Database Reporting

[Hakk]

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with a
combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility to
write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report program
itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but I
wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be most
appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

[Steve Gerrard]

Re: Database Reporting


"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1r9f5$rt0 $1@sparta.btint ernet.com...[color=blue]
> Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a[/color]
reporting[color=blue]
> program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access)[/color]
with a[color=blue]
> combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the[/color]
facility to[color=blue]
> write his own reports.
>
> I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can[/color]
program[color=blue]
> reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report[/color]
program[color=blue]
> itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc.,[/color]
but I[color=blue]
> wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where[/color]
relations[color=blue]
> were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be[/color]
most[color=blue]
> appreciated.
>
> TIA
> HMJ
>
>[/color]

See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has "user
defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order and
filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in itself.

[Hakk]

Re: Database Reporting


"Steve Gerrard" <notstevegerrar d@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:FNidnTZa7-r1o9zd4p2dnA@co mcast.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c1r9f5$rt0 $1@sparta.btint ernet.com...[color=green]
> > Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a[/color]
> reporting[color=green]
> > program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access)[/color]
> with a[color=green]
> > combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the[/color]
> facility to[color=green]
> > write his own reports.
> >
> > I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can[/color]
> program[color=green]
> > reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report[/color]
> program[color=green]
> > itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc.,[/color]
> but I[color=green]
> > wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where[/color]
> relations[color=green]
> > were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be[/color]
> most[color=green]
> > appreciated.
> >
> > TIA
> > HMJ
> >
> >[/color]
>
> See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has "user
> defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
> setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order and
> filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in itself.
>
>[/color]
It's also $1289... A bit steep

[Steve Gerrard]

Re: Database Reporting


"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1rmg0$e9e $1@titan.btinte rnet.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Steve Gerrard" <notstevegerrar d@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:FNidnTZa7-r1o9zd4p2dnA@co mcast.com...[color=green]
> >
> > "Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:c1r9f5$rt0 $1@sparta.btint ernet.com...[color=darkred]
> > > Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a[/color]
> > reporting[/color][/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
> >
> > See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has[/color][/color]
"user[color=blue][color=green]
> > defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
> > setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order[/color][/color]
and[color=blue][color=green]
> > filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in[/color][/color]
itself.[color=blue][color=green]
> >
> >[/color]
> It's also $1289... A bit steep
>
>[/color]

Yow, it has gotten pretty expensive! We have been using version 1 for
several years, it wasn't expensive back then. I see they now have a
"pro" version, with the end user options, and I agree, that is steep.

So plan B? Make some reports, and program in a few options for the end
user? I still doubt that you can program up a general purpose report
tool for less money - and if you can, you need to start charging more.
:)

[Aliza Klein]

Re: Database Reporting

Hi.

I don't know if this will help you.... but I have done somthing similar to
this is Access proper (ie: non VB). What I do is provide the user with a
screen to fill in any number of fields with search criteria... and then on
the click of a button, build the SQL screen. Access allows you to show a
data-sheet form which basically means a spreadsheet style grid that can then
be sorted and columns hidden and unhidden (ie: fields displayed or not). Of
course the data is just columnar and nothing fancy but perhaps that kind of
idea could be used in VB.

Sorry it is not a great solution for VB... but maybe it can be a starting
point to brainstorm.
Aliza


Although I have not tried it (sorry!) I am sure you can call an Access
report from VB that can open the data-sheet form (another VB item).
"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1r9f5$rt0 $1@sparta.btint ernet.com...[color=blue]
> Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
> program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with[/color]
a[color=blue]
> combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility[/color]
to[color=blue]
> write his own reports.
>
> I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
> reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report program
> itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but[/color]
I[color=blue]
> wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
> were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be most
> appreciated.
>
> TIA
> HMJ
>
>[/color]

[Hakk]

Re: Database Reporting


"Aliza Klein" <abklein@optonl ine.net> wrote in message
news:1%F0c.1327 1$5M6.3078177@n ews4.srv.hcvlny .cv.net...[color=blue]
> Hi.
>
> I don't know if this will help you.... but I have done somthing similar to
> this is Access proper (ie: non VB). What I do is provide the user with a
> screen to fill in any number of fields with search criteria... and then on
> the click of a button, build the SQL screen. Access allows you to show a
> data-sheet form which basically means a spreadsheet style grid that can[/color]
then[color=blue]
> be sorted and columns hidden and unhidden (ie: fields displayed or not).[/color]
Of[color=blue]
> course the data is just columnar and nothing fancy but perhaps that kind[/color]
of[color=blue]
> idea could be used in VB.
>
> Sorry it is not a great solution for VB... but maybe it can be a starting
> point to brainstorm.
> Aliza
>
>
> Although I have not tried it (sorry!) I am sure you can call an Access
> report from VB that can open the data-sheet form (another VB item).
> "Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c1r9f5$rt0 $1@sparta.btint ernet.com...[color=green]
> > Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
> > program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access)[/color][/color]
with[color=blue]
> a[color=green]
> > combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility[/color]
> to[color=green]
> > write his own reports.
> >
> > I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
> > reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report[/color][/color]
program[color=blue][color=green]
> > itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc.,[/color][/color]
but[color=blue]
> I[color=green]
> > wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
> > were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be[/color][/color]
most[color=blue][color=green]
> > appreciated.
> >
> > TIA
> > HMJ
> >
> >[/color][/color]
Thanks for suggestions - I will just have to try to implement something
along these lines.

HMJ