Quick Introduction

Sunset Reports is based on award winning components and proven technology, and provides users an alternative to such software as Crystal Reports, SSRS, and others.  The report designer handles all types of content.   And you can even import report designs from other software as well.  The report queue allows for scheduling of reports, file and document distribution including recurring schedules and provides easy to use list and calendar views.  Besides using Sunset Reports as a reporting tool, it is perfect for information management, data analysis, business analytics, visualizations, web site design, making labels, data conversion, document management, document distribution, and more.

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All In One Software

As we continue to see how people use Sunset Reports, we are amazed to find out that the product can do so much.   In surveying our current user base, we have found the functionality of the software going beyond what we originally intended.   Here is a small list of how the software has been used (The first few were obvious, but included here to make the list as complete as possible.)

• Reporting Tool
• Data Analysis
• Business Analytics
• Management Dashboards
• Charting
• Visualizations
• Business Graphics
• Web Site Design
• Web Page Designer
• Label Maker
• Word Processor
• Dunning Letters
• Data Conversion Tool
• Document Management
• Document Distribution
• FTP Client
• File Backup Manager
• Report Server
• Report Subscriptions
• Meeting Presentations
• Report Scheduler
• Model What-if Scenarios
• Email Blasts

If you are using the product for something not on this list, drop us a line, we would love to hear from you.

Feature List

Data Connectivity	Data Sources	MS Access (all versions), SQL Server, MS Excel, Oracle, OLEDB, ODBC, MS Outlook, MySQL, and more
	Visual Query Builder	Grouping, Sorting, Filtering, Sub-queries, derived tables, Union queriesAdvanced properties: Aliases, Virtual fields, Various SQL Dialects, Visual representation modes
Report Design	Contents	grouping, filters, sorting, bands, sub-reports, styles, summaries, calculated fields, watermarks, backgrounds, bookmarks, parameters
	Controls	text boxes, lines, shapes. barcodes, checkboxes, page info, panels, images, page breaks, tables, postal codes, rich text controls, cross-band controls, hyperlinks, multi-columns, cross-references, gauges, map control
	Pivot Tables	OLAP, Key Performance Indicators, (KPI) Graphics
	Charts & Graphs	56 Types with many options2D, 3D, Regression and Trends
	plus	Parameters, scripts, wizards, labels, mail merge, Drilldown, Drillthrough, Document Map, Multiple reports within a single reportImport from Crystal Reports, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Data Dynamics Active Reports, and DevExpress
Report Definitions	Parameters	Select from a data sourceText, Numeric, Static Dates, Dynamic Dates, Fixed and Prompted
	plus	Multiple definitions using the same design, Descriptions, Titles, External files (treat a file from other software as a report), Print/Preview, Export, Email
Distribution & Delivery	Report Processor	Runs as a service in the background Similar functionality to a Report Server Has the functionality of a server without an operating system server, database server, or web server Handles report subscriptions Report Bursting, Report Exploding, Report Splitting, Email Blasts, Email Broadcasting
	Report Queue	Schedule one time, Schedule recurring, List and Calendar views
	Email Requests	Monitor email requests, Reply to emails with attached reports/documents
	FTP	Transfer reports to FTP Site
	Website	Semi-Static Website, Automatic Index page creation for reports including nested folders
	File Formats	Document: pdf, html, mht, rtf, txt Data: txt, csv, xls, xlxs Graphic: bmp, emf, gif, jpeg, png, tiff, wmf PDF’s can be password protected

Alternative to Microsoft Access – Part 2

To follow up on the first blog post about Microsoft Access, here is some more information.  Access has a limitations regarding the following that Sunset Reports does not:

1. Page size (Access is limited to 22.5″ width, no limit with Sunset Reports)
2. Export password protected PDF’s (Access does not, Sunset Reports does)
3. Chart types (Sunset Reports has more types than Access)
4. Style Sheets (Access does not have style sheets, Sunset Reports does)

So if you want to use Sunset Reports as an alternative to Access, we have made it even easier for you to convert since you can import your report designs from Access (with some limitations).

Even if your data is still in Access, Sunset Reports connects to that data very easily.

Chart Types

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Here is a visual catalog of the chart types available.   Many options are available with these.

Access 2010 only has 20 chart types, and Crystal Reports 9 only has 40. Even Excel 2010 does not have some of the chart types in Sunset Reports. Plus the wizard gives you so many customization options.

Chart Series Views and Indicators

For certain chart types, you can add an indicator to the series views.  There are 9 different types: Regression Line, Trend Line, Fibonacci Arcs, Fibonacci Fans, Fibonacci Retracement, Simple Moving Average, Exponentional Moving Average, Weighted Moving Average, and Triangular Moving Average. Each one has some additional properties that are different from each other. Most people are already familiar with regression, trend, and moving averages. The Fibonacci indicators are primarily used for financial analysis, but with Sunset Reports you can use them with not only stock and candlestick charts, but for any 2D X-Y chart as well as the Gantt series of charts. There are a number of good websites that will give you details of the Fibonacci indicators. Quickly, these indicators expose the golden rule symmetry between two series and are useful to forecast levels of support or resistance for a trend.  Check out this link for more information- Fibonacci Number

More posts coming on this topic, so keep checking back.

Business Dashboard

To create a webpage that has several charts on it like a dashboard do the following:

If you start with a blank report, add all the data sources you need by choosing the “Add Data Source” menu item on the report designer. Then add one or more chart controls onto the report. Click on the chart smart tag on the top right if each chart and select the Data Source, Data Member, and Data Adapter. Do this for each chart. Run the chart wizard now to setup the chart. Arrange the charts so the report appears like a dashboard. You are now ready to go.

Your dashboard can include pivot tables as well as subreports.   There is no limit to the formatting options.   Then set it up to output in all kinds of different file formats and be sent to a website, FTP site, emailed, or other output option.

Note:  For a even more powerful Dashboard solution, check out CleverQ.   This product actually includes a version of Sunset Reports built-in.