Обсуждение: OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?
Not really a PG-related question, but we are looking to migrate a customer from Oracle on Windows to PG on Linux. The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter tools like Crystal Reports and Oracle's reportwriter. They are open to be migrated if we can come up with a reportwriting option for them to use on Linux against PG. Perl and PHP are not really an option as the reports are layout-intensive (i.e. Putting in graphic presenations of data and also being pixel-accurate with lines, logos, etc. If I was to draw a picture I wouldn't use C or Perl to draw it, I would use a paint app like the Gimp! This is their argument for wanting to use a reportwriting package that can publish to PDFs, HTML, et al. Anyone got any ideas? I guess that the best choice here is Java or similar, but anything will do provided that it does the job. Thanks, Brad
>The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter tools like Crystal Reports... Hello. Crystal Reports via ODBC should work, doesn't it?. Pablo.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 1/28/02, 12:19:38 PM, "Pablo Prieto" <pablo.prieto@dulcesol.es> wrote regarding Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?: > >The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter tools > like Crystal Reports... > Hello. > Crystal Reports via ODBC should work, doesn't it?. It would, except that I missed out and important bit of info, sorry, your posintg just made it clear now: The reports will be delivered via the web. I.e. They want to DESIGN the reports (and sure, can use ODBC to do this), but then they need to be able to plublish the completed reports on the web, using the Linux server. Most reporting tools (I am told) now support writing reports in the report writing tool, then generating an HTML options page (to configure runtime options for the report) and then running the thing (on windows) upon activation via a browser (presumably by clicking the "submit" button on the options HTML page generated by the report writer). The user then gets the report either as PDF or in an HTML page (there are usually quite few output options). It's the "running on the Linux machine from the web" part that I need to sort. SO far the only contender is to try and run it via WINE, but that isn't really an option as it seems to be far too integrated in the WINdows OS. Anative Linux solution (even if it is a tool that will import crystal reports and convert to Perl or something) is much more preferable. Thanks, Brad > Pablo. > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org
I haven't _used_ this software, and it's not ready as a 'drop in' app, but have you looked at the GNU Enterprise work? I've been tracking that project via the kt.zork.net 'Kernel Cousins' weekly summary. It sounds like it's targeted at what you want, eventually. Their site is at: http://www.gnuenterprise.org/ Ross On Mon, Jan 28, 2002 at 11:48:36AM +0000, Bradley Kieser wrote: > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > > On 1/28/02, 12:19:38 PM, "Pablo Prieto" <pablo.prieto@dulcesol.es> wrote > regarding Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?: > > > > >The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter > tools > > like Crystal Reports... > > > Hello. > > Crystal Reports via ODBC should work, doesn't it?. > > It would, except that I missed out and important bit of info, sorry, your > posintg just made it clear now: > The reports will be delivered via the web. > > I.e. They want to DESIGN the reports (and sure, can use ODBC to do this), > but then they need to be able to plublish the completed reports on the > web, using the Linux server. Most reporting tools (I am told) now support > writing reports in the report writing tool, then generating an HTML > options page (to configure runtime options for the report) and then > running the thing (on windows) upon activation via a browser (presumably > by clicking the "submit" button on the options HTML page generated by the > report writer). > > The user then gets the report either as PDF or in an HTML page (there are > usually quite few output options). > > It's the "running on the Linux machine from the web" part that I need to > sort. SO far the only contender is to try and run it via WINE, but that > isn't really an option as it seems to be far too integrated in the > WINdows OS. > > Anative Linux solution (even if it is a tool that will import crystal > reports and convert to Perl or something) is much more preferable. > > Thanks, > > Brad > > > > Pablo. > > > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > > TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster
Aha! Someone in the Crystal know! Thanks for the very handy reply! The reports cannot be static, they need to be dynamic, so unfortunately cannot be served up as you suggest. The reasons for going Linux/PG are many. To name a few: Cost Security Reliability Availability System administration Support (you ever try to get through to M$ support?) Environment control (no forced upgrades) Availability of source code (i.e. You can see what you are running) There is the option of running Crystal Reports under WINE but it looks like Enterprise is out the window as it requires IIS (which is simply not an option due to the above). A pity, because it does seem to be a top product! I have been very impressed with what I have seen. Won't be too long though before market share forces a port to Linux I guess? Well, one hopes anyway! Thanks again! Brad >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 1/28/02, 5:34:57 PM, "Chris Dircks" <chrisd@informationcourier.com> wrote regarding RE: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?: > I work in the IT department at Crystal, so I might be able to shed some > light, but I don't speak for the company. > You could get away with running scheduled reports on a Windows machine and > exporting them to HTML. These HTML files could then be copied to a Linux > box for serving. This doesn't allow for