ANN: ReportBuilder 7.0 Server Edition Released

digitalmetaphors

Are you ready to get those reports into your web browser?

Then you're ready for the new ReportBuilder Server Edition!

Leverage the power of N-tier, XML, XHTML, SOAP, JavaScript, Windows Sockets,
Windows Services, and the various web deployment options of Delphi without
feeling the pain inherent in mastering these technologies.

Protect your investment in your current code base by publishing existing
reports to the web with minimal configuration changes.

And get it all done fast, fast, fast with the new ReportBuilder Server
Edition.


The new Server Edition includes:

* Server Edition components (we did these so you wouldn't have to)

* Enterprise Edition (the best reporting development environment for
Delphi)

* Server Deployment License (deploy a server-based application to a single
CPU PC)

* Server Development License (deploy a server-based application to a
single CPU PC for purposes of testing and development)


Pricing

ReportBuilder Server Edition 7.0 $999
Server Deployment License (1 CPU) $249

If you purchased ReportBuilder Enterprise 6.03 on or after November 14,
2001, you can upgrade to Server Edition for $799.


Ordering

The Server Edition is available for purchase at:

https://www.digital-metaphors.com/secure/orderform.html

For more information, contact us at: sales@digital-metaphors.com.

If you are upgrading, please include serial number, contact name, and
address.

rbuser

Just my two bobs worth

$999 ?
If I already own $749 dollars worth of Enterprise, (purchased before
November 14, 2001), there is no price break ? Even though Server edition
includes Enterprise ?

Seems odd, I'd have thought that you would be getting as many developers
involved
as possible ... considering the per CPU licencing

Ron

single

rbuser

I purchased ReportBuilder Enterprise prior to Nov 2001.
Is the cost for me to upgrade to ReportBuilder 7 Server Edition from
ReportBuilder Enterprise 6.03 $999?
What is the cost for a new user to purchase ReportBuilder 7 Server Edition
having no purchased any previous version of ReportBuilder?
Does ReportBuilder 7 Server Edition support Delphi 5 Enterprise?

Thanks in advance for your response and congratulation on the release of
ReportBuilder 7 Server Edition. We are looking forward to purchasing it.

Scott Rowat
Next Generation Computer Solutions

nardmoseley

Thanks for your interest in RB Server.

Below is an article with details on pricing and feature set of the
Server Edition.

Whether we will support D5 has not been determine. We'll try to port it
back to D5 if the effort is reasonable and the demand is there. I know
there is D6 functionality we are utiling that is not present in D5 and
will therefore have to be resolved.


-----------------------------------------------------------
R B S E R V E R E D I T I O N I N F O
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Server Edition currently sells for US $999.00. It is the server
software that you are purchasing. At present we have decided to include
an RB Enterprise license with the server software as a bonus. A single
cpu deployment license is also included. Additional cpu deployment
licenses can be purchased for $249.00.

On the order page of our web site you will notice that there is no
upgrade path to RB Server. Therefore if you purchase RB Enterprise today
and then decide to deploy a server 6 months from now, you will need to
purchase the server software for $999.00.

RB Server is a stand alone product in its own right. The Server installs
into a separate RBServer directory and contains its own Developers
Guide, online help, Demos, Tutorials, and Lib. The Server components are
installed to a separate RBServer tab of the Delphi component palette.

The Server is more than worth the $999.00. We are currently working on
creating a trial or demo and once it is available you will be able to
see this for yourself. For now, please refer to the information below.


Server Edition Overview
------------------------


1. ReportBuilder Services

ReportBuilder Services is an report server hosting environment that can
be used to deploy and manage a report server application. To install
ReportBuilder Services, you simple run the included RBWinService.exe
install program. The installation program installs a windows service and
server management application that appears as a system tray icon.

ReportBuilder Services is a windows service designed to act as a host to
your report server application. This two-piece architecture isolates
your report server application in its own process, allowing it to be
started and stopped from the service. In the event of a crash, your
report server application will automatically be restarted by the
service. It will also be started each time the server machine is
rebooted.

2. Report Server component

The Report Server component implements a multi-threaded report server
that can execute reports and deliver report pages to clients. It enables
you to build a server application without writing any code. You can then
deploy the server application as a windows service using the
ReportBuilder Services application described in number one above.

