Ok ... I have several requirements, so I will be brief. Please read my overviews of the my "known" products and PLEASE PLEASE correct me if I am wrong... (and I hope that I am wrong because that might yield an answer). Requirements Reports must draw data from SharePoint Lists Report Design must be nice and easy, with a WYSIWYG interface. Reports must be published to web, preferably through a SharePoint Web Part Report data source must automatically update from the List Data. Report Designers are non-technical, so access the SharePoint data must not include technical steps (i.e. writing CAML queries) So ... what is the "best" method to produce Reports for SharePoint? I am currently aware of 2 "out of the box" products. Microsoft Access 2007 I was very hopeful with this product, resurrecting an old, otherwise dead line in the Office suite (who still uses Jet databases in anything other than legacy systems??) Good * You can pull data straight out of SharePoint (Req 1) * You can create very nice rich reports very easily. (Req 2) * Data Source will refresh on load (Req 4) * You can publish "static HTML" to the web by doing "Export" (Req 3) * simple non-technical data sources (Req 5) Bad * the static HTML never updates .. you have to manually "export" again (Req 4) SQL Reporting Services 2005 This looked like the "best bet" ... it is server based, Web Parts for publishing already exist, the report interface is great. Just one major problem ... how do you get the List data into the Report Designer. Good * You can create very nice rich reports very easily. (Req 2) * Data Source automatically refreshes from data sources (Req 4) * Excellent web-parts and interfaces already exist, along with a full web-based report publishing tool (Req 3) Bad * SharePoint data source requires technical skills (Web Services and CAML based queries) (Req 1 & 5) ...................... So I am stumped ... Is there a product / method that satisfies all 5 requirements?? I mean .. it's not like I'm asking for the world on a plate here .. surely what I've asked for is basic reporting requirements? Note - I am interested in 3rd party products .. but no adverts / logos / marketing. I just want the facts. If it doesn't support ALL 5 of my requirements then I'm not interested! Thank you for your help - MKeeper

I've had success using the RS Data Extension from Enesys (http://www.enesyssoftware.com) along with SQL Reporting Services.

JXJ, thanks for your reply! I did look at that product, but it still involves passing through CAML based XML queries to the web-services. Which doesn't make the report builder accessible to non-technical users.

I am looking to accomplish the same requirement. Has anyone find out an easier solution to this-that won't involve writing XML queries? Thanks.

aandrei, I actually ended up using Access 2007 and creating "Snapshots" of the reports. It ended up being the easiest way of achieving this without getting too technical. I then added web parts to view the snapshot files from a SharePoint page. You can read my blog article all about it: http://mkeeper.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!60F12A60288E5607!225.entry

This is a general question not a Programming one, so it's wrongly placed in the Programming forum. Moving it to general (Admin was the alternative). (I use Access 2007. The reports you can produce with it are good enough for me.)

Hi, How can I achieve the similar requirement using WSS 3.0.If I understand correctly "Access view " is not available in WSS 3.0.Prachi

Sharepoint lists are also exposed as web services. So for any site http://<yoursite>/_vti_bin/Lists.aspx can be accessed through reporting services via XML type.-- techChirag

I am also lookng for an alternative to report (besides writting SQL statements) The link to your blog is not available, do you have another area where i can access your blog? Regard, Mpume