Report Designer... I want one

How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use Visual
Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they have
their own report designer tool.
I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with SQL
2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something sooner?
MalikGoto www.cizer.com, they have a web based report designer called "quick query". It runs off of Reporting Services.
Regards
Chris
"Abdul Malik Said" wrote:
> How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
> analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use Visual
> Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they have
> their own report designer tool.
> I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with SQL
> 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something sooner?
> Malik
>
>|||Thanks Chris,
This is exactly what I was looking for.
At $2500, I can see some people saying it is cheaper than buying Crystal if
you already have SQL RS. But what would be REALLY nice :-) is if something
like this was bundled with SQL 2005.
Any plans to provide such a report designer in 2005?
Malik
"Chris McGuigan" <ChrisMcGuigan@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8AD69179-DC3A-495B-BAFD-D73CAD08E362@.microsoft.com...
> Goto www.cizer.com, they have a web based report designer called "quick
query". It runs off of Reporting Services.
> Regards
> Chris
> "Abdul Malik Said" wrote:
> > How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average
financial
> > analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
Visual
> > Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
have
> > their own report designer tool.
> >
> > I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> > developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
SQL
> > 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
sooner?
> >
> > Malik
> >
> >
> >|||Microsoft bought one of Cizer's competitors in the recent past ( proabably
to do just what you need.)
I am certain that the dev team is aware of your needs, and I expect we will
see many good things in the YUKON version especially in the area of
non-technical report development... The dev team will let us know details
when they are ready, but I have huge high hopes... You MS really does know
how to make a UI...
--
Wayne Snyder, MCDBA, SQL Server MVP
Mariner, Charlotte, NC
www.mariner-usa.com
(Please respond only to the newsgroups.)
I support the Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS) and it's
community of SQL Server professionals.
www.sqlpass.org
"Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
news:eFGVtrAZEHA.3432@.TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Thanks Chris,
> This is exactly what I was looking for.
> At $2500, I can see some people saying it is cheaper than buying Crystal
if
> you already have SQL RS. But what would be REALLY nice :-) is if something
> like this was bundled with SQL 2005.
> Any plans to provide such a report designer in 2005?
> Malik
> "Chris McGuigan" <ChrisMcGuigan@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> news:8AD69179-DC3A-495B-BAFD-D73CAD08E362@.microsoft.com...
> > Goto www.cizer.com, they have a web based report designer called "quick
> query". It runs off of Reporting Services.
> >
> > Regards
> > Chris
> >
> > "Abdul Malik Said" wrote:
> >
> > > How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average
> financial
> > > analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
> Visual
> > > Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
> have
> > > their own report designer tool.
> > >
> > > I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> > > developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer
with
> SQL
> > > 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
> sooner?
> > >
> > > Malik
> > >
> > >
> > >
>|||Just to clear up a misconception. There is no need to know XML at all. You
do have to use Visual Studio but XML plays no visible part of developing a
report. Yes, the report definition is in XML but the designer creates it
which is all visual design. I think as there become books available the
level of skill required to create reports will be less especially if going
against SQL Server and can use the visual query tool.
If they can use Crystal Reports I'm not sure that RS is any more difficult
than that.
I have only used Crystal Reports a little bit so I can not tell you that
definitively. Someone who has used both should jump in.
Bruce L-C
"Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
> analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
Visual
> Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
have
> their own report designer tool.
> I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
SQL
> 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
sooner?
> Malik
>|||Yes, you are right. As long as you have Visual Studio, no need to mess with
the RDL files or know the RDL schema. However, most report developers in
today's world don't know what visual studio is, far less know how to use it.
I have used Crystal Reports designer, and I can tell you that I like the
Visual Studio designer much better. However, this needs to be offered to
someone outside of the Visual Studio licencing scheme. Report writers are
not necessarily full-fledged developers, and should not incur as much cost
to the company for developer licences.
I can see a great future for stuff like that Cizer product, which simply
provides the Visual studio interface to a web client. That way, the user
doesn't need a visual studio licence.
Great discussion, needs attention from Microsoft people who can make sure
this gets in the next release! :-D
Malik
"Bruce Loehle-Conger" <bruce_lcNOSPAM@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:#1G#MtCZEHA.996@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Just to clear up a misconception. There is no need to know XML at all. You
> do have to use Visual Studio but XML plays no visible part of developing a
> report. Yes, the report definition is in XML but the designer creates it
> which is all visual design. I think as there become books available the
> level of skill required to create reports will be less especially if going
> against SQL Server and can use the visual query tool.
