I currently create custom reports as follows:

1. Use sforce connector in Excel to automatically get data from sforce.

2. Use Access to run Excel (Automation), get the data into access, do the join and create custom reports.

(VBA code is below)

This works fine, but requires distribution of Access programs and downloading data...which can be slow.

Questions:
What are the options for creating complex reports directly in sforce?

Are there high level tools or does each report need to be programmed in ??

For example, I need a crosstab report with more thant the two row headings allowed in report customization.

Thanks for your ideas.

VBA code in Excel:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Dim ws As Worksheet
For Each ws In Application.Worksheets
ws.Activate
Call sfqueryall(True)'found in previous connectors
Next ws
End Sub

VBA Code in Access:

Private Sub Update_Click()
Set xlApp = CreateObject ('Excel.Application')
With xlApp
.Visible = True
.Workbooks.Open 'C:\sforcedata'
.ActiveWorkbook.Save
.Quit
End With
Set xlApp = Nothing
On Error Resume Next
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, 'Accounts'
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acImport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, 'Accounts','C:\sforcedata',True, 'Accounts'
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, 'Opps'
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acImport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, 'C:\sforcedata',True, 'Opps'
End Sub

I currently create custom reports as follows:

1. Use sforce connector in Excel to automatically get data from sforce.

2. Use Access to run Excel (Automation), get the data into access, do the join and create custom reports.

(VBA code is below)

This works fine, but requires distribution of Access programs and downloading data...which can be slow.

Questions:
What are the options for creating complex reports directly in sforce?

Are there high level tools or does each report need to be programmed in ??

For example, I need a crosstab report with more thant the two row headings allowed in report customization.

Thanks for your ideas.

VBA code in Excel:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Dim ws As Worksheet
For Each ws In Application.Worksheets
ws.Activate
Call sfqueryall(True)'found in previous connectors
Next ws
End Sub

VBA Code in Access:

Private Sub Update_Click()
Set xlApp = CreateObject ('Excel.Application')
With xlApp
.Visible = True
.Workbooks.Open 'C:\sforcedata'
.ActiveWorkbook.Save
.Quit
End With
Set xlApp = Nothing
On Error Resume Next
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, 'Accounts'
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acImport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, 'Accounts','C:\sforcedata',True, 'Accounts'
DoCmd.DeleteObject acTable, 'Opps'
DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet acImport, acSpreadsheetTypeExcel9, 'C:\sforcedata',True, 'Opps'
End Sub

I have tried to create a simple macro by using "Record New Macro" to Launch the Connector. It doesn't work. Does anyone know a simple way to create a macro that will launch the connector and even run a query? I am not a VB Programmer, so I would prefer to keep it simple.
Thanks!