Hi I am using VWD Express 2008 to connect to a SQL Server 2005 database remotely.

I also have installed locally SQL Server 2005 which includes SQL Server Management Studio, Reporting Services Configuation etc.

The question is how do I start creating reports? I've tried downloading the Report Add-in but this is for VWD Express 2005 and it won't let me install. I don't use SQL Express as I use SQL Server 2005.

Any help to point me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanks
 

Tushar 

Unfortunately, there is no reportviewer addin for VWD 2008. AFAIK, reportviewer controls are included in Visual Studio 2008.

Hi,

VWD 2008 does not come built in with the reportviewer control. There is a redistributable available for it over here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=CC96C246-61E5-4D9E-BB5F-416D75A1B9EF&displaylang=en

Also check a similar thread over here http://forums.asp.net/t/1163007.aspx

HTH,
Suprotim Agarwal

Suprotim-

I was waiting for an addin myself, and when you posted this thread, I was hopeful, and like others in that thread, I am not able to add it in the toolbox. I don't see it when I do Choose Items...

And after searching again, I still believe the designer is not available for VWD 2008 (unless proven otherwise)

You are all correct! Microsoft have been a little careless. They didn't include a Report Designer with VWD Express 2008, even though it seems it was present in VWD Express 2005. It defeats the purpose of creating a database application if you can't create any reports for it.

I am pleased to say that I have successfully created a report for my project. There are 3 steps:

1. Contact the company that's hosting your SQL SERVER database, and they will tell you you need to purchase the Reporting Service facility (mine was only $60 for a year). This allows reports to be generated on the server for viewing and export by end-users.

2. Use SQL Server Management Studio to set up a connection to the Reporting Service remotely (see articles in MSDN online help). Took me a short while but I got there in the end. Presumably this allows you to run reports locally.

3. Purchase Visual Studio 2008 Standard or above, as it has a built-in Report Designer and Report Viewer Control. Fortunately I have a 90-day evaluation CD for Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition (also downloadable as well), so I used that to create the report. I simply opened my existing ASP.NET project (which I created in VWD Express 2008) and I was ready to go. I have to say I'm quite impressed with it. In comparison to the learning curve for ASP.NET, it's actually quite easy!

And so, just over a day later, I now have a working report, and the capability to generate many more. The built-in report wizard does simplify the process too. I definitely recommend VS 2008 Pro, though I may be tempted to go for Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition which seems to be all singing all dancing.

Thanks for all your input, it's really appreciated.

Tushar