Reporting question

[John]

Hi

vs2005 rc/sql server 2005 sep ctp. In vs 2005 when I try to add an item
there are two icons 'report' and 'crystal report'. What is the difference
between these two and sql server reporting? What are the pros and cons and
which of these can be use din a vb app?

Thanks

Regards

[Chris McGuigan]

Re: Reporting question

This is a bit of a guess, but 'Crystal Reports' generates Crystal Reports! I'm guessing 'Reports' is the old Report tool that came with VS.
The old report tool didn't have too many fans and Crystal has been the de facto reporting tool for a while now. RS is now challenging this.
In terms of which is better - well thats quite subjective. For reports embedded in standalone applications,
Crystal still had the upper hand over RS2000. But with SQL2005 that view needs to be re-evaluated.

In my view, RS is a far better "Enterprise-wide" reporting tool. Crystal was a better stand-alone reporting tool.
But as I've said with the new RS features that's not necessarily the case anymore.

Also the version of Crystal that used to be embedded in VS.Net 2002 was an older version. In 2005 I don't know.
Cost can be a factor too. RS is bundled with SQL Server, so if you already have SQL Server, RS won't cost any extra.
If you require the "Enterprise " features of Crystal you'll have to pay for it and it's quite costly for SME's last time I looked.

I converted our company over from Crystal to RS 15 months ago, although I'm not developing apps so my situation is different, but it's a
move we haven't regretted.

There are plenty of discussions on the pro's and cons between CR and RS in the public RS forum.


Chris



John wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hi
>
> vs2005 rc/sql server 2005 sep ctp. In vs 2005 when I try to add an item there are two icons 'report' and 'crystal report'.[/color]
What is the difference between these two and sql server reporting? What are the pros and cons and which of these can be use din a vb app?[color=blue]
>
> Thanks
>
> Regards[/color]