C&A DocWriter Enterprise Level Reporting
with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
One of the advantages of using a open-database software toolsuite like C&A DocWriter is the ability to create your own custom reports using business intelligence tools like Microsoft's SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
SSRS is a powerful tool to create custom reports from your database. Build reports using the report designer. Once deployed, reports can show real time data analysis in tables and graphs from the convenience of your web browser. SSRS reports integrate with the
C&A DocWriter Web Module for easy access. Reports can be exported to a variety of formats including Microsoft Excel and Adobe Acrobat.
Best of all is that there are no additional costs. MS SQL Server includes SSRS. Because reports are web based, it is only natural to integrate your reports into the
C&A DocWriter Web Module, however, you can use SSRS completely independently of C&A DocWriter if you choose.
Getting Started
Microsoft choose to change the way reports were created and deployed in SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008. Both work with C&A DocWriter, but the examples below were created for the 2005 version.
Start by installing SSRS if you have not done so already. SSRS is actually a web site, so it should be hosted on your web server if that is not the same as your database server.
Reports are stored in RDL files (for 2005). You create and edit RDL files in Microsoft Visual Studio or Microsoft Business Intelligence Studio (a version of Visual Studio limited to SSRS required features). From the link below, you can download the RDL files for the sample reports you see here.
SSRS is one of the easier reporting tools to use but there is a learning curve. If your organization does not have experience with SSRS, it is often not difficult to find short-term contractors with experience.
Other Business Intelligence Tools
Also remember that you can use other BI reporting tools such as
Business Objects or
Crystal Reports to achieve the same goals.