Expert Reference Series of White Papers

SQL Server 2005

Reporting Services
vs.
Crystal Reports XI
Developer Edition

1-800-COURSES www.globalknowledge.com
SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services vs.
Crystal Reports XI Developer Edition
Brett Tomson, Global Knowledge Course Director, MCDBA, MCSD, MCSE

Introduction
During the course of building an application, it is often the case where the developers must
implement reports into their application. Whether the sales department needs to track monthly,
quarterly, and year-to-date sales figures, or the R&D department needs to chart the effects of a
new drug on protein structures, it became imperative that custom and even retail applications
include reports as a feature of the product. In the past, developers were limited to using one of
only a handful of reporting solutions in their applications. One of the most commonly used
reporting tools was Business Objects’ Crystal Reports. Developers were now able to access
and organize data into formatted reports for users of the application.

Over time, Crystal Reports became the de facto reporting solution for both client/server and
web-based applications. The tool was effective at delivering quality reports when written by
someone who was intimately familiar with the product. Unfortunately, most application develop-
ers were journeymen report writers at best. To these programmers, Crystal Reports tended to
be unwieldy and the cause of great consternation when it came to building reports that would
meet the needs of their user base. Report writing, considered a secondary skill of application
development by many, was unwanted but considered necessary to make a project successful.

In 2003, Microsoft entered the reporting and business intelligence market with the release of
SQL Server Reporting Services for SQL Server 2000. This tool was received with wide praise
from the developer community for the ease with which programmers could create and imple-
ment reports into their applications. The only caveats were a valid SQL Server 2000 license
and Visual Studio .NET 2003. Since most developers interested in using this product already
had both of these products, it was naturally intuitive for them to begin incorporating these
reports into their applications.

With the release of SQL Server 2005, codenamed Yukon, Microsoft enhances Reporting
Services to function as an integral part of the server application. This article is intended to
compare and contrast the capabilities and features of Crystal Reports with those of SQL
Server Reporting Services for SQL Server 2005.

Assumptions
Several assumptions need to be explained before beginning the rest of this article. First, at the
time of writing this article, SQL Server 2005 was in beta 2 release. Any software in the beta
test cycle can have features changed or even removed before it is released. However, with

Copyright ©2005 Global Knowledge Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 2
SQL Server 2005’s anticipated commercial release set for Summer 2005, any drastic changes
made to this product are not expected.

Second, the Developer version of Crystal Reports XI was selected because it is felt that most
programmers would tend to use this version of the product especially when compared to the
cost of purchasing the enterprise version of the Crystal Reports, more commonly known as
Crystal Enterprise.

This brings up the third assumption, the cost of SQL Server itself. The cost of SQL Server
2005 is ancillary to this article. Most organizations either already have or are going to purchase
some type of database server to store their critical business data. Of the products offered on
the market, Microsoft SQL Server is one of the more cost-effective solutions available. The
only impact the cost of SQL Server would have on a business is if there were no corporate
SQL Server presence to begin with. Furthermore, depending on the number of licenses pur-
chased, the costs associated with purchasing SQL Server and the cost of purchasing multiple
licenses for Crystal Reports Developer would be negligible at best and perhaps even in Crystal
Reports’ favor.

Product Overviews
Before beginning the discussion of these two products, it is necessary to provide some back-
ground information to understand the types of environments necessary to operate these
applications.

SQL Server Reporting Services

SQL Server Reporting Services comes bundled with SQL Server 2005 along with Analysis
Services and Notification Services. There are several components that make up Reporting
Services in SQL Server 2005. These components are:

Report Server
• Report Server comes in the form of a web service that runs on Internet Information
Services (IIS) on a Windows server.

Report Server Database

• This database stores all of the necessary information for the Report Server web service to
process and distribute reports.

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Report Manager
• A web-based tool to manage reports. With this tool, you can create new data sources,
upload reports, configure report subscriptions, and administer security for reports. The fol-
lowing screenshot displays the main Report Manager screen.

Report Designer
• The Report Designer is an external development environment for designing and building
reports. This development environment is called the Business Intelligence Development
Studio. Along with Reporting Services Projects, this tool is also used for Analysis Services
Projects and Data Transformation Service (DTS) Projects. The following screenshot dis-
plays the BI Development Studio. This application will look familiar to current .NET devel-
opers as it closely resembles the Visual Studio.NET IDE.

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To install SQL Server 2005 and Reporting Services, your server must meet the following hard-
ware and software requirements:

• Windows 2000 Family SP4 or later (Professional/Server/Advanced Server/Datacenter

Server), or Windows 2003 Server Family (Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter
Server/Embedded Edition/Web Edition/Small Business Server)
• Intel Pentium 600 MHz or later
• 256 MB RAM minimum
• Approximately 330 MB of hard drive space
- About 250 MB for database server
- 50 MB for Reporting Server
- 30 MB for Report Designer
• Internet Explorer – for management console (MMC) and help
• Internet Information Services (IIS)

These requirements are minimum guidelines. Production servers should exceed these require-
ments especially with regards to number of CPUs and RAM.

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To install the client applications necessary to design reports, your system must be Windows
2000 Professional SP3 or later.

In order to properly utilize Reporting Services, a valid license for SQL Server 2005 must be
present. Currently, there are no plans to change the licensing structure for Reporting Services in
SQL Server 2005. If you plan on running Reporting Services from the same server that hosts
the Report Server Database, then you will incur no additional expenses. However, if you wish to
run Report Server from a server other then the server hosting the Report Server Database, then
you will need to acquire a new license for the server that will host Report Server.

Author’s note: I am not in any way an expert on SQL Server licensing strategies. Please consult your
authorized Microsoft vendor for licensing questions.

Crystal Reports XI Developer Edition

Crystal Reports XI Developer Edition, from Business Objects, is a stand-alone development envi-
ronment for creating and deploying reports for client-server and web-based applications. This
product also includes a five-user introductory offer for Crystal Reports XI Server, which offers
additional features for report deployment, security, scheduling, and report component reusability.

To install Crystal Reports, your workstation must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later

• Pentium II CPU
• 128 MB RAM (minimum)
• 350 MB hard disk space

Again, the previous requirements are only minimums and every effort should be made to sur-
pass these requirements when using the applications in a production environment.

With regards to licensing, a license must be purchased for each report designer. No additional
licensing fees are needed if your reporting needs fall within the following guidelines:

• Thick-client applications
- Royalty-free deployment and redistribution of reports for thick-client applications.
• Intranet-based web applications
- Unlimited internal deployment for reports developed using Crystal Reports .NET, Java,
or COM report engine components.

If reports are intended for resale as third-party applications, then a license of Crystal Reports
XI Developer Edition must be purchased for each company that is sold the product. This ver-
sion of Crystal Reports is not intended for reports that are visible over the Internet. You must
purchase the Server edition of Crystal Reports along with any additional licenses for viewing
reports over the web. Please contact Business Objects, or your authorized Crystal Reports
vendor, for more information about the licensing structure for Crystal Reports.

Author’s note: Again, I am not an expert on Business Objects’ licensing and pricing strategies for Crystal
Reports. Please direct all questions to your authorized Crystal Reports vendor.

Copyright ©2005 Global Knowledge Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 6
Feature Comparison
The following section illustrates the features present in each reporting application. Some fea-
tures are present in SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, but are only available in Crystal
Reports Server Edition. These features are noted in the tables below. While extensive, this list
is not all-encompassing with regards to each application.

Architecture
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Platform: Microsoft Windows (All Microsoft Windows Only

Components)
(Java Reporting Component)
• Linux Red Hat Enterprise 3
• Solaris 8 or later
• AIX 5.1 or later
• HP-UX 11i v1

Client Tools: Report Designer (CR) Business Intelligence

Development Studio

Server Tools: Available in Crystal Reports Report Manager (IE)

Server Edition

Report Processing: Integrated with IIS Report Server

Clustering: Available in Crystal Reports SQL Server 2005 can be clus-

Server tered

Load Balancing: Available in Crystal Reports Can be installed in a server farm,

Server through the Job Server but will incur additional costs for
SQL Server licenses

Web Server Support: IIS IIS

Apache/Tomcat (Java connectivity)

Caching: Available in Crystal Reports Available for Report History

Server through the Cache Server Snapshots

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Security
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Authentication: Integrated Security Via IIS and Integrated Security Via IIS and
Windows (CR Only) Windows to connect to Report
Server

Object Security: Object security available in Windows based security on report

Crystal Reports Server Edition objects

Report Distribution
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Time Scheduling: One time and Recurring through One time and Recurring
Crystal Reports Server Edition schedules

Report Delivery: Available in Crystal Reports SMTP email as a link to Report

Server Edition. (MAPI, SMTP, Server or as an exported attach-
FTP, file) ment; File share delivery

Report Viewers
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Thick-client Custom embedded control Custom embedded control

Application Viewer:

Web Viewer: ActiveX Control HTML 4.0 for IE 5.5 or higher

Java Viewer HTML 3.2 for IE 5.1 or lower, or
HTML/DHTML Netscape/Mozilla browsers

Export Capabilities: Available Available

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 Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Export Formats: • HTML 3.2/4.0 • HTML with Office Web

• PDF Components
• Excel • PDF
• XML • Excel
• Word • XML file with report data
• RTF • Web archive
• Report Definition • TIFF file
• CSV • CSV (comma delimited)
• Text Files (TAB and comma • Custom Rendering via .NET
delimited) assemblies
• ODBC
Local Printing: Available Available

Database Connectivity
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Available Data Native Connectivity to the following: Data processing extensions

Sources: • Access (DAO) • ACT! through ADO.NET
• ADO.NET (XML) • SQL Server 2005
• COM Connectivity • SQL Server 2000
• Database Files (Excel, • SQL Server 7.0
Paradox, BTrieve, XML, • SQL Server 2005 Analysis
Access files, etc.) Services
• Exchange 5.5 Message • SQL Server 2000 Analysis
Tracking Log Services
• Exchange Message Tracking • Oracle (must have Oracle
Log client installed on Report
• Field Definition Files Server)
• File System Data (Text Files) • ODBC Data Sources
• Java Beans Connectivity • OLEDB Data Sources
• JDBC • Legacy Exchange • Extendible to access addition-
• Mailbox Admin al data sources (i.e. Event
• IIS/Proxy Log Files Logs, Exchange, etc.)
• NT Archived Event Log
• NT Current Event Log NOTE: Other Data Sources may
• ODBC (RDO) • OLEDB (RDO) require a separate driver or utility to
be installed on the Report Server
• Outlook • Outlook/Exchange
• Public Folders
• xBase • XML

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IDE Integration
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Report Development: Crystal Reports Designer Report Designer in Business

Intelligence Development Studio

Visual Studio.NET Available Not Available

Integration:
SDK Support: .NET, COM, Java, Crystal Reports .NET Support via Web Services
API
Client Only Support: Available, all reports can be Requires connectivity to Report
accessed locally on a client Server via SOAP or HTTP to
machine with no external connec- process and render the report
tivity needed

Report Construction
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Recommended Report Designer available as Report Designer in Business

Development Tool: stand-alone or integrated with Intelligence Development
Visual Studio.NET 2003 Environment

Wizards: Available Available

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Report Types
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Drill Down Reports: Available, supports n depth levels Available, supports n depth levels

Subreports: Available, only 1 subreport per Available, supports n depth levels

main report. of sub-reports

Cross-Tab reports: Available Available

OLAP Reports: Available Available

Multi-Column Available, in Details section of Available, in Details section of

Reports: reports reports

Field Labels: Standard and user-defined User-defined only

Sorting and Grouping

Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Hierarchical Groups: Available Available

Top-N, Bottom-N, Available Available

Top %, Bottom %:
Group Sorting: Available Available

Top-N, Bottom-N, Available Available

Top %, Bottom %
Sorting:

Specialized Sorts: Available, can position items Not Available, but same results
regardless of their existing posi- can be achieved through a stored
tion in the sorted result set procedure

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Formatting
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Fixed and Conditional Available, but not on all object Available on all object types
Formatting: types

Field Format: Yes Yes

Group Format: Yes Yes
Section Format: Yes Yes
Conditional Page Yes No
Breaks:

Report Objects
Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Graphics: Yes, has support for upwards of Yes (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, JPE)
80 types of graphic files Can be stored embedded in
report, as part of the report project,
in a database, or fetched via URL

Maps: Yes, incorporates mapping into Not Available

reports

Cross-Tab Tables: Available Available, called a Matrix

OLAP Grids: Available Available, through the Matrix

object

Subreports: Available, 1 level only Available, more than 1 level

available
Formulas: Available, integrated with the Called Expressions. Available
report through custom assemblies writ-
ten in .NET. Reports have access
to static methods globally and
instance methods through the
Code object
Summary Fields: Available Available

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 Feature Business Objects Crystal Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Reports XI Developer Edition Reporting Services

Report Parameters: Available, allows custom parame- Available, allows custom parame-
ters to be designed into the report ters to be designed into the report
to reflect different results sets for to reflect different results sets for
display in the report display in the report

Cascading Available, allows a parameter Available, allows a parameter

Parameters: from one list to affect the type from one list to affect the type
and/or number of parameters in and/or number of parameters in
another list another list
Pictures, Lines, Available, but cannot be formatted Available, the Rectangle control
Figures: can act as a container for other
controls
Custom or User- Available, through ActiveX DLL Available, through .NET assemblies
Defined Functions:
Hyperlinks: Available Mimicked through field properties.
Can set Jump to Points for field
to go to a specific URL, similar to
a Hyperlink

Lists: Not Available Available

Grids/Tables: Not Available Available
Shared Data Available Available
Sources:

Conclusion
Both products are very similar when creating and formatting reports. The advantage goes to
Crystal Reports if one needs to access mapping data within the reports. However, when it
comes to overall flexibility in the reports, SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services takes the
advantage, as it is fully extendible through the use of .NET assemblies.

When compared to the Developer edition of Crystal Reports, SQL Server 2005 Reporting
Services offers much more functionality with regards to hosting reports, report security, and
distributing reports. When Crystal Reports is coupled with the Server edition, this gap narrows
to the point where the differences are negligible. In this regard, the main benefit for using, or
staying with, Crystal Reports is if you have no SQL Server presence in your environment, or if
you use other development languages, such as Java in your environment.

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For those environments that are planning on implementing SQL Server 2005, it makes eco-
nomic sense to take advantage of Reporting Services, especially if Reporting Services is run-
ning from the same server as the one licensed for SQL Server. With its extendibility and its
ability to extract and format data from multiple data sources, SQL Server 2005 Reporting
Services provides an excellent platform for creating and delivering reports to users of your
applications.

Learn More
Learn more about how you can improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and sharpen your
competitive edge. Check out the following Global Knowledge courses:
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database Administration
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database Design and Implementation
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Microsoft SQL 2005 Reporting Services

For more information or to register, visit www.globalknowledge.com or call 1-800-COURSES to

speak with a sales representative.

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About the Author

Brett Tomson is a Senior Consultant for Beam Consulting, Inc., an IT services provider special-
izing in delivering solutions based on Microsoft .NET and SQL Server technologies. His portfo-
lio includes architecting and designing web and Windows-based applications and database
solutions for companies ranging from small business to multinational corporations in a variety
of industries. He has written a book and several articles on .NET and SQL Server technolo-
gies. He teaches a wide range of technologies involving Microsoft SQL Server, Web, XML, and
Microsoft .NET.

Copyright ©2005 Global Knowledge Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 14