is Crystal XI easier than SQL Reporting - 2005?

Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)? Also
is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
Crystal?
Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs / Pie
charts etc?
Regards,
Akshay.Interesting. You are asking a newsgroup that supports SQL Reporting Servies
and you want them to tell you another product is easier and better.
"iweb" wrote:
> Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)? Also
> is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
> if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
> Crystal?
> Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs / Pie
> charts etc?
> Regards,
> Akshay.
>|||easy answer, crystal does some stuff easier, SQL Reporting does other stuff
easier... after using both for years... they both have pluses and minuses...
neither is exactly easier then the other, but each does a set of tasks
easier then the other
"iweb" <iweb@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B9B9B74D-0098-4C46-BBC8-EFF34886F7B8@.microsoft.com...
> Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)?
> Also
> is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
> if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
> Crystal?
> Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs /
> Pie
> charts etc?
> Regards,
> Akshay.
>|||My reading says: For making a printable and user friendly Sales Invoice or
financial statement Crystal XI seems better.
BUT for an easy MIS, Tabular / Columnar / Dashboard and graphical reports
SQL Reporting seems a better opotion.
Am I correct? If not pls correct me and guide me too.
Regards,
Akshay.
"Smokey Grindel" wrote:
> easy answer, crystal does some stuff easier, SQL Reporting does other stuff
> easier... after using both for years... they both have pluses and minuses...
> neither is exactly easier then the other, but each does a set of tasks
> easier then the other
>
> "iweb" <iweb@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B9B9B74D-0098-4C46-BBC8-EFF34886F7B8@.microsoft.com...
> > Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)?
> > Also
> > is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
> >
> > if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
> > Crystal?
> >
> > Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs /
> > Pie
> > charts etc?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Akshay.
> >
>
>|||On Mar 19, 2:25 am, iweb <i...@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> My reading says: For making a printable and user friendly Sales Invoice or
> financial statement Crystal XI seems better.
> BUT for an easy MIS, Tabular / Columnar / Dashboard and graphical reports
> SQL Reporting seems a better opotion.
> Am I correct? If not pls correct me and guide me too.
> Regards,
> Akshay.
> "Smokey Grindel" wrote:
> > easy answer, crystal does some stuff easier, SQL Reporting does other stuff
> > easier... after using both for years... they both have pluses and minuses...
> > neither is exactly easier then the other, but each does a set of tasks
> > easier then the other
> > "iweb" <i...@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:B9B9B74D-0098-4C46-BBC8-EFF34886F7B8@.microsoft.com...
> > > Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)?
> > > Also
> > > is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
> > > if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
> > > Crystal?
> > > Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs /
> > > Pie
> > > charts etc?
> > > Regards,
> > > Akshay.
Just a few comparisons. Crystal Reports has been around a lot longer
than SQL Server Reporting Services, so it is a bit more 'seasoned,' if
you will. That said, if you don't have or need a web server (i.e.,
IIS), then Crystal Reports would be better suited for your needs.
Crystal Reports XI seems to have a larger footprint than SQL Server
Reporting Services 2005 (takes up more hard drive space). The main
differences are in the GUI tools, exporting options and licensing. The
GUI tools look quite different. Crystal Reports XI has both a
completely separate GUI tool and has been integrated w/Visual Studio
2005 (though it is limited somewhat). SQL Server Reporting Services
2005 is part of the Business Intelligence Development Environment (or
full version of Visual Studio 2005). If you have a licensed version of
SQL Server, Reporting Services comes free of charge on the
processor(s) that the SQL Server is licensed on. Crystal Reports XI's
license costs around $750 or so. SQL Server Reporting Services 2005
reports export to Excel, XML, PDF, CSV, Web archive (mhtml) and Tiff.
Crystal Reports XI does not export to XML or Web archive; but it
exports to Word (which SSRS 2005 does not). So it really depends on
your specific needs and the minor differences between the two. Hope
this was helpful.
Regards,
Enrique Martinez
Sr. SQL Server Developer|||Hi,
Thanks for yr detailed analysis. Was useful and better than the earlier ones
:-)
Now coming to my specific needs, what I see missing in Crystal XI is the
drag drop feature which we have in SQL Reporting to make easy and quick MIS.
In Crystal still we need to set the object, check and then finalize on the
same. I hope u got me? Drag drop and real time connectivity to Database seems
missing in Crystal - right'
Secondly, we make views first and then the Crystal design. In Crystal
reporting do we have to make the views or since its directly connects to the
database, once we drag drop tables into the templates, the views are auto
created?
Please guide and on your personal take - Would u make a Sales Invoice in
Crystal XI or SQL Reporting? especially when the customer will print and send
it to his customers / suppliers.
I understand for a BI and Bar charts / pie charts, real time Dashboard and
stuff SQL Reporting will be better as we need to take a BI License for
Crystal which all customers will not pay for.
Pls inform.
Akshay.
"EMartinez" wrote:
> On Mar 19, 2:25 am, iweb <i...@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > My reading says: For making a printable and user friendly Sales Invoice or
> > financial statement Crystal XI seems better.
> >
> > BUT for an easy MIS, Tabular / Columnar / Dashboard and graphical reports
> > SQL Reporting seems a better opotion.
> >
> > Am I correct? If not pls correct me and guide me too.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Akshay.
> >
> > "Smokey Grindel" wrote:
> > > easy answer, crystal does some stuff easier, SQL Reporting does other stuff
> > > easier... after using both for years... they both have pluses and minuses...
> > > neither is exactly easier then the other, but each does a set of tasks
> > > easier then the other
> >
> > > "iweb" <i...@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >news:B9B9B74D-0098-4C46-BBC8-EFF34886F7B8@.microsoft.com...
> > > > Is Crystal XI easier to use and manage than SQL Reporting 2005 (SSRS)?
> > > > Also
> > > > is the print quality of Crystal XI better than SQL Reporting? (SSRS)
> >
> > > > if I have to make a Sales Invoice, which will be better SQL Reporting or
> > > > Crystal?
> >
> > > > Does Crystal have a BI Tool like SQL has SQL Reporting for MIS Graphs /
> > > > Pie
> > > > charts etc?
> >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Akshay.
> Just a few comparisons. Crystal Reports has been around a lot longer
> than SQL Server Reporting Services, so it is a bit more 'seasoned,' if
> you will. That said, if you don't have or need a web server (i.e.,
> IIS), then Crystal Reports would be better suited for your needs.
> Crystal Reports XI seems to have a larger footprint than SQL Server
> Reporting Services 2005 (takes up more hard drive space). The main
> differences are in the GUI tools, exporting options and licensing. The
> GUI tools look quite different. Crystal Reports XI has both a
> completely separate GUI tool and has been integrated w/Visual Studio
> 2005 (though it is limited somewhat). SQL Server Reporting Services
> 2005 is part of the Business Intelligence Development Environment (or
> full version of Visual Studio 2005). If you have a licensed version of
> SQL Server, Reporting Services comes free of charge on the
> processor(s) that the SQL Server is licensed on. Crystal Reports XI's
> license costs around $750 or so. SQL Server Reporting Services 2005
> reports export to Excel, XML, PDF, CSV, Web archive (mhtml) and Tiff.
> Crystal Reports XI does not export to XML or Web archive; but it
> exports to Word (which SSRS 2005 does not). So it really depends on
> your specific needs and the minor differences between the two. Hope
> this was helpful.
> Regards,
> Enrique Martinez
> Sr. SQL Server Developer
>