5 Tips for Choosing the Best .NET Core Reporting Software

Suppose you want to migrate to a .NET Core platform or replace your existing reporting software with something more modern. In that case, you are not alone. .NET Core offers many benefits (upgraded performance, cross-platform support, lower maintenance, and more), pushing teams to bring life back to that old, legacy application.

Implementing and learning a new system requires a substantial commitment of both money and time.  ActiveReports offers an intuitive, robust reporting solution for .NET Core applications if you are in the market for reporting software.

We've highlighted five criteria to consider when choosing .NET Core reporting software:

• Data Management
• Features
• Delivery
• Ad-Hoc Reporting
• Support

ActiveReports offers all these options in a single, integrated reporting tool.

Data Management

Multiple Datasets

Data management is the most crucial aspect of a reporting solution. Many organizations have extensive collections of data. The data may not be co-located or in the same format. Some departments may use relational data sources like Oracle or SQL Server, while others use JSON, CSV, or XML. In such instances, it is beneficial to have a solution that supports all of your data and allows the use of multiple data formats from dispersed systems in a single report file.

ActiveReports lets users display varied data from multiple datasets into one region with a single report control, similar to the Lookup function.

Dynamic Data Binding

Not everyone needs or wants to see all the data, nor do they need access to all the data. Different users have different needs. ActiveReports lets you define the connection string at run time to ensure you're getting the right data for the right user. A reporting solution should provide sufficient API and events to access your data at runtime.

Custom Fields

Some reports need to aggregate insightful data or concatenate two or more fields. In these cases, create custom, calculated fields.

Expressions are an alternative to calculated fields. They let you control the behavior and appearance of report controls at runtime, such as color or visibility.

Features

Controls

Rich reporting controls help turn raw data into meaningful reports.

Users benefit from the full-featured table control in a structured page layout when creating transaction reports, such as invoices or purchase orders. This feature includes fixed and overflow areas to handle the most advanced reports.

A wide range of chart types and a powerful Tablix (matrix) control lets you aggregate data and present it in its ideal format. These features are ideal for analytical reporting such as finance and sales reports.

For user engagement, utilize interactive features. ActiveReports offers drill down, drill through, parameters, filtering, and sorting options.

Drill-down functionality lets users present data from multiple angles, such as an overview with the ability to drill into more granular levels.

Drill-through reports let end-users display data in several different visualizations.

Professional Design

The goal should always be to design professional-looking reports. ActiveReports features a flexible API that helps you create clean, professional-looking reports by tailoring the look of each control, from supported fonts to theming and styles.

Master reports or dynamic templates help maintain a consistent look, applying the template to all your reports. Any change to the master report template automatically propagates to all reports saving valuable time and energy.

WYSIWYG Layout

A WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) layout is the foundation of professional report design.

A powerful rendering engine guarantees the report layout and ensures that every pixel is in place whether the report is viewed in a browser, as a PDF, or on a printed page.

The ActiveReports Page report type allows users to define each element's exact placement and limits. When rendered, these reports produce the exact layout you designed. Perfect for official documents such as W4s, income statements, and invoices.

Delivery

Viewers

Report viewers provide additional functionality that is otherwise missed. Interactive control features, for example, are not available in downloaded reports. Viewers also offer a means of taking in user input, or parameters, by which you can filter data and present only the relevant information. In addition, end-users benefit from various view modes, such as paginated or scrolling views.

Integrate a customizable viewer into your application or hide the viewer's frame to make the report part of the page.

Exports

Exports allow users to download and save reports for future reference. A variety of export types and features, including security, let users consume reports in the format of their choice.

An extensive API lets you start an export on command without a user-initiated download. With ActiveReports, these exports (and print jobs) are pixel perfect. Your reports appear the same as PDFs in the report viewers or on paper.

ADA Compliance

ADA compliance, including Section 508, helps you deliver reports to everyone.

Ad-Hoc Reporting