| Feature |
Jasper Reports |
Windward Reports |
| Business-User Friendly? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Easy to Learn? |
No |
Yes |
| Embeddible Report Engine? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Report Designer |
iReport; Visually Drag-&-Drop Fields into Document. Create fields textually using expression builder. Get data textually using query builder. |
AutoTag; Markup document with tags in well-known MS Word! Create tags visually or textually using tag editor and wizards. Get data visually using data connection window. |
| Layout Style |
Band-style: Restricted to nesting report elements within correct band elements or the report elements won't work. |
Free-flow: Place elements wherever you want them to go. |
| Report Elements |
Java (computer programming language) expressions. |
Normal text, images, and AutoTags. |
| Data Grouping |
Nest details band element within group element. Requires setup in the query. |
Use standard ForEach tag. No additional tags required! |
| Conditional Output |
Configure printWhenExpression using a Java expression. |
Use If tag. |
| Report Parameters |
Create a parameter field element and set its data type. |
Use maps & views. |
| Hyperlinks |
Determine the type of hyperlink to use, build the hyperlink expression. |
Use MS Word or use Link tag. |
| Subreports |
Create and initialize a parameter in the master report. Use the parameter in the report query of the subreport. |
Use Import tag. |
| Charting |
Within chart element, write expressions for each series and label. |
Use Chart tag. Powerful, visual chart builder. |
| Cross-tabs |
Create variables for cross-tab cells using Java expressions. Insert variable elements into cross-tab element. |
Use Matrix tag in MS Word tables. |
