Best reporting tool for .NET

Question

I have convinced a company to change Crystal Reports. But then? What to use? Telerik? I want:

• designer
• bind an object model, not a denormalized view
• execute from batch, generate report in batch
• export to word or many other formats
• reporting site

Uh, my backend is Progress Software, so ODBC driver. Or NHibernate objects...

Answer 1

There is always Sql Reporting services from Microsoft. Other than that Active Reports from http://www.datadynamics.com is quite full-featured which I've used with success. When I need something simple I use the reporting in MS Access.

Personally when I need to generate complex word reports I just use ASP.NET to generate a document in Words XML format. I create the template in word, fill it with template vars (that I use as markers) and save it in XML format which I then dissect into individual controls and embed in other reports as needed.

Creating custom Word reports in ASP.NET has many advantages:

• it's super quick as your only generating xml markup
• you can use the querystring as different variables in your report
• you get the full power of C# and ASP.NET for your templating and report generation
• avoids licence fees, no installed runtimes are needed and is viewable by anyone with a browser and word

Answer 2

Let's try FastReport.Net

- advanced visual designer for enduser as well as for developers. Royalty free.
- XML based report files
- any databases as well as "user defined" data or/and business objects
- export to about 15 formats (PDF, html, XLS, ODT, RTF, pictures, etc.)
- Extendable architecture allows to create own objects, export filters, wizards, DB engines.