> If they can use Crystal Reports I'm not sure that RS is any more difficult
> than that.
> I have only used Crystal Reports a little bit so I can not tell you that
> definitively. Someone who has used both should jump in.
> Bruce L-C
> "Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
> news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average
financial
> > analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
> Visual
> > Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
> have
> > their own report designer tool.
> >
> > I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> > developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
> SQL
> > 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
> sooner?
> >
> > Malik
> >
> >
>|||Abdul,
We were in the same situation. The way we got around this today was to
purchase VB.NET standard for our non development users ($99 US a copy I
believe) and install the RS designer into that. Works great for us and
is as cost effective as it gets today.
Like you though I would love to see a powerful dedicated report designer
with some nice bells and whistles for power reports folks.
Hope this helps,
Matt
Abdul Malik Said wrote:
> Yes, you are right. As long as you have Visual Studio, no need to mess with
> the RDL files or know the RDL schema. However, most report developers in
> today's world don't know what visual studio is, far less know how to use it.
> I have used Crystal Reports designer, and I can tell you that I like the
> Visual Studio designer much better. However, this needs to be offered to
> someone outside of the Visual Studio licencing scheme. Report writers are
> not necessarily full-fledged developers, and should not incur as much cost
> to the company for developer licences.
> I can see a great future for stuff like that Cizer product, which simply
> provides the Visual studio interface to a web client. That way, the user
> doesn't need a visual studio licence.
> Great discussion, needs attention from Microsoft people who can make sure
> this gets in the next release! :-D
> Malik
> "Bruce Loehle-Conger" <bruce_lcNOSPAM@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:#1G#MtCZEHA.996@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>Just to clear up a misconception. There is no need to know XML at all. You
>>do have to use Visual Studio but XML plays no visible part of developing a
>>report. Yes, the report definition is in XML but the designer creates it
>>which is all visual design. I think as there become books available the
>>level of skill required to create reports will be less especially if going
>>against SQL Server and can use the visual query tool.
>>If they can use Crystal Reports I'm not sure that RS is any more difficult
>>than that.
>>I have only used Crystal Reports a little bit so I can not tell you that
>>definitively. Someone who has used both should jump in.
>>Bruce L-C
>>"Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
>>news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average
> financial
>>analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
>>Visual
>>Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
>>have
>>their own report designer tool.
>>I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
>>developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
>>SQL
>>2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
>>sooner?
>>Malik
>>
>>
>|||Please see the following for more about Reporting Services and Active Views
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/apr04/04-26ActiveViewsPR.asp
--
Bruce Johnson [MSFT]
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
> analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
Visual
> Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
have
> their own report designer tool.
> I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
SQL
> 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
sooner?
> Malik
>|||I think RS need to much SQL knowledge for your average user to create thier
own reports, crystal takes that away for all but the most complicated of
reports.
"Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
> analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
Visual
> Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
have
> their own report designer tool.
> I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
SQL
> 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
sooner?
> Malik
>|||Greg,
You are right, but that is not a bad thing - Reporting Services as it stands now is aimed at the Reporting/Development professional.
Use Cizers products or other equivalents for end user report design.
By the way, anyone know how to get Active Views? All enquiries on-line send me to the press release about Microsofts acquisition of them!
Chris McGuigan
"Greg Rodger" wrote:
> I think RS need to much SQL knowledge for your average user to create thier
> own reports, crystal takes that away for all but the most complicated of
> reports.
> "Abdul Malik Said" <diplacusis@.hotmNOSPAMail.com> wrote in message
> news:uaGQ1LAZEHA.4008@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > How do I put the power of SQL RS into the hands of your average financial
> > analyst or manager who doesn't know XML and doesn't ever want to use
> Visual
> > Studio? Most of these people will still use crystal reports until they
> have
> > their own report designer tool.
> >
> > I have read some predictions that 3rd party report designers would be
> > developed... but who is doing this? Can we expect a report designer with
> SQL
> > 2005 or is there someone working on it now who may release something
> sooner?
> >
> > Malik
> >
> >
>
>