... > > Best Regards > > Peter Nolan > www.peternolan.com > > Bava Mani wrote: > > Also for you to create dashboard and summary report you have excellent > > features available in SRS. you have Dundas chart control integrated into the > > product without any charge. you can have excellent drilldown and > > drillthrought features avilable in SRS. you are in right place!! > > > > "Mark" wrote: > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > > > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > > > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > > > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > > > > > For example: > > > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > > > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > > > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > > > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > > > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as .csv, > > > or something similar)? > > > > > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > > > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > > > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > > > cannot do. > > > > > > Any help appreciated, > > > -Mark > > > >
Hi Bava,
yes, Guage has two license components...one for the developer which is nominal (when you consider you are buying a developer license for software to deployed on a server basis) and one for the deployed server which is licensed like a piece of server software so it's quite a bit more than the development license. They provide list prices which change so you need to talk to them first. My opinion? For my money the Dundas Charts/Guage are well worth their money if you want to use something like Report Services and build a very passable EIS/Reporting Interface. My colleagues and I thought long and hard about technology stack before settling on SQL Server + Report Services and then we did a lot of work before we finally decided on Dundas....I don't think anyone ever spent so much time looking into a chart component as we did....but we knew we were going to be 'married' to that chart component and the vendor forever because we are building a product based on it. Can you build something better for more money...sure you can...can you build something better for less money?? Well, unless you are willing to go 'open source' there are very few suites of tools like SQL Server + Dundas charts/guage around for a similar price point for a similar suite of functionality. You might find one......but the price point and functionality difference would be marginal. In fact, I was recently asked to do a 'testimonial' from the guys at Dunas and I was only too pleased to do so. They did a great job helping us and if I can say so publicly all the better.....I've been in this biz for 24 years now and the rep from Dundas was a 'breath of fresh air'...I actually hope I can sell a lot of software for him!! If there are any specific questions you would like to ask please use peter@peternolan.com. Best Regards Peter Nolan www.peternolan.com [quoted text, click to view] Bava Mani wrote:
> Hi Peter, > great comment. > can you clarify the 5th point that you mentioned.. > >We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS > > is that guage control from Dundas is available in SRS free? i dont think > Guage control is availble for free in reporting service. you have to pay > extra for that.. please clarify. > > "Peter Nolan" wrote: > > > Mark, > > my 2 cents worth.....I am pretty familiar with some of the other > > products and have been using BI tools since 91. > > > > We are also building a product based on RS and Dundas components so our > > experience in RS and Dundas is really pretty good. > > > > As ever, wether you decide to go RS depends on 'what do you want to > > do'. > > > > For 'free' you should not expect RS to deliver the same as a tool that > > costs USD1000 per client copy.....and so yes, there are major > > differences. > > > > However, for a low cost and reasonable functionality solution RS is > > hard to beat....it takes some coding and some good knowledge and skills > > to make the best of RS but in the end, it's a very servicable reporting > > solution. Remember, you can get it at the standard edition of SQL > > Server, you do not have to buy Enterprise edition to get a serviceable > > BI Solution from Report Services. For our product we standardised on > > Standard Edition and it works quite well. (There is a substantial price > > difference between Standard and Enterprise.) > > > > The major differences... > > > > 1. There is no metadata layer converting you users view of the database > > into SQL as in the BO Sematic layer which they think they invented. For > > my money, not having one of these has become a good thing!! These > > semantic layers have come to 'get in the way' of what we are trying to > > do and locked customers into the products which is what the vendors > > have been trying to do. > > > > 2. Automated drill paths.....most products automatically put hot spots > > and drill parths/hierarchies into reports based on the semantic > > layer..... > > > > 3. General high levels of interactivity....the high end tools have > > intelligence built into them to pop up things and allow drills on float > > over so the charts sort of 'come alive'.....wonderful if you have users > > who are impressed by this but not much value in my book...any user > > impressed that a bubble pops up on 'float over' probably does not > > understand what they are looking at in the first place..LOL!! > > > > 4. Programming environment. Most tools have limited or primitive > > programming environments to provide extensions to the tools > > themselves.....BO has had a go with Foundation to give a decent > > programming environment....RS uses VS.net which I am extremely familiar > > with but if you are not it's a little harder to become familiar with. > > > > 5. Charting 'out of the box'. > > We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS....I'd > > suggest you get these or something similar as a basis for evaluation > > and not just evaluate RS charts.....they are quite basic charts. > > > > > > They would be a 'top 5'.....obviously there are more differences...... > > > > Best Regards > > > > Peter Nolan > > www.peternolan.com > > > > Bava Mani wrote: > > > Also for you to create dashboard and summary report you have excellent > > > features available in SRS. you have Dundas chart control integrated into the > > > product without any charge. you can have excellent drilldown and > > > drillthrought features avilable in SRS. you are in right place!! > > > > > > "Mark" wrote: > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > > > > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > > > > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > > > > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > > > > > > > For example: > > > > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > > > > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time? > > > > Does it work on other databases (Teradata, Oracle, etc) through ODBC? > > > > Can it save a web report to Excel and if so, how good does it look? > > > > Can you drill down to the detail level and pull and extract (saved as .csv, > > > > or something similar)? > > > > > > > > We don't need too complex of a tool. Some dashboard reporting and other > > > > summary reports. SRS might do exactly what we need, but I'm having a hard > > > > time going through articles in Microsoft to see exactly what it can and > > > > cannot do. > > > > > > > > Any help appreciated, > > > > -Mark > > > > > > > >
