[RESOLVED] VB Reporting - Which is best?

[richierich06]

Hey everybody,

I'm using VB for a new project i'm doing and want to know from other peoples experience which reporting tool is best.

I have used Excel as a reporting tool before and liked it because it gave me full control ovr what information was being displayed in the report at run time.

I have seen and used Crystal Reports but only for small reports from one table. Unfortunately it seems the only way to use CR with multiple tables is to use a temporary table with all relevant information in it. This seems ridiculous. Is there any way to use this tool with full control like i had in Excel. CR just seems to look more professional.

Also i have heard od Access reports. Does anyone know if it is worth using.

Any advice on reporting and what i should use is much appreciated.

Richie.

[The Kebab Man]

You could use Data Reports within VB - which is similar to MS Access Reports

You can also use Word's Mail Merge

Hope this helps

[brucevde]

Unfortunately it seems the only way to use CR with multiple tables is to use a temporary table with all relevant information in it.

I have never ever used a temporary table and have been using CR for a long time. Not sure why you would think that...

The Database Visual Linking Expert is similar to building a query in Access. You select the tables and link them together. CR will build the SQL statement based on the options you choose.

[richierich06]

Thanks for the prompt replys. I now realise you can build a multiple table query. Its just that its hard to find examles of this anywhere. I think i have to pass parameters. Is this something got to do with it.

But how do i get information on the report of unrelated tables?

As for mail merge it doesn't look like what i'm looking for.

[sjrich]

I use crystal reports as well. It takes a little bit of time to understand how to make the program effectively work with your database AND you will see any logical errors you made. It is a great program though and would highly recommend it for report writing.

[brucevde]

But how do i get information on the report of unrelated tables?

Use a SubReport.

Depending on where you place the subreport it will execute X number of times. For example, if you place it in the Details section of the Main report it will execute for each record. If you place it in the Report Footer, it will execute only once.

[MartinLiss]

Moved.

[shakti5385]

Click On the Insert Menu And Click On the running total in the CR And there just pass the field name and put that running total field at your Cr page Footer.

I always tell the CR user to avoid the temporary table for getting the report because in this way you have to fill data in the table and need to delete the data again so it is not good method.
I think it is batter that uses the sub report option.

[richierich06]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm gonna give Cr a try. I'll let you know how i got on!!!