Hi folks,
I could use a recommendation. I'm writing an application in VB.net 2008 that I would like to distribute someday soon. I'm trying to make it as independent as I can so other software pre-requisites don't affect who can use it. For instance, I have some specialized reporting I need to do (akin to a movie ticket) that I have to print in a mail merge type of operation. the output data fields may be vertically oriented or upside down on the page and there will be several 'tickets' per page to print.
I know this can be done programmatically with MS Word, but I would prefer not to restrict potential users to only those who have MS Office. I'm using the Microsoft Report Writer object in VB.Net for some reports in the program, but so far I don't see if having the options and tools I need to do this more exacting, specialized type of printing (unless I'm missing something).
I'm wondering if any of you have some suggestions on what other applications I might be able to use instead that can be accessed programmatically from a VB program. I had hoped I might be able to use the Write app in OpenOffice but my initial examination of that seems like it won't work for what I want to do (no OLE style extensions I could fine to operate it programmatically). I'm now looking into Google Apps to see if there is anything there I can use but I haven't found anything promising yet.
Surely I'm not the first person to run into this. Is there a free or low-cost externally operable reporting option out there with good tools I can use to keep my costs down and make my program available to as wide an audience as possible?
Thanks
Craig
CraigHartz
I could use a recommendation. I'm writing an application in VB.net 2008 that I would like to distribute someday soon. I'm trying to make it as independent as I can so other software pre-requisites don't affect who can use it. For instance, I have some specialized reporting I need to do (akin to a movie ticket) that I have to print in a mail merge type of operation. the output data fields may be vertically oriented or upside down on the page and there will be several 'tickets' per page to print.
I know this can be done programmatically with MS Word, but I would prefer not to restrict potential users to only those who have MS Office. I'm using the Microsoft Report Writer object in VB.Net for some reports in the program, but so far I don't see if having the options and tools I need to do this more exacting, specialized type of printing (unless I'm missing something).
I'm wondering if any of you have some suggestions on what other applications I might be able to use instead that can be accessed programmatically from a VB program. I had hoped I might be able to use the Write app in OpenOffice but my initial examination of that seems like it won't work for what I want to do (no OLE style extensions I could fine to operate it programmatically). I'm now looking into Google Apps to see if there is anything there I can use but I haven't found anything promising yet.
Surely I'm not the first person to run into this. Is there a free or low-cost externally operable reporting option out there with good tools I can use to keep my costs down and make my program available to as wide an audience as possible?
Thanks
Craig
CraigHartz
