Challenges and Expertise: Migrating PowerBuilder Reports to .NET for RightAngle

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Challenges and Expertise: Migrating PowerBuilder Reports to .NET for RightAngle

Report Migration: Overview

When migrating from PowerBuilder to the .NET version of Right Angle, there can be several challenges that arise for reports, especially if they involve heavy use of PIVOT, filtering, and data structuring in PowerBuilder, along with landscape/portrait orientations. The challenges primarily stem from the differences in the underlying technologies, programming languages, and reporting frameworks used in PowerBuilder and .NET.

Understanding the Challenges in Migrating PowerBuilder Reports to .NET for RightAngle

Migrating PowerBuilder reports to the .NET version of Right Angle presents several challenges due to differences in technologies, programming languages, and reporting frameworks. Understanding these challenges is essential to ensure a successful migration process. In the following section, we will explore the key challenges that arise during this migration and how Value Creed, a trusted expert in report migration, can provide expertise and solutions to overcome these challenges.

Language and syntax differences

Challenge:

PowerBuilder version development uses legacy tools and technologies using Sybase IDEs.
.NET version is primarily coded in C#.

Our Expertise:

Rewrite the report logic and calculations in the appropriate .NET framework due to differences in syntax and functions.

Reporting frameworks

Challenge:

PowerBuilder has its own built-in reporting tool and most of the logic is written directly in SQL.
.NET version of RightAngle offers various reporting frameworks SQL Report Base, SQLDom and in-built distribution frameworks.

Our Expertise:

Identify a suitable reporting framework in .NET and re-implement the powerbuilder report designs accordingly.

PIVOT functionality

Challenge:

PowerBuilder reports may heavily rely on PIVOT operations to transform data and present it in a summarized form.
To replicate the PIVOT functionality, you will need to identify the appropriate features and functions within the .NET reporting framework that can achieve the same results.

Our Expertise:

Thorough understanding of the PIVOT operations used in the PowerBuilder reports including capabilities and features of the chosen .NET reporting framework for successful replication of the PIVOT functionality.

Filtering and data structuring

Challenge:

PowerBuilder reports often involve complex filtering conditions and data structuring to meet specific business requirements.

Our Expertise:

Analyze and understand the existing filtering logic in PowerBuilder and reimplement it in the .NET reporting framework.

Landscape/Portrait orientation

Challenge:

PowerBuilder reports can be designed to support different page orientations, such as landscape or portrait.
The chosen .NET reporting framework should have the ability to handle multiple orientations.

Our Expertise:

Adjust the report layout, page settings, and print options to ensure that the migrated reports retain the desired orientation.

Migration of report templates

Challenge:

If there are existing report templates in PowerBuilder, they will need to be recreated in the chosen .NET reporting framework.

Our Expertise:

Redesign the report layouts, add appropriate data bindings, and replicate any custom formatting or styling applied in the original PowerBuilder reports.

Use Case Scenario: Migrating from PowerBuilder to .NET

To gain insights into the challenges that can arise when migrating from a PowerBuilder version of a report to a .NET version, let’s explore a practical scenario:

One of our clients, who was using RightAngle’s S11 version, relied on a highly customized report created in PowerBuilder. This report held significant importance for their schedulers as it was distributed to them on a daily basis.

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Here’s an overview of the customized PowerBuilder report:

The PowerBuilder version of the report was designed with intricate features such as complex pivoting, grouping, and filtering logic. It operated on a dataset that included several query columns. Additionally, the report was formatted in landscape orientation.

The objective was to replicate the same report with its familiar appearance and functionality in the upgraded S21 version. However, when attempting a straightforward migration of the report’s backend logic to .NET, the outcome fell significantly short of the expected outcome.

Click to Enlarge >

Value Creed’s proficiency in report migration proves invaluable in this scenario. Our team of RightAngle SMEs took charge of customizing the .NET version of the RightAngle report using the report designer tool. With their expertise, they made extensive modifications, leveraging various features including computed query columns, external query columns, dynamic queries, and the available UI tools.

The end result was a meticulously crafted report that closely resembled the original one from S11

Click to Enlarge >

Leverage Value Creed’s Expertise to upgrade seamlessly

Migrating PowerBuilder reports to the .NET version of Right Angle poses several challenges due to differences in technologies, languages, and reporting frameworks. Value Creed’s expertise in report migration is invaluable in overcoming these challenges. Through extensive modifications and leveraging the capabilities of the .NET reporting framework, our team of RightAngle SMEs successfully customized the .NET version of the report for our clients.

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