RE:Query Tools

About 3 years ago, we evaluated report writers for end users.  Our primary
goal was to get the most user friendly package we could find so the end
users could design their own reports.  We wanted to rename our files and
fields to user names and preset the joins through our I.S. Department.  Many
of the vendors had bundled their report writers into data warehousing
products which were higher than our budget.

The product we selected was Platinum Technology's InfoReports because of
it's user friendly wizards.  BTW, I could never get the Crystal Reports demo
to work with ODBC.  I do not sell Platinum's products just a user.  The web
site is www.platinum.com for more information.

Below I've included the answers to your questions.  

What are you using (duh!)?
Platinum InfoReports (PC based)

DO you like it and why?
User friendly wizards and I.S. setup

Are your users able to do their own and why or why not?
Yes, because the wizards are easy to follow and the fields have been
redefined in the product with names that the user can relate to.

Have you researched other tools (like the PC based ones)?
Yes, ASC, Cognos Impromptu, Information Builders product and Crystal
Reports.

If PC based have you found performance issues?
It uses ODBC to connect to the AS/400.  The performance issues are
determined by the ODBC driver.

How do you restrict user performance impacts?
Make the priority of ODBC jobs lower than interactive jobs.

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Diana Hicks
Town of Jupiter
dianah@jupiter.fl.us


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