Hi Peter,
thanks! i think you are not alone.. we are doing the same thing in choosing the right chart control for our product. ya its great to have SQL server + RS + Dundas under 1 product.. ya definitely Dundas have the edge but they are focused entirely on Chart conrol . they are other 3 party vendor who give all the .NET based control + chart control under 1 package.. Bava [quoted text, click to view] "Peter Nolan" wrote:
> Hi Bava, > yes, Guage has two license components...one for the developer which is > nominal (when you consider you are buying a developer license for > software to deployed on a server basis) and one for the deployed server > which is licensed like a piece of server software so it's quite a bit > more than the development license. > > They provide list prices which change so you need to talk to them > first. > > My opinion? For my money the Dundas Charts/Guage are well worth their > money if you want to use something like Report Services and build a > very passable EIS/Reporting Interface. My colleagues and I thought > long and hard about technology stack before settling on SQL Server + > Report Services and then we did a lot of work before we finally decided > on Dundas....I don't think anyone ever spent so much time looking into > a chart component as we did....but we knew we were going to be > 'married' to that chart component and the vendor forever because we are > building a product based on it. > > Can you build something better for more money...sure you can...can you > build something better for less money?? Well, unless you are willing to > go 'open source' there are very few suites of tools like SQL Server + > Dundas charts/guage around for a similar price point for a similar > suite of functionality. You might find one......but the price point and > functionality difference would be marginal. > > In fact, I was recently asked to do a 'testimonial' from the guys at > Dunas and I was only too pleased to do so. They did a great job helping > us and if I can say so publicly all the better.....I've been in this > biz for 24 years now and the rep from Dundas was a 'breath of fresh > air'...I actually hope I can sell a lot of software for him!! > > If there are any specific questions you would like to ask please use > peter@peternolan.com. > > Best Regards > > Peter Nolan > www.peternolan.com > > Bava Mani wrote: > > Hi Peter, > > great comment. > > can you clarify the 5th point that you mentioned.. > > >We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > > > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS > > > > is that guage control from Dundas is available in SRS free? i dont think > > Guage control is availble for free in reporting service. you have to pay > > extra for that.. please clarify. > > > > "Peter Nolan" wrote: > > > > > Mark, > > > my 2 cents worth.....I am pretty familiar with some of the other > > > products and have been using BI tools since 91. > > > > > > We are also building a product based on RS and Dundas components so our > > > experience in RS and Dundas is really pretty good. > > > > > > As ever, wether you decide to go RS depends on 'what do you want to > > > do'. > > > > > > For 'free' you should not expect RS to deliver the same as a tool that > > > costs USD1000 per client copy.....and so yes, there are major > > > differences. > > > > > > However, for a low cost and reasonable functionality solution RS is > > > hard to beat....it takes some coding and some good knowledge and skills > > > to make the best of RS but in the end, it's a very servicable reporting > > > solution. Remember, you can get it at the standard edition of SQL > > > Server, you do not have to buy Enterprise edition to get a serviceable > > > BI Solution from Report Services. For our product we standardised on > > > Standard Edition and it works quite well. (There is a substantial price > > > difference between Standard and Enterprise.) > > > > > > The major differences... > > > > > > 1. There is no metadata layer converting you users view of the database > > > into SQL as in the BO Sematic layer which they think they invented. For > > > my money, not having one of these has become a good thing!! These > > > semantic layers have come to 'get in the way' of what we are trying to > > > do and locked customers into the products which is what the vendors > > > have been trying to do. > > > > > > 2. Automated drill paths.....most products automatically put hot spots > > > and drill parths/hierarchies into reports based on the semantic > > > layer..... > > > > > > 3. General high levels of interactivity....the high end tools have > > > intelligence built into them to pop up things and allow drills on float > > > over so the charts sort of 'come alive'.....wonderful if you have users > > > who are impressed by this but not much value in my book...any user > > > impressed that a bubble pops up on 'float over' probably does not > > > understand what they are looking at in the first place..LOL!! > > > > > > 4. Programming environment. Most tools have limited or primitive > > > programming environments to provide extensions to the tools > > > themselves.....BO has had a go with Foundation to give a decent > > > programming environment....RS uses VS.net which I am extremely familiar > > > with but if you are not it's a little harder to become familiar with. > > > > > > 5. Charting 'out of the box'. > > > We are using Dundas charts and guages which really are a big > > > improvement on what you get out of the box for free with RS....I'd > > > suggest you get these or something similar as a basis for evaluation > > > and not just evaluate RS charts.....they are quite basic charts. > > > > > > > > > They would be a 'top 5'.....obviously there are more differences...... > > > > > > Best Regards > > > > > > Peter Nolan > > > www.peternolan.com > > > > > > Bava Mani wrote: > > > > Also for you to create dashboard and summary report you have excellent > > > > features available in SRS. you have Dundas chart control integrated into the > > > > product without any charge. you can have excellent drilldown and > > > > drillthrought features avilable in SRS. you are in right place!! > > > > > > > > "Mark" wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > > > We're looking at a few tools for web reporting such as Business Objects, > > > > > Crystal Report Net, Cognos 8BI. I was told SQL Server Reporting Services > > > > > (SRS) is a cheaper, but not as robust solution. However, it might be the > > > > > solution we need and I was wondering where to go to find out more. > > > > > > > > > > For example: > > > > > What are the pros/cons of SRS compared to the other products? > > > > > Do I need to build a cube first, or can it query databases run-time?
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