Feature Set Comparison Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET and Crystal Reports 9 Crystal Reports 9 extends the power of Crystal Reports Visual Studio .NET. Although Visual Studio .NET integrates a custom version of Crystal Reports that includes many powerful tools, you can also benefit from standalone report design capabilities, faster deployment, and maximum developer efficiency by extending your .NET applications with the additional report creation tools found in Crystal Reports 9 Advanced edition (see Hour 2 for an overview of the various editions available for Crystal Reports 9). Table A.1 displays a reference to many common reporting features and how these two unique versions of Crystal Reports compare. Table A.1. A Feature Comparison of Crystal Reports 9 and Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET Product | Crystal Reports Visual Studio .NET | Crystal Reports 9 Advanced Edition | Rapid Report Design | Standalone Designer | No (integrated designer) | Yes | Business Intelligence Web Services | Yes | No | Database Connectivity | Microsoft data sources | Full suite of data sources | OLAP (multidimensional) Reports | No | Yes | Microsoft Excel and Access Add-ins | No | Yes | Report Component Repository | No | Yes | Customizable Report Templates | No | Yes | Unlimited SQL Commands | No | Yes | Custom Functions for sharing formulas | No | Yes | High-Performance Web Reporting | Out-of-the-Box Web interface for on-demand report access | No | Yes | Report access via WML, RIM, and iPAQ devices | No | Yes | ASP.NET Support | Yes | No | ADO.NET Support | Yes | No | Java Report Viewer | No | Yes | Netscape Viewer plug-in | No | Yes | Comprehensive Formatting and Design Control | Guidelines and vertical rulers | No | Yes | Integrated geographic mapping | No | Yes | Interactive Analysis Tools | Report Alerts | No | Yes | Fully customizable runtime Preview Window | Yes | Yes | Export Formats | Export to XML | No | Yes | Export to PDF | Yes | Yes | Export to DHTML (HTML 4.0) | Yes | Yes | Export to HTML | Yes | Yes | Export to Microsoft Word and Excel | Yes | Yes | Export to RTF | Yes | Yes | Export to character-separated values, CSV, record style (columns of values), report definition, tab-separated text and values | No | Yes | Report Creation API | No | Yes | Report Integration and Delivery | Seamless deployment with Crystal Enterprise | Limited | Yes | Easily leverage advanced Crystal Enterprise services | Limited | Yes | Ten Reasons to Upgrade to Crystal Reports 9 Advanced from the Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET version Crystal Reports 9 takes reporting in Visual Studio .NET to the next level with innovative new technology for faster report design and enhanced web integration. Here are 10 distinct reasons to upgrade to the Advanced edition: Report Application Server with .NET, Java, and COM SDKs Tightly integrate content into enterprise-wide Web applications without the need for heavy coding of complex data access and formatting routines. Runtime report creation and modification Advanced server-based Java and DHTML viewers let business users view, drill-down, and navigate reports, as well as export, search, and modify reports at runtime. Enhanced support for Microsoft Office and mobile users Let business users easily extract charts, tables, and other report objects from reports and directly insert them into Microsoft Outlook, Word, or Excel documents. With support for Microsoft Smart Tags in Office XP, business users can view, share, and refresh report objects right from within documents. Deliver existing report components via wireless devices including WML phones, RIM, and iPAQ devices using new Report Parts. Reports don't have to be recreated specifically for use within wireless and portal environments. Component reuse for faster report design Design reports faster by storing key report objects including text objects, SQL commands, bitmaps, and custom functions in a central library. Objects can be reused, shared, and updated from a single place for faster report design and maintenance. Unlimited SQL control Edit SQL directly for unlimited control over database connectivity. Specify the database connection and create parameterized SQL commands to perform any query your database supports. Additional data connectivity and export capabilities By upgrading to Crystal Reports 9 Advanced edition, you can connect to almost any data, including enterprise data sources (Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase, Informix, and others), XML, custom JavaBean and COM data providers, and export reports to additional formats such as Excel, Word, XML, Lotus, Text, and others. Customizable report preview at design time Preview reports directly within the designer for faster and more accurate report creation. More report design choice Additional report design and formatting options include Gantt and Gage charts, OLAP reporting, Geographic mapping, and the Formula Wizard. Standalone report designer Separate development from report design to make maintaining reports easier and application integration faster. Special Upgrade Pricing Take advantage of the additional features and enhancements in Crystal Reports 9 with an extra incentive for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET customers. Learn how you can upgrade to Crystal Reports 9 Advanced Edition by visiting the Crystal Decisions Web site at http://www.crystaldecisions.com/tycr/products/crystalreports/. |