Looking For Report Tool

[Wayne Wengert]

I am using VSNET 2003, VB.NET and ASP.NET with an SQL Server 2000 as the
database. I've used Crystal Reports for several years, mostly using RDC in
VB6 and/or standalone reports that used Access as the database.

I have some tables in SQL Server that CR (CR 8.5) cannot seem to handle
correctly. If my report references any of these tables I get an error saying
there is an "Invalid Handle" when I try to save the report and CR does not
appear to see the data. I know I have full permission and I've tried
creating Views so that CR doesn't have to deal with any JOINs - no help.

Also, in SQL Server I have some varChar fields in a table that are 500 chars
long. CR cuts the data off at 255?

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative to CR? I need to be
able to create and run standalone reports against SQL Server tables and I
also need to have tables I can run from within my VB.NET apps.

Any suggestions appreciated

Wayne

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

I have heard good things about SQL Server Reporting Services.
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/reporting/default.asp

Ken

 

[Wayne Wengert]

Thanks for the reply. The problem is that I just buy a SQL Server service -
I don't own the server. The provider I have wants $50/mo to provide the SQL
Server Reporting Services.

Wayne

 

[Richard L Rosenheim]

I tried using Crystal Reports. Using the version that came with VS 2002, I
was able to work around most of the bugs. I wasn't able to get the version
with VS 2003 to even run on a client's machine. Ended up using
ActiveReports. Did everything I was trying to do with Crystal Reports plus
more, without any of the bugs.

That's my personal experience, your mileage may differ,

Richard Rosenheim

 

[William Ryan eMVP]

For a FREE Product? How in the world does he justify that?

 

[Wayne Wengert]

Based on bandwidth, report server functions and storage.

Wayne