Reports on Visual Studio... Which one is best and easiest?

Question

Hello:

I am trying to decide which report builder/generator is best and easiest for me to use.

1) I have tried: Pebbles Report tool and I really like it but its too new and does not have enough options.

2) I have tried: Report Builder 3.0 and its OK, but can not get it to work correctly with VS2010. Maybe its something that I am doing incorrectly.

3) Crystal Reports 2010. I have been looking where I can download it, but have not found where.

4) MS Excel... Its nice... But: How would I execute the Excel worksheet from my forms.

Jaish Mathews · Answer

You can create excel file from the scratch. It's not like File.Create(). But using managed OLEDB class. As OLEDB is using you have advantage of using SQLQuery against created Excel sheet and fill the rows one by one from your DB. Can you check the below article? http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/jaishmathews/861/ You may get some thing to play with.

Jaish Mathews · Answer

Then you need to download and install that driver. It's free http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7554F536-8C28-4598-9B72-EF94E038C891&displaylang=en

Gustavo · Answer

Jaish: I know I have Office 2007. I still get the error: The ' Microsoft .ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine.

Jaish Mathews · Answer

Hi If you downloaded the sourcecode attached to the mentioned article open the app.config and you can see 2 config values like this add key =  XLConnectionString  value =  Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source={0};Extended Properties='Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes;'  /> add key =  XLXConnectionString  value =  Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source={0};Extended Properties='Excel 12.0 Xml;HDR=YES;'  /> Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 needs to be used if your machine has Excel 2003 only Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 needs to be used if your machine has Excel 2007 Check the Office version in your PC and do the modifications.

Gustavo · Answer

Jaish: Thanks. I just tried to run it and I get an error at the conn.Open(). But its something for me to play with. Thanks System.InvalidOperationException was unhandled Message=The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine. Source=System.Data StackTrace: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbServicesWrapper.GetDataSource(OleDbConnectionString constr DataSourceWrapper& datasrcWrapper) at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionInternal..ctor(OleDbConnectionString constr OleDbConnection connection) at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options Object poolGroupProviderInfo DbConnectionPool pool DbConnection owningObject) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory) at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection.Open() at WindowsFormsApplication1.Form1.CreateExcelFile(String filePath String sheetName) in M:\Download\RDLProject\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\Form1.cs:line 82 at WindowsFormsApplication1.Form1.xlFileButton_Click(Object sender EventArgs e) in M:\Download\RDLProject\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\Form1.cs:line 55 at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m MouseButtons button Int32 clicks) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.DebuggableCallback(IntPtr hWnd Int32 msg IntPtr wparam IntPtr lparam) at System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessageW(MSG& msg) at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ComponentManager.System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.IMsoComponentManager.FPushMessageLoop(Int32 dwComponentID Int32 reason Int32 pvLoopData) at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoopInner(Int32 reason ApplicationContext context) at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoop(Int32 reason ApplicationContext context) at WindowsFormsApplication1.Program.Main() in M:\Download\RDLProject\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\WindowsFormsApplication1\Program.cs:line 18 InnerException:

Gustavo · Answer

Jaish: I would like to enter the name of it in a textBox and then show it. I will save all the Excel/Reports in one place. Also I have a database populating the Excel sheet. I hope I can change the paparameters in it and refresh it. I hope this answers your question: But want to know how you need to execute it.

Jaish Mathews · Answer

Regarding your comment MS Excel... Its nice... But: How would I execute the Excel worksheet from my forms.  I would say it may not be a problem. But want to know how you need to execute it.