HTML Reporting Solution

Question

What good components and packages are available for generating HTML reports based on report definitions? I have a truly horrific project where each report is a dedicated aspx page that builds one fantastically big HTML string, which it then assigns to a 'reportBody' Label control.

Standard grids are not a good solution as they provide no grouping capability, but I'm open to buying a grid that is friendly for grouping, printing, and exporting. FYI is one reporting engine option I'll be looking at. What else is there? SSRS may not be an option, as MSSQL may not even be an option.

BTW, this is an ASP.NET web site.

Answer 1

The DevExpress ASPxGridView has proven to be an excellent tool for this job.

Answer 2

You can try ActiveReports.net

Answer 3

You can use i-net Clear Reports (used to be i-net Crystal-Clear). It has many different output formats like HTML, PDF, Postscript, etc. It can print and of course it supports grouping. It is platform-independent. You can it also use together with your ASP.NET. It support many different database like MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, etc. But also other data sources are possible. The free and fully functional report designer is very easy to use.

Also, the pricing is far below other reporting tools such as Crystal Reports.

Answer 4

you can still use RDLC reports, and just build them in local mode (no SQL SERVER required). I routinely feed my RDLC reports data from the results of function calls rather than have them intimately tied to the database.

Answer 5

Standard grids are not a good solution as they provide no grouping capability

If you want to create your own, I can give you some advice. First, you could probably create the groups with ROLLUP or COMPUTE statements or similar in your SQL and use a grid.

I went the following route: reports are data-driven, so that I know which columns can be grouped and which ones need totals computed. I use a standard DataGrid, and in the ItemDataBound event, I keep a running total for any columns that require it, and then detect changes in the group column. When detected, I insert a group total, reset the running totals and insert out a new group header.

I did a quick prototype of this in a day. But by the time you work out all the little details to give the reports all the features they need, and make them look just right, you'll spend quite a bit of time and end up with a small mountain of code.