Database Reporting

[Hakk]

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with a
combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility to
write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report program
itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but I
wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be most
appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

[Steve Gerrard]

"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with a combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility to write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report program itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but I wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be most appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has "user
defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order and
filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in itself.

[Hakk]

"Steve Gerrard" <no*************@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:FN********************@comcast.com...

"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a

reporting

program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access)

with a

combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the

facility to

write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can

program

reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report

program

itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc.,

but I

wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where

relations

were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be

most

appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has "user
defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order and
filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in itself.

It's also $1289... A bit steep

[Steve Gerrard]

"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@titan.btinternet.com...

"Steve Gerrard" <no*************@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:FN********************@comcast.com...

"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a

reporting
See if you can buy ActiveReports for the customer. Version 2 has "user defined" report capabilities. The only other reasonable option is to
setup some reports that have a few user options, such as sort order and filters. Writing a complete report tool is a major project in itself.

It's also $1289... A bit steep

Yow, it has gotten pretty expensive! We have been using version 1 for
several years, it wasn't expensive back then. I see they now have a
"pro" version, with the end user options, and I agree, that is steep.

So plan B? Make some reports, and program in a few options for the end
user? I still doubt that you can program up a general purpose report
tool for less money - and if you can, you need to start charging more.
:)

[Aliza Klein]

Hi.

I don't know if this will help you.... but I have done somthing similar to
this is Access proper (ie: non VB). What I do is provide the user with a
screen to fill in any number of fields with search criteria... and then on
the click of a button, build the SQL screen. Access allows you to show a
data-sheet form which basically means a spreadsheet style grid that can then
be sorted and columns hidden and unhidden (ie: fields displayed or not). Of
course the data is just columnar and nothing fancy but perhaps that kind of
idea could be used in VB.

Sorry it is not a great solution for VB... but maybe it can be a starting
point to brainstorm.
Aliza
Although I have not tried it (sorry!) I am sure you can call an Access
report from VB that can open the data-sheet form (another VB item).
"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with a combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility to write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report program
itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but I wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be most
appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

[Hakk]

"Aliza Klein" <ab*****@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:1%*********************@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.n et...

Hi.

I don't know if this will help you.... but I have done somthing similar to
this is Access proper (ie: non VB). What I do is provide the user with a
screen to fill in any number of fields with search criteria... and then on
the click of a button, build the SQL screen. Access allows you to show a
data-sheet form which basically means a spreadsheet style grid that can then be sorted and columns hidden and unhidden (ie: fields displayed or not). Of course the data is just columnar and nothing fancy but perhaps that kind of idea could be used in VB.

Sorry it is not a great solution for VB... but maybe it can be a starting
point to brainstorm.
Aliza
Although I have not tried it (sorry!) I am sure you can call an Access
report from VB that can open the data-sheet form (another VB item).
"Hakk" <harrymj@[corblimey]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1**********@sparta.btinternet.com...

Can anyone give me help or even a starting point to writing a reporting
program for a database. I have a relatively large database (Access) with

a

combined VB front-end and one of my customers has requested the facility to

write his own reports.

I just don't know where to start with this sort of thing! I can program
reports myself knowing what data is required, but writing a report

program itself I don't have a clue - I mean a lot of records are related etc., but I

wouldn't like to start trying to make the program guess where relations
were - seems like a nightmare scenario to me. Any pointers would be

most appreciated.

TIA
HMJ

Thanks for suggestions - I will just have to try to implement something
along these lines.

HMJ