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gvsunil

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MS Reporting services vs Business Objects

Hi,

We have Business Objects 5.x . We are planning to migrate the
existing Business Object based reporting to MS SQL server reporting services. We are looking for the advantages and disadvantages of moving from Business Objects to Reporting services.

Thanks for your time in advance.
GVS
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frodoman
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I agree with Frodoman.

While we are developing in Delphi 7.0 presently, we are dependant on SQL 2000 as a database plat form.
One of the greatest advantages I have had personally, “Report Services” leverages my existing transact SQL skill set.
SQL script can be written and debugged in the query analyzer, then simply pasted into report services. After that it’s all formatting.
It takes a little while to get familiar with the editing tools, however the “Report Services” newsgroup is really busy with lots of history on most issues.

Beyond that the biggest draw back for me has been that “Report Services” is server based, so there is no real client/desktop solution at this time. Although it is rumored to be coming in future releases.

G
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tonyjester

Couldn't agree more, although I see the dedication to servers more of an advantage than a drawback...but's that's just the way we run our software.

MSRS is a bit 'young' at the minute for us to take it on full pelt, however, if you are not distributing reports to run on other servers and have in house development resource then it's definitely worth a look.

In the long term I think one of the biggest advantages of MSRS is the dissolving of the mythical report specialist.

Good BO 'consultants' are hard to come by and expensive in the main, MS entering this market will soften the reporting designers bills and improve availablilty of cheap designer training courses.

I should have started that last paragragh with I hope...

Tony
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Chris McGuigan
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gvsunil,

You've received several good answers here.  Please award or split points and close this question.

Thanks,

frodoman
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Wow, my paragraphs got twisted around in the previous post????
Just a quick clarification on the connectivity front regarding MS RS, it is true that currently you will need a SQL Server to run Reporting Services but it can access any datasource with OLE-DB compliant data. It is also Microsofts intention for the next release to remove this restriction so that it can run standalone like Crystal. But if you're already running BO I guess it's the enterprise stuff (i.e. central report distribution, integrated security) that you want.

I also take jdharris's point about funnelling all your eggs into Microsofts' basket, but the luxury to avoid that 'generally' only comes when a company gets to a certain size.

Regards
Chris
Chrismc:  True enough.  I work for a large company.  Thank you for the info on ms rs connectivity.  I've got to get up to speed on the capabilities of Reporting Services.  I want to make sure that I understand you -

In order to run ms rs, you must have it on a box with SQL Server installed, but once you have that, you can access any ole/db compliant source?  I realize this is a bit off-topic, but thanks.

John,
Yes, currently RS must be installed on an MS SQL Server 2000 box. But the reports themselves can access ANY OLE-DB compliant datasource.
On top of that in SQL Server you can 'Link' other OLE-DB Data Servers so one query could pull data from various servers, some of which could be Oracle for instance.

RS comprises the Reporting Service DB, Report Manager Web Application, Reporting Services development add-on.
The DB is un-surprisingly an MS SQL 2000 DB, it holds data on all aspects of serving up reports including snapshots, execution history, the deployed reports themselves, security settings, data connectivity settings. This is the reason for the tie-in to SQL Server.
The Report Manager Web Application runs in IIS, it doesn't have to be on the DB server but does have to be in MS IIS. It provides the reporting portal and allows full management of the environment with the exception of report developement.
Development is done via Visual Studio.NET 2003 or VB.Net 2003 - not 2002! Again it doesn't have to be on the same PC as the RS DB. Expressions and code can use any .Net language. The report definitions themselves are saved as XML documents. When deployed they are embedded in the Reporting Services database. It's a system that works very well.
RS is served to end users entirely in the browser with no software required at the users end - its' major selling point. This requirement is likely to be removed with the next release, but I would imagine it means you wouldn't be able to have the portal without it!
I am certainly not a lover of Microsoft but I do feel this product is a real gem (for once they've been innovative themselves) - you should take a look, you can download an evaluation version. If you already have a SQL Server licence, the only other cost is VS.Net or VB.Net. VB.Net can be picked up for around £80. Crystal Enterprise which can provide the portal was going to cost us getting on for £30,000.

Chris
Thanks Chris for the valuable info.

I would like to add that BO also serves reports via browser only.  There is also a java applet (I'm running Apache/Tomcat) that allows report creation/editing in the thin client environment.  I wonder if we should start a separate thread here, this is good information that a lot of folks would find valueable, but not pertainent to the original question.
Sure John, where do you suggest! Is expert exchange the right place for this discussion?

Chris
Chris.  Thanks so much.

If you wish, drop me a line at <email removed by PE mlmcc>.  It would be good to discuss this further.

-John
Sorry, didn't know.  

-John
Hi mlmcc,

I guess it would be fair to share the points out amongst the responders.

Regards
Chris
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I am really really for delay in accepting the answer. I was out of country..
Can i integrate MSRS in my web forms (ASP .NET)?
gvsunil - Thank you for closing this question.

aosexpert - You really need to ask your own questions.  On the left column is a link to ASK A QUESTION

mlmcc