The Report Server is implemented using an I/O Completion port/Worker
thread architecture and optimally manages persistent report sessions to
maximize performance and throughput. The server can optimally generate
pages on demand. Once a page is sent to the client, the client can then
cache that particular page and request additional pages upon demand by
the user.


3. Report Volume components

Report Volume components are used to register collections of reports
with the server's report catalog. The server Edition includes Report
Volume components that can dynamically generate catalog items for
collections of reports and archives that are stored in file directories,
a database table, or the report explorer databases. Without writing any
code, you can register an entire collection of reports with the server.
As you add reports to a designated file directory or database storage
medium, the report server can dynamically add and remove reports in the
catalog.

4. Windows Rich Client components

The ClientReportExplorer and ClientReport components can be used access
reports on the server by writing one line of code. The
ClientReportExplorer provides a Windows Explorer style interface for
browsing reports on the server. The ClientReport can be used to preview
and print reports residing on the server.


5. WebTier

The WebTier enables a developer to deploy reports to the web by writing
one line of code.

The web tier acts as a middle tier between web browser clients and the
report server. It enables web browser clients to request and view
reports generated by a report server application (see TrsServer).

The web tier executes within the context of a web application and
provides an extensible architecture for implementing web based
reporting. The web tier receives client requests and dispatches them to
an appropriate TrsWebContentProvider. Web content providers do the
actual work of communicating with the report server and generating
XHTML, Java Script and other appropriate content that make up the web
application's response. Several content providers are included with the
report server edition to provide a complete web reporting solution right
out of the box.

The WebTier generates a zero client (i.e XHTML/Java Script) interface
that duplicates the Report Explorer and Report Previewer interface of
found in RB. This includes support for AutoSearch (i.e. ask at runtime
parameters) and zooming.

The WebTier manages session state and caches report session activity to
optimize performance. The WebTier can cache multiple reports for a given
session, thus if a user previews report A, followed by Report B, then
decides to preview Report B again, the WebTier can simply send the cache
page, rather than regenerate the report.


6. RB ISAPI Thread Pool

The Server Edition includes a custom ISAPI Thread pool that is is
implemented using an I/O Completion port/Worker thread architecture and
optimally manages report sessions to maximize performance and
throughput. The ThreadPool is aware of report session activity and
queues request based on session. This greatly improves throughput and
performance.


7. Server Farm

The WebTier can be configured to utilize any number of report servers to
maximize scalability. This allows the web tier to scale gracefully as a
greater number of users access reports.


The Server Edition leverages the following technologies:

Multi-threaded programming, Windows Services, Windows Sockets, Windows
System Tray, COM, I/O Completion Ports/Worker Thread Pools, XML, SOAP
Services, ISAPI Thread Pools, XHTML, Java Script.

nardmoseley

Thanks for your interest in RB Server.

Below is an article with details on pricing and feature set of the
Server Edition.

-----------------------------------------------------------
R B S E R V E R E D I T I O N I N F O
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Server Edition currently sells for US $999.00. It is the server
software that you are purchasing. At present we have decided to include
an RB Enterprise license with the server software as a bonus. A single
cpu deployment license is also included. Additional cpu deployment
licenses can be purchased for $249.00.

On the order page of our web site you will notice that there is no
upgrade path to RB Server. Therefore if you purchase RB Enterprise today
and then decide to deploy a server 6 months from now, you will need to
purchase the server software for $999.00.

RB Server is a stand alone product in its own right. The Server installs
into a separate RBServer directory and contains its own Developers
Guide, online help, Demos, Tutorials, and Lib. The Server components are
installed to a separate RBServer tab of the Delphi component palette.

The Server is more than worth the $999.00. We are currently working on
creating a trial or demo and once it is available you will be able to
see this for yourself. For now, please refer to the information below.


Server Edition Overview
------------------------


1. ReportBuilder Services

ReportBuilder Services is an report server hosting environment that can
be used to deploy and manage a report server application. To install
ReportBuilder Services, you simple run the included RBWinService.exe
install program. The installation program installs a windows service and
server management application that appears as a system tray icon.

