Vs2005 Report Creation, Crystal or Access Help?

[Rob Dob]

Hello,

I have a winform c# application that I am building. It is actually a port
of an existing access application. I am creating this new application using
Sql Server instead of the original access mdb files. In the past I have
always created my reports using Crystal reports, however this old
application contains many existing reports originally created within access.
Can I import these reports into crystal? should I be recreating them, or
what other options do I have?

Thanks,

 

[Pat Hartman\(MVP\)]

I have never heard of a tool that converts Access reports to Crystal so I
guess you'll need to do it manually.

BTW, just because you moved your data from Jet tables to SQL Server tables
doesn't mean that you have to discard your Access application. Just link
the Access app to the SQL Server tables. If you changed table and column
names, create a query that renames the columns to their original names and
save the queries with the name of the original table.

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

SQL Server Reporting Services
(http://www.microsoft.com/sql/technologies/reporting/default.mspx) and
Developer Express XtraReports
(http://www.devexpress.com/Products/NET/XtraReports/) both have features to
import Access reports. I haven't extensively tested these features, so I
can't say how well they work, but they do exist.

 

[Rob Dob]

Hi,

SQL Server Reporting Services
(http://www.microsoft.com/sql/technologies/reporting/default.mspx) and
Developer Express XtraReports
(http://www.devexpress.com/Products/NET/XtraReports/) both have features
to import Access reports. I haven't extensively tested these features, so
I can't say how well they work, but they do exist.

Does this mean that my application will need to use sql 2005, my
application currently is using sql2000? Also I am a little confused, I am
assuming that VS2005 now has two avenues for creating reports?

-1- Crystal reports
-2- SQL Server Reporting Services which is whats used when I use the Report
Designer within VS2005.

if this is the case then my problem is that according to the documentation
that when access 2002 and above are installed on the same box that a "Import
Reports" option should appear within the Project menu. This is NOT
appearing, therefore I am unable to import any reports..

any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

There are versions of SQL Server Reporting Services available for both SQL
Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005. My understanding is that the 2005 version
is compatible with SQL Server 2000, but the EULA requires that you have a
SQL Server 2005 licence. I see you've cross-posted this message to the
reporting services newsgroup. You might want to check previous posts in that
group. If I remember correctly I think this question may have been discussed
there quite recently.

SQL Server Reporting Services and Crystal Reports are the two options
available 'out of the box'. There are other, third-party options available,
like XtraReports, which I mentioned previously, and ActiveReports from Data
Dynamics
(http://www.datadynamics.com/Products/ProductOverview.aspx?Product=ARNET2)
which also claims to be able to import Access reports. I've played with
XtraReports, and liked what I saw, though I didn't get into it in any great
depth. I have not played with ActiveReports. They both have demos available
for download if you're interested.

In VS 2003, I see the Import Reports option on the Project menu, but only
when I have selected a SQL Server Reporting Services project in the Solution
Explorer. It is not visible when another type of project is selected. I
haven't had an opportunity to familiarize myself with VS 2005 yet, if you're
using VS 2005 and have difficulty finding the option, you might want to ask
that question in a VS forum.