Business-Objects vs Crystal Reports
Would someone please explain the difference? Are these the same product, and if not what are they each used for?
Answer
Crystal Reports is a design tool--you use it to create and maintain reports. It is similar to Desktop Intelligence and Microsoft Access is this regard. It also has an SDK (COM, .Net, Java) for programmatical access.
BusinessObjects Enterprise is a report-deployment platform:
- supports a variety of report types (e.g. Crystal Reports, WebI, OLAPi/Voyager)
- uses a desktop metaphor, called InfoView (nee ePortfolio), to allow people to access reports
- has an Administrative console, called the Central Management Console (nee Crystal Management Console), to manage various aspects of these reports, including DB authentication
- comprise of a number of Windows/Unix/Linus services (e.g. Job Server, Central Management Server, File Repository Server)
- enforces access privileges (via NT, AD, LDAP, or Enterprise authenitcation)
- runs reports on a schedule
- distributes reports (via email, ftp, and other mechanisms)
- has an SDK (COM, .Net, Java) to manage these aspects of the reports.