Native crystal vs .NET

[markinro]

I originally posted this in the Crystal forum but maybe this forum is more appropriate...

From what I can tell, .NET is more flexible. I can pass just about datasource I can imagine. I can publish a report as a web-service which giving me a highly scalable solution. I can pass multiple datasets via stored procedures, make use of n-tier methodologies. It's built into .NET so I don't need to buy full-blown crystal (just a license).

Besides, there are a variety of alternate reporting tools - ActiveReports, Excel which can be implemented in .NET

So, why purchase crystal ? Is there anything it can do that can't be done in .NET ?

 

[WyldGynjer]

Markinro - I have wondered the same thing. For our needs here - I've been able to use the .net version - with no problems. However after looking at the crystal decisions website - I have found that there are some differences - mainly you just have a little bit more functionality...Here is one page I found:

http://www.crystaldecisions.com/products/crystalreports/editions.asp

There's quite a bit of information about all the different versions on their website. I hope that helps...

 

[markinro]

Great minds think alike. For the additional cost of advanced, I would rather stick with .NET. The web page says .NET cannot handle XML -- I'll have to check that out.

We have the enterprise version here and I think it's overkill -- besides it crashes, it costs A LOT and it doesn't run as a callable service. Web services are a much cleaner way to go -- scalable, very fast and its free.

Also, from what I have been reading about the next version of MS-SQL, it will have it's own report generator. Probably just a way to create fancy output from a select statement.

Thanks for the response -- I was beginning to think no one cared. Unfortunately they are the ones making the decisions.

"Don't think you are, know you are."

 

[darwin101]

SQL Server reporting services should be out by late December, and its free if you already have a sql server license. The reports are developed in .Net studio, looks sharp from what I have seen.

 

[markinro]

Yes, I have read some white papers. Looks like crystal is on it's way out. Reporting services can import access report objects and personally, I think they are superior to crystal.