any kind of parameterized report, > unless you are willing to run static reports for every single permutation of > inputs. > I looked at this for a project of my own outside of work, and ended up > resigning myself to running a Windows Crystal report server. > A couple of questions: What value is the customer going to get out of > Postgres over the current Oracle solution? Just asking because it sounds > like the migration is likely to cause significant disruption for them. > Also, have you heard about Crystal Enterprise? It's the packaging of a web > based report scheduler/server, plus some olap cube stuff as well. Not sure > if cubes can be built off of Postgres dbs, but maybe? Anyway, it has to run > off IIS, but this would be a different box than the DB server, so it might > fit your needs. > Chris Dircks > Sr Applications Developer > Crystal Decisions > chris.dircks@crystaldecisions.com > -----Original Message----- > From: pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org > [mailto:pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org]On Behalf Of Bradley Kieser > Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 3:49 AM > To: Pablo Prieto > Cc: pgsql-admin@postgresql.org > Subject: Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux? > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > On 1/28/02, 12:19:38 PM, "Pablo Prieto" <pablo.prieto@dulcesol.es> wrote > regarding Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?: > > >The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter > tools > > like Crystal Reports... > > Hello. > > Crystal Reports via ODBC should work, doesn't it?. > It would, except that I missed out and important bit of info, sorry, your > posintg just made it clear now: > The reports will be delivered via the web. > I.e. They want to DESIGN the reports (and sure, can use ODBC to do this), > but then they need to be able to plublish the completed reports on the > web, using the Linux server. Most reporting tools (I am told) now support > writing reports in the report writing tool, then generating an HTML > options page (to configure runtime options for the report) and then > running the thing (on windows) upon activation via a browser (presumably > by clicking the "submit" button on the options HTML page generated by the > report writer). > The user then gets the report either as PDF or in an HTML page (there are > usually quite few output options). > It's the "running on the Linux machine from the web" part that I need to > sort. SO far the only contender is to try and run it via WINE, but that > isn't really an option as it seems to be far too integrated in the > WINdows OS. > Anative Linux solution (even if it is a tool that will import crystal > reports and convert to Perl or something) is much more preferable. > Thanks, > Brad > > Pablo. > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > > TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster
I never used it, but maybe you could test it: http://www.thekompany.com/projects/kugar/ Raph
I work in the IT department at Crystal, so I might be able to shed some light, but I don't speak for the company. You could get away with running scheduled reports on a Windows machine and exporting them to HTML. These HTML files could then be copied to a Linux box for serving. This doesn't allow for any kind of parameterized report, unless you are willing to run static reports for every single permutation of inputs. I looked at this for a project of my own outside of work, and ended up resigning myself to running a Windows Crystal report server. A couple of questions: What value is the customer going to get out of Postgres over the current Oracle solution? Just asking because it sounds like the migration is likely to cause significant disruption for them. Also, have you heard about Crystal Enterprise? It's the packaging of a web based report scheduler/server, plus some olap cube stuff as well. Not sure if cubes can be built off of Postgres dbs, but maybe? Anyway, it has to run off IIS, but this would be a different box than the DB server, so it might fit your needs. Chris Dircks Sr Applications Developer Crystal Decisions chris.dircks@crystaldecisions.com -----Original Message----- From: pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org [mailto:pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org]On Behalf Of Bradley Kieser Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 3:49 AM To: Pablo Prieto Cc: pgsql-admin@postgresql.org Subject: Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 1/28/02, 12:19:38 PM, "Pablo Prieto" <pablo.prieto@dulcesol.es> wrote regarding Re: [ADMIN] OT: Decent GUI-based reportwriter for Linux?: > >The only problem is that the company is already using reportwriter tools > like Crystal Reports... > Hello. > Crystal Reports via ODBC should work, doesn't it?. It would, except that I missed out and important bit of info, sorry, your posintg just made it clear now: The reports will be delivered via the web. I.e. They want to DESIGN the reports (and sure, can use ODBC to do this), but then they need to be able to plublish the completed reports on the web, using the Linux server. Most reporting tools (I am told) now support writing reports in the report writing tool, then generating an HTML options page (to configure runtime options for the report) and then running the thing (on windows) upon activation via a browser (presumably by clicking the "submit" button on the options HTML page generated by the report writer). The user then gets the report either as PDF or in an HTML page (there are usually quite few output options). It's the "running on the Linux machine from the web" part that I need to sort. SO far the only contender is to try and run it via WINE, but that isn't really an option as it seems to be far too integrated in the WINdows OS. Anative Linux solution (even if it is a tool that will import crystal reports and convert to Perl or something) is much more preferable. Thanks, Brad > Pablo. > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster