Reports are usually a common requirement when building a software. So, in order to allow to view reports, filter them, build new report and etc. we must first decide on the technology we will use.
In order to do so, we first must understand the requirements. Requirements for the reports vary from one application to another, but still there is common ground to all. Here is a list I found out to be common in several cases:
- Localization & Multi Culture.
- Security.
- Report Composition.
- Formatting.
- Web Support.
- Dev Support.
In this post I will try and let you understand the considerations I make before going with a specific technology.
Localization & Multi Culture
The localization & multi culture stands for the capabilities to display reports to the end users. A common demand is to support several languages including LTR and RTL. When I say support I mean to either the textual and the layout. Hebrew for instance should be display from right to left and at least the static text should be in Hebrew.
The localization and culture should be supported in both the reports execution (the result when executing a report) and the filters (the values that you can send the report).
Make sure that the technology you select can support your needs.
Security
This is definitely a painful spot. Security has many aspects. Here is a list that describes several of them:
- Who can execute a report?
- What data in the report one can see?
- Who can manage reports?
- Who can build new reports?
- etc.
The security module should answer these questions. We must decide on the authentication and authorization mechanism. In other words the technology you select should support the way users will be authenticated and authorized for the reporting purposes. It should support both custom authentication (database) and windows authentication (Active Directory).
Report Composition
Sometimes we want to allow the customers or end users to build new reports and import them to the application. The technology you select should allow one to do just that.
Formatting
It is important that reports can be exported to several key formats:
- Excel - Managers love them simply because they can manipulate the data.
- PDF - A very common and well supported.
- Other...
Select a technology that allows you to export your reports.
Web Support
In many cases you need to allow users to view reports when not on site; For example, if the manager is at home and wants to see the reports, we must supply him with a way to do that.
The technology should supply a web access that allows you to view and execute reports.
Dev Support
I consider that to be a top most important issue. The technology you choose should have good support for the development team. This can be either by large community or by a good support team.
From my experience there are products that are lacking in that issue.