ReportBuilder Services is a windows service designed to act as a host to
your report server application. This two-piece architecture isolates
your report server application in its own process, allowing it to be
started and stopped from the service. In the event of a crash, your
report server application will automatically be restarted by the
service. It will also be started each time the server machine is
rebooted.

2. Report Server component

The Report Server component implements a multi-threaded report server
that can execute reports and deliver report pages to clients. It enables
you to build a server application without writing any code. You can then
deploy the server application as a windows service using the
ReportBuilder Services application described in number one above.

The Report Server is implemented using an I/O Completion port/Worker
thread architecture and optimally manages persistent report sessions to
maximize performance and throughput. The server can optimally generate
pages on demand. Once a page is sent to the client, the client can then
cache that particular page and request additional pages upon demand by
the user.


3. Report Volume components

Report Volume components are used to register collections of reports
with the server's report catalog. The server Edition includes Report
Volume components that can dynamically generate catalog items for
collections of reports and archives that are stored in file directories,
a database table, or the report explorer databases. Without writing any
code, you can register an entire collection of reports with the server.
As you add reports to a designated file directory or database storage
medium, the report server can dynamically add and remove reports in the
catalog.

4. Windows Rich Client components

The ClientReportExplorer and ClientReport components can be used access
reports on the server by writing one line of code. The
ClientReportExplorer provides a Windows Explorer style interface for
browsing reports on the server. The ClientReport can be used to preview
and print reports residing on the server.


5. WebTier

The WebTier enables a developer to deploy reports to the web by writing
one line of code.

The web tier acts as a middle tier between web browser clients and the
report server. It enables web browser clients to request and view
reports generated by a report server application (see TrsServer).

The web tier executes within the context of a web application and
provides an extensible architecture for implementing web based
reporting. The web tier receives client requests and dispatches them to
an appropriate TrsWebContentProvider. Web content providers do the
actual work of communicating with the report server and generating
XHTML, Java Script and other appropriate content that make up the web
application's response. Several content providers are included with the
report server edition to provide a complete web reporting solution right
out of the box.

The WebTier generates a zero client (i.e XHTML/Java Script) interface
that duplicates the Report Explorer and Report Previewer interface of
found in RB. This includes support for AutoSearch (i.e. ask at runtime
parameters) and zooming.

The WebTier manages session state and caches report session activity to
optimize performance. The WebTier can cache multiple reports for a given
session, thus if a user previews report A, followed by Report B, then
decides to preview Report B again, the WebTier can simply send the cache
page, rather than regenerate the report.


6. RB ISAPI Thread Pool

The Server Edition includes a custom ISAPI Thread pool that is is
implemented using an I/O Completion port/Worker thread architecture and
optimally manages report sessions to maximize performance and
throughput. The ThreadPool is aware of report session activity and
queues request based on session. This greatly improves throughput and
performance.


7. Server Farm

The WebTier can be configured to utilize any number of report servers to
maximize scalability. This allows the web tier to scale gracefully as a
greater number of users access reports.


The Server Edition leverages the following technologies:

Multi-threaded programming, Windows Services, Windows Sockets, Windows
System Tray, COM, I/O Completion Ports/Worker Thread Pools, XML, SOAP
Services, ISAPI Thread Pools, XHTML, Java Script.

rbuser

So the ReportBuilder 7 Server Edition is available to purchase today but
only supports D6 and D7?

nardmoseley

As of today we are shipping D6 support only.

Once we receive the D7 CD from Borland, we anticipate releasing RB 7 for
D7 shortly thereafter. Just to be clear, this will include RB Standard,
Professional, Enterprise and Server Editions.

Customers who purchase today will receive the D7 version as soon as it
is released.

rbuser

Ron C wrote:


It does seem a bit odd. I think we will wait on this one and see how it shakes out. It all seems a bit up in the air at the moment...

rbuser

Although I havent yet seen the product, it does sound quite a steep price
for existing users to move onwards to V7.

Sure - charge for Server deployment licences, but why not make the developer
(/upgrade) cost a bit more reasonable; or leave the developer cost as it is
and do away with the deployment cost. At present, it's a bit of a having and
eating cake situation.

