Trent Shipley wrote: > > > > Then there is the problem of a report generator. This exists and is called > Microsoft Access. Microsoft access is too hard to use however. The desired > magic tool: > > 1) Connects to any database and runs on MS.NET / Windows > 2) Allows building queries (Access-like graphical query language) > 3) Forms > 3.1) Must allow any pointy-haired manager (PHM) to parameterize query > 3.2) Any parameterized query can be put into pretty GUI form by PHM. > 3.3) PHM can combine form with GWC > 4) Reports > 4.1) PHM can do roll-ups / grouping _post facto_ or interactively > 4.2) PHM can use Excel-Like tool to interactively roll-up, pivot, or cube > results > 4.3) PHM can design report layout suitable for distribution or presentation > SHE (silver-haired executives) > > 5) C-geek friendly (C-geeks program in C, disdain databases as mere CIS > scutt work.) > 5.1) C-geek can use PHMR to abstract subset of functionality to provide > application specific simplified reporting tool. > 5.2) C-geek need not work with OS or RDB user, user-group, or roles to > restrict (can) applications developed using PHMR as meta-tool. > 5.3) Like PHM, but much less so, C-geek can avoid playing DB developer or > DBA. > 5.4) C-geek can control snapshotting, commit sizes, etc. to tune the > performance -vs- consistency of any derived reporting tool. > > 6) Child-proofing. > 6.1) Restrictions on DB access can be set in derived applications (per 5.2) > 6.2) PHMR talks to RDBMS to get query plan. PHMR derived applications warn > of potentially lethal queries per C-geek specifications. Specifications can > be made accessible to administrators of the derived app. > 6.3) PHMR derived applications can monitor all queries it dispatches and > kill them if they use excessive resources as defined by DBA or C-geek. Kill > parameters can be exposed for tuning by derived application administrator at > C-geek option. > 6.4) PHMR keeps access plans for all killed queries for length of time set > by C-geek (or app admin) and denies queries with identical or super-set > access plans. > > Maybe datawarehouse tools? eric