Having used both Crystal Reports (CR) and SQL Reporting Services
(RS) for a web-app I'm fully convinced. I've had enough of CR for once
and for all. Oh yes, I have build great reports with CR but it was a
bumpy road. Getting it all to work was favorite blog fodder,
the many responses tell I'm not the only one with frustrations. What
surprises me is that many people think RS is an overkill. This is not
the case, let me sum up some of my pleasant RS experiences. You think
for yourself how CR compares on these points
- An RS license is part of a MS sql server license. So when you have a sql server it is free
- Initial setup of RS is no big deal. No registry
settings, no folder settings. After that anybody (with the right
privileges) can upload reports with a browser.
- RS works very intuitive with data, a report works on one SQL query, a subreport is a new report with a new SQL query
- RS uses plain VBscript for expressions
- An RS report can load .net assemblies
The learning curve for RS is not steep, as it builds on your
existing knowledge. I don't want to speak for the "power user" who
builds his own reports. Actually I don't think such a person is common.
Real reporters work with Excel, one of the many RS export formats in
the box.
You might argue that RS increases the monopoly of Microsoft, another
kind of product where they are trying to be marker leader. Could be,
but I prefer a good night of sleep.