Do you mean make them just as flexible as the templates too? So the end user could just move things where they want them? Or are you thinking just a straight up copy of the template and changing it means customizing it?
What would be great is if you had a browser based tool that connects to your PS install, populates with your data fields and allows you to create customizations on the fly with editors for Javascript, xml and tsql in a single screen and runs them all together like what you can do with excel and pivot tables.
Both of your suggestions are good as long as you could move things around easily on the screen where you want them would be best, the more freedom to easily manipulate your data is key. If you could Drupalize PS with dragging custom fields about, panels, theming etc would be nice, global role management to allow you to show/hide menu items based on a user's role too. (oh yeah and the frames on the student info page, another post...)
In order to get say a District Enrollment Summary, ideally I should not have to run a report to access the same data I can see in the browser. I think Reports Works should only be used to print out data but that it customizable these days...
1. The only way to get to all of the tables.
2. Can use SQL to get exactly what I want.
3. Flexible output : HTML for an on screen list, or PDF, or as a delimited file.
I can't speak for the future of ReportWorks to know if that will change. If SQL queries were allowed in ReportWorks, watch out. The other issue that probably it needs to face is where its output can go and in what format. Since there are drop-downs on the Publish page for those options, it is assumed there are plans for that, I will watch to see what comes up.
I believe Dennis's response here is backwards. The capability he mentions is only available in custom pages, not ReportWorks.
Steve
Steve Deibert
PowerSchool System Administrator
Archdiocese of Seattle PowerSchool Consortium stevedeibert@gmail.com
Actually the capabilities I mentioned are available in the Reporting Engine. RE is the way State Reports are written by Pearson. Report Works is sorely lacking in any useful functionality. No ability to use SQL is it's biggest failure. And the designer is really funky. Not easy to use at all.
I was very dissappointed when PS 7 was released and it didn't make use of any of the Java Open Source reporting systems out there. Personally I prefer Jasper Reports. It has a WYSIWYG designer with a functional SQL builder and drag and drop field objects. Very easy to design reports. Also can create all kinds of charts and graphs.
If Report Works ever has the ability to use SQL to create data objects, then maybe. Right now it's really a waste of time.
I prefer writing my own SQL. sqlