Today there are three types of report writing tools: 1) the now classic interactive report writers, i.e. Crystal Reports, 2) source code-only alternatives, i.e. VS-View and Preview, both from ComponentOne, Inc., and 3) tools which are a cross between an interactive report writer and source code, i.e. ActiveReports from DataDynamics, Inc. and VS-View Reporting Edition from ComponentOne, Inc.. The goal of "Enterprise Reports Using VB6 and VB .NET", is to discuss report writing from a developer's perspective. Carl Ganz and Jon Kilburn cover the programming of reports using such tools as VS-View and Preview and ActiveReports, as well as the programmatic interface offered by Crystal Reports, and even delivery of reports to hand-held wireless devices. In addition, Ganz and Kilburn will cover how to design reports and discuss what items to consider when creating a specification document. Later in the book, they'll move on to a discussion of the SQL and ADO/ADO.NET issues developers will need to understand to extract the data needed for the reports they're building. From there, the authors will move on to discuss the creation of effective and easy-to-maintain criteria screens. The authors will also examine the role played by the Microsoft Office XP suite. Often reports will be exported to both Excel and Word, as well as transmitted throughout the Enterprise by Outlook-these technologies will also be covered in depth. Since both Lotus Notes and Adobe Acrobat also play an important role in the creation and dissemination of reports, the authors will also examine the parts they can play. They'll cover how to deliver reports over the Internet using both ASP and ASP.NET. They'll conclude by examining the new Palm and Windows CE technologies for Pocket PCs and remote wireless connections.weiterlesen