Help - should I use Crystal with access??

[kpizza]

Hello! I have to do osme pretty complex queries to create what they call a report. im not sure of the data source or if i should first bring in the data using access then create the reports using crystal? or just use crystal to connect to the main database?

 

[thisisboni]

whats your main database -- Oracle/SQLServer etc..
I would use crystal to connect to the main database directly it would be faster than to introduce a thir party like Access etc..

Cheers
Sam

 

[kpizza]

That's what i'm thinking....i dont know what the main databas eis...yet

 

[thisisboni]

Always better to hit the main dB straight off via Crystal -- Crystal being an Enterprise Application can connect most dBs ... + it'll give you better control say you were to write a stored procedure/ custom view for a report .. introducing access in the design would mean an additional complexity to take of this middle tier --

/Sam

 

[kpizza]

Can I do any of the same stuff with Access that Crystal can do if i link access and teh main database?

 

[thisisboni]

If I understand ur question - then it is can I replace Crystal with Acess ?

well Crystal is a reporting tool where as Access is a database with reporting capabilities - based on ur needs/budget you can take the decision

 

[kpizza]

very true...crystal would make teh most sense to me since teh data is too large to import it into access (because they want a back up of data) it would make sense just to report directly to teh source with crystal.

but we dont have it....so im thinking about just linking to the main database with access and creating a report that way.

 

[thisisboni]

good luck !!