But then, maybe the product is just so awsome that we'll all snap it up,
almost irrespective of the cost.

Another problem I have is that we do not have any single CPU PCs or
Servers... so do we immediately need to buy more server CPU licences just to
be able to do testing on our own PCs.
--

Also, a couple of questions (sorry if these have already been asked):

1. Is the product only targeted at NT environment or can it deploy to Linux
also?

2. Are there any limitations on the web servers supported? e.g. IIS, Apache,
etc.,

3. Will it work in a situation where the web application is running under
Apache on one or other Linux servers and we to server reports from RB on the
W2K servers?

--

Any comments?

Thanks

Clive

nardmoseley

The article below contains a detailed overview. We're currently
preparing a trial version that will enable developers to take a test
drive. We'll make an announcement when we have something available for
download.

1. The Server includes a development license which would cover any
dev/testing on your dual processor development machine. A deployment
license for a single CPU is included, therefore you would need to
purchase one additional deployment license.

2. Currently only Windows platform is supported, there is no support for
Linux.

3. Examples for ISAPI (IIS), Apache, and ASP (IIS), are included. All of
our examples use Delphi's WebBroker, though the WebTier is not
dependendant upon it. There is a WebTier component that you place on a
WebModule to build the web tier application. Basically you configure
some properties and write a single line of code. The WebTier does the
rest. See article below.

The Server Edition includes a custom ISAPI ThreadPool that is optimized
for managing report session activity.

4. The Report Server application and the WebTier application can run on
the same machine or on different machines. The WebTier can be configured
to utilize a Server Farm comprised of any number of machines.

Thanks for the feedback. I can only invite you to download the trial
version as soon as it is available and judge the value of the product
based upon its own merit.



-----------------------------------------------------------
R B S E R V E R E D I T I O N
-----------------------------------------------------------


Server Edition Overview
------------------------
The Server Edition makes it easy to create and deploy report
applications to the web. Using basic component configuration you can get
a Windows service-based report server application up and running, a web
application up and running, and have users previewing reports in a web
browser in no time. And you can do it all without having to master
multi-threaded programming, Windows Services, Windows Sockets, Windows
System Tray applications, COM, I/O Completion Ports/Worker Thread Pools,
XML, SOAP Services, ISAPI Thread Pools, XHTML, or JavaScript. Sound
interesting? Then read on...


1. ReportBuilder Services

ReportBuilder Services is a Windows service designed to act as a host to
a report server application. This two-piece architecture isolates a
report server application in its own process, allowing it to be started
and stopped from the service. By default, the service is configured to
start automatically each time the server machine boots. Once the service
is started, it launches the report server application. The service is
also configured to automatically restart the report server application
in the event of a crash.

To install ReportBuilder Services, you simply run the included
RBWinService.exe installation program. The program installs and starts
the Windows service and deploys a server management application,
accessible from both a system tray icon and a Start menu item. You can
then access the management application and point the Windows service to
the location of your report server application.


2. Report Server Component

The Report Server component implements a multi-threaded report server
that can execute reports and deliver report pages to clients. You build
a report server application by dropping a ReportServer component on a
Delphi form, creating data modules which contain ReportVolume components
(explained next) and compiling the application. And that's it; you can
build an entire server application without writing any code. Once the
application is built you can then use ReportBuilder Services to quickly
and easily designate it as the official report server.

The Report Server is implemented using an I/O completion port/worker
thread architecture that optimally manages persistent report sessions to
maximize performance and throughput. The server can generate reports
incrementally (that is, page-by-page) in order to optimize response
time. Pages are cached on the server and on the client to minimize
network traffic. The amount of time that passes before a session expires
(and the cache is cleared) can be controlled via the TimeOut property.


3. Report Volume Components

Report Volume components are used to register a collection of reports
with the server. The server uses a report catalog to build and store the
tree structure which forms as the various reports are registered.

There are several types of report volume components, one for each of the
ways that reports are most commonly deployed. For report templates
stored in file directories or database tables, there is the
ReportTemplateVolume. For reports stored in the Explorer database
structure (i.e. RB end-user reports), there is the
ReportExplorerVolume. For report archives stored in file directories or
database tables, there is the ReportArchiveVolume. For reports stored
on a Delphi form, there is the "behind-the-scenes" report volume
object. The bottom-line: wherever or however your reports are deployed,
there is a simple way to register them with the server, usually without
writing a single-line of code.

Report volumes are also dynamic; as you add reports to a designated file
directory or database storage medium, the report server will
automatically add or remove those reports from the catalog. Yes, this
does mean that you can deploy reports to the server without bringing the
server down.


4. Windows Rich Client Components

With one ClientReportExplorer, one ClientReport, and one line of code,
you can build a full-featured Delphi reporting application which
provides access to reports on a remote server. The ClientReportExplorer
uses a Windows Explorer style interface to display a folder tree
structure of available reports. The ClientReport makes it easy to
preview and print. When previewing a report that requires search
criteria, the AutoSearch dialog is automatically displayed and any
search values entered are returned to the server. The report is then
generated and pages are returned.


5. WebTier Component

When compiled as part of a web application, the web tier acts as a
middle tier, providing access to a report server application from a web
browser. A user may select reports from a folder tree structure, enter
search criteria when applicable and preview report pages from the web
browser. All of these capabilities are made possible via a zero-client
application (100% JavaScript/XHTML) generated by the web tier. The
zero-client is compatible with Netscape 4, Netscape 6, and Internet
Explorer (5 and 6.)

Designed to integrate seamlessly with Delphi's various web technologies,
the web tier requires only a single line of code to compile successfully
as part of an ISAPI DLL or Apache Shared Module. ASP is also a snap, as
a single COM interface (easily generated with the help of Delphi's
ActiveX support) is all that is needed to deploy the web tier as part of
an Active Server Page.

The web tier implements a sophisticated concept of "session", grouping
all of the communications received from a single web browser under a
single session object. In order to optimize performance, both the state
of the session, and any report output generated for the session are
cached. For example, assume a user previews report A, then report B,
then returns again to report A. The web tier would manage all of this
activity as a single session, and whenever possible, would return pages
from the session cache, instead of re-requesting them from the report
server application. The amount of caching which occurs, the TimeOut for
a session and the frequency with which garbage collection is performed
on expired sessions are just a few of the configuration options
available on the web tier.

Implemented as a set of Delphi classes, the WebTier consists primarily
of objects which descend from TrsWebContentProvider. Web content
providers communicate with the report server application, converting the
response from SOAP/XML to native Delphi objects to XHTML/JavaScript,
suitable for consumption by a web browser. The content providers
included in the Server Edition make it easy to provide a complete,
robust, and professional web reporting solution right out of the box.
You can customize the HTML created by the web tier by creating your own
content provider descendants.


6. RB ISAPI Thread Pool

The Server Edition includes a custom ISAPI thread pool, implemented
using an I/O completion port/worker thread architecture designed to
optimally manage incoming requests. The thread pool queues requests
based on session, and can eliminate redundant requests. This greatly
improves both throughput and performance, as the web tier passes only
relevant requests through to the report server application.


7. Server Farm

The web tier can be configured to utilize any number of report servers
to maximize scalability. This allows the web tier to scale gracefully as
a greater number of users access reports. There are two load balancing
options provided: Round Robin and Minimum Load. Round Robin simply
steps through a list of servers, each time returning the next server in
the list. Minimum Load checks the CPU usage of each server (based on a
sixty second moving average), and returns the server with the minimum
usage.


8. Documentation, Help & Examples

The Server Edition Developer's Guide is provided in PDF format. The
concepts behind the web server are covered, along with numerous
step-by-step tutorials that guide you through everything from creating a
report server application to deploying the web tier with a server farm.
The online help is a reference for all of the components and major
classes which make up the product. The help is integrated with the
Delphi help and is accessible via the help menu or the F1 key. Numerous
examples of report server applications, web applications and client
applications are also provided.





There is a WebTier component that you configure

rbuser

Hi folks,

What is required on the Delphi end to make this work? Is the developer
edition enough?

Michael Gregg

nardmoseley

The Server Edition requires Delphi Professional or above.

I think Delphi Professional was formerly called Delphi Developer.