Re: report writer(generator)

> >gis@actcom.co.il (Harel Shemer) writes: > >I am running informix on a unix machine(hp) under X. I urgently need a > >report generator that can be integrated into our application. > >Can anyone give me an indication of what products or tools are available. > > > > from Aryeh Levin (levina@elbit.co.il) > > Oddly enough, I'm in roughly the same spot. > > I've been here before, and the answer has always been "sorry". > > I'll add my voice, with clarifications: > > Are there any tools out there, free or otherwise, that are robust > enough & easy enough to use that END USERS can design and create > customized reports? > > I've seen several of them --- including QuickStep --- and none of them > come close. > > Regards, > > William G. Hudacek Internet: whudace@dad.bgsu.edu > University Computer Services Bowling Green State University We use SQL and the ACE reports. I have set up the initial reports for the users, and then they modify them to run the way they want. The users (at least the educated ones) have no problem switching variables, changing spaces, and even fooling with the formatting of the output. The neat thing about SQL is that it is free, will always work in any Informix environment, is portable to many other environments, is a resume entry for all who learn it (there is a high personal incentive to learn enough to get by), it produces generic ascii output which is easily importable to other programs, it is easy to code and debug, there are hundreds of books available that explain the syntax, and it causes users to understand the nature of the data structures, which promotes a common ground for discussion among the users and programmers. The problems with SQL are the reverse of the above. The data structures may be hard for the users to understand (then you have bad structures, I say!), the syntax for complex queries can be hard (joins, certain syntax quirks), and the users can build unfeasible queries (cartesian products, and un-intended monster requests--though these can be better managed and limited in OnLine versions >= 7.1. Still, I am a big fan of raw, manly SQL for users. I have trained many of our users in basic SQL, and they are building queries on their own. They have a good understanding of the nature of the database (that's part of the training) and better appreciate my profession. That's not what you wanted to hear, I know, but it's an old argument here that I have "canned" and on the tip of my tongue. FWIW. __________________________________________________________________ | Clem Akins Standard Disclaimers Apply | |Reynolds Metals Co, Alloys Plant "Climb High, Cave Deep!" | | Muscle Shoals, Alabama USA cwakins@leia.alloys.rmc.com | |________________________________________________________________|