Re: Best Reporting Tools???

From: DanHW <danhw_at_aol.com>
Date: 16 Oct 1999 03:00:52 GMT
Message-ID: <19991015230052.20300.00000069_at_ng-cf1.aol.com>


>The company I'm working for uses an Oracle database for data storage.
>
>Currently we are using some Cognos Impromptu reports and some Access
>reports. Nothing is standardized and nothing really works "perfectly".
>
>I'd like some opinions on good analytical reporting software that can
>be used to create several types of reports. (IE: income statement
>reports, cost analysis, etc...) All of the data needed for these
>reports is stored in the Oracle database. We'd also like the ability,
>at some point, to allow access to these reports via a WAN/Intranet. We
>are going to look at Cognos' new Web based reporting system and see if
>Access 2000 might be a good choice as well. I'm hoping someone can
>give me some good insight.
>
>Also, if anyone has any opinions (good or bad) regarding budgeting
>software packages, that would be helpful as well. We're currently
>looking at packages ranging in price from $5,000 - $50,000. I'd be
>most interested in hearing about companies being extra supportive or
>non-supportive of their product.
>
>TIA!!!
>
>VA Access
>

Based on my experience with several reporting programs (and non-reporting programs used as reporting programs), the very best one is Oracle Reports. It is by far the most capable and most powerful. However, it also probably has the steepest learning curve. There probably is a way to do just about anything you could possibly think of, and then some. In addition, it uses PL/SQL, so you don't have to learn another language.

As another post mentioned, you **SHOULD** get some training on it if at all possible. (In all honesty, I have not seen any other than Oracle's - mb someone else has)

Dan Hekimian-WIlliams Received on Sat Oct 16 1999 - 05:00:52 CEST

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