Re: Oracle Reports vs. Crystal Reports

[Quoted] Thanks Daniel! Anyone else wanna chime in? It would be great if I could get a couple of responses. Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help.

By the way, what I meant with question #5 (5. Does Oracle require the developers suite for configurability?) is: Do you need the Developer adition for any configurability options. That is, if you want to move around columns on the page or add a column, do you need the Developer Suite or can it somehow be done without it?

Thanks, again. I appreciate all the help.

"Daniel A. Morgan" <dmorgan_at_exesolutions.com> wrote in message news:<3B2015E0.6DEC9758_at_exesolutions.com>...
> <answers interspersed below>
>
> Todd Rubel wrote:
>
> > I have a good amount of experience with Crystal Reports and zero
> > experience with Oracle Reports. My boss has asked me specific
> > questions regarding both packages and I thought that maybe you
> > guys/girls could help. If anyone can compare the 2 with the following
> > questions, I will be forever grateful. Thanks.
> >
> > 1. What is in Oracle Reports that is not in Crystal?
>
> The ability to write SQL. Which means the ability to run any query that
> can be validly written in SQL and PL/SQL. And that is a huge advantage.
>
> In addition Oracle Reports has before and after triggers that can call
> stored procedures in the database to stage data whereas Crystal can only
> call a procedure as a data source.
>
> > 2. Does the Oracle Suite, once learned, make creation of reports
> > easier than Crystal?
>
> Yes. But equally importantly it makes creation of your resume easier.
>
> Remember that whatever tool you know always seems easier and better than
> one you are learning. So expect some swearing and throwing of pointed
> objects during that transition phase.
>
> > 3. Does the Oracle Suite allow for more flexibility in grouping and
> > filtering on the fly than Crystal?
>
> If you can do it ... you can do it in Oracle Reports. Either within the
> report itself or with code written into one of the triggers.
>
> > 4. Does either suite allow for future development of reports off an
> > OLAP database? And how?
>
> The current version of Oracle Reports, R6i, has the ability to integrate
> with Oracle Express, Oracle's OLAP product. As I understand it will be
> discontinued I've little doubt the report tool will, in its next release,
> integrate with the same tool set built into the RDBMS. Right now, for
> example, Oracle, the database, has the ability to perform star joins.
>
> > 5. Does Oracle require the developers suite for configurability?
>
> I'm not sure what you mean. But I believe you can only purchase the
> Reports in the form of the Internet Development Suite. Not as a
> standalone.
>
> > 6. Which tool is easier to use for trending if not automatic?
>
> The one you know best.
>
> > 7. What is the learning curve of Oracle Reports?
>
> The reports side will take you a week or two, at most, excluding writing
> triggers and backend procedures. What you will find is that some of the
> wizards built into Crystal are not present in Reports because Reports
> assumes you want to flexibility, speed, and power of writing your own.
>
> > 8. What do larger databases usually use for a reporting tool?
>
> Oracle Reports or Discoverer if the RDBMS is Oracle. Otherwise I have seen
> Crystal, Cognos, and Brio.
>
> > 9. Which is better in dealing with complex queries?
>
> The one you know best. But there are definitely things you can do in
> Oracle Reports you can not do in Crystal.
>
> > 10. For basically the same report/query, which reporting tool would be
> > faster?
>
> Depends on the query. But speed of the reporting tool is far less an issue
> than is speed of the database and network.
>
> > Thanks again folks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Todd M. Rubel
> > Wellesley, MA
>
> To be blunt ... think of your resume. Developers that know Crystal make
> 1/2 of what developers that know Oracle Reports can make in my part of the
> world.
>
> My pleasure.
>
> Daniel A. Morgan
Received on Sat Jul 21 2001 - 23:50:34 CEST