Conversion or import format utility?

[Steve Kinyon]

I use ActiveReports and I'd like to convert to telerik if it makes sense, but I wouldn't think about it if I have to convert all my reports (30+ reports) by hand.

Will there be a tool for converting ActiveReports, MS Access, and/or Crystal Reports to the terelik format?

[Svetoslav]

Very good idea, Steve Kinyon! We've already thought about such functionality but currently it is with lower priority.

There are many directions we can extend the reporting engine, and we have to focus on the essential features first like Excel, Word, Text and XML renderings, interactive reports (drill-down and drill-through reports), etc.

I can assure you that as soon as we are ready with these tasks we will move to the import/export report functionality.


Regards,
Svetoslav
the telerik team

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[Tim Larson]

I would also vote to have a ActiveReports conversion tool.  I also have 30+ reports and we can not switch to Telerik reporting until there is such a tool.

Tim

[Vassil Petev]

If the interest is great enough, we will provide this feature sooner, rather than later. Guys, please, give us your feedback and we will gladly escalate the priority of the report converter.


Kind regards,
Rob
the telerik team

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[Steve Kinyon]

Well, to give you an idea from a couple of angles, there are at least 3 reasons why you should make a conversion tool for at least one of your major competitors (my vote is AR, but it's your business decision):

1) Without a conversion tool, you will only get business from people with brand new projects. That leaves us people with many existing projects unable (by cost) and unwilling (by time) to use your product.

2) You'll need a conversion tool design in place for when you go to your own version 2. From the beginning, know that you'll change your format from v1 to v2, it's inevitable.

3) In creating a conversion tool now, you'll be able to see and address the pitfalls and shortcomings of other report writing applications, allowing your product to have a better design from the start.

You're obviously free to take or ignore my opinion, but since you asked, here it is.

[Svetoslav]

Hi Steve Kinyon,

Your arguments are very strong! We already have received several similar requests for import functionality from other report formats so we definitely will reconsider out feature list for the next version. Great job!

 
Regards,
Svetoslav
the telerik team

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[Jason McIntyre]

Hello
   One place we work has 70+ Crystal reports and 20+ Reporting Services reports. Is there any update on a reporting conversion tool?

  I saw the Reporting roadmap mentions both Crystal and Active Reports and it also mentions Q2 2007.

Jason

[Svetoslav]

Hello Jason,

Both converters (from Crystal Reports XI and ActiveReports 3.0) are part of the new features that we've added to the Telerik Reporting Q2 2007, due in the middle of September 2007. A converter from SQL Reporting Services is on our roadmap and it will appear either in Q3 2007, or the release afterwards.

We expect to release a beta of Telerik Reporting Q2 2007 sometime next week and we will be happy to hear your comments on the new features.

 
Kind regards,
Svetoslav
the Telerik team

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[Trey Mitchell]

I just went to use Telerik reporting and I have a few reports in Crystal.  I currenlty only have version 10 of Crystal.  With the conversion utility of Telerik Reporting, it will not allow me to convert Crsytal 10 reports.  Do I have to upgrade to Crystal 11 first before I can convert to Telerik? 

[armando]

I have the same problem, First I converted my Reports from Crystal Report 9 to Crystal Report XI, But when I want to convert to Telerik Reporting the tool return a lot of error message,  The tool can convert the Formula Fields.
I hope you have better luck than Me

Regards

[Rossen Hristov]

Hello,

Please take a look at the following KB article regarding Crystal Reports version that is supported.

Since the two report object models (Crystal and Telerik) differ quite a lot, there are certain limitations to what can be automatically converted. When a certain conversion is not supported out of the box, an error is logged which indicates that additional user action is required. In the case of formulas the user will have to see what the original Crystal formulas were and create the appropriate item binding expressions in the Telerik Report by hand.

I hope this information helps.

All the best,
Ross
the Telerik team

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[Eric]

How about a Microsoft Word report format import capability.  I have a report in Word, that I would like to import into Telerik.  Then I would like to be able to automate the filling of the word document through my application.

[Peter]

Hello Eric,

Microsoft Word is word processor while Telerik Reporting is a reporting solution. Thus they have quite different object model so conversion is not achievable in reasonable efforts. 

Generally Telerik Reporting's purpose is to create reports that can be viewed in various applications and exported to different file formats. Reading external files created with 3rd party software is not a supported feature and out of the scope of a reporting product.  

Still if you have to add some Word chunks to your Telerik Reporting reports. You can convert the Word chunks to images using third party tools and utilize the PictureBox item to display them in the reports.

Greetings,
Peter
the Telerik team

[Jai]

Telerik Team,

I have Q3 2010 release, But I don't see an option to Import SSRS Reports while creating a new telerik Report. Please help.

Thanks

Jai

[Steve]

Hello Jai,

The available converters are listed in the Converting reports from other reporting solutions and SSRS is not among them.

All the best,
Steve
the Telerik team