Crystal Reports alternatives.. and does SQL Reporting Services have field definitions only option?

Question

Okay, two part question I guess.

I liked Crystal Reports, although now (if I understand correctly) the licensing model means if I deploy Crystal 2010 via say webform within my application, I have to purchase a runtime license of $2000+ ?

I haven't used SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services), although I gather that you can use the reportviewer with local data..

So two questions in reality:

1. The FIELD DEFINITIONS ONLY option in Crystal used to be great.. could design the report without the actual datasource needing binding.. DOES SSRS have this concept?

2. Has anyone come across a good alternative (hopefully cheaper than Crystal Licensing) to provide WEB BASED REPORTING with the ability of export as PDF?

Realise these are two questions.. I guess from my perspective fairly related.

Any help gratefully received!

Answer 1

You could check out combit List & Label, it apparently supports web based reporting.

Answer 2

ActiveReports allows you to use a query at design time to retrieve the field definitions for designing the report. Once the fields list is generated no data is needed while designing the report. You can also add fields to the fields list manually. This is useful if you can't use a query at the time you design a report. You can also add what ActiveReports calls "unbound" fields (useful for data not in a database or for calculated fields). These are fields you can use to design the report and the data can be supplied at runtime when ActiveReports raises an event allowing your code to provide data for the unbound fields.

ActiveReports also has completely royalty free licensing. You only need to purchase a license for each developer and deploy it to as many users or web servers as needed.

Finally, the provided Crystal Reports import utility will help you upgrade your existing Crystal Reports quickly.

Scott Willeke
GrapeCity inc.

Answer 3

You can try i-net Crystal-Clear. It can read your Crystal Reports files and it cost many fewer. It can also render PDF files directly from your Crystal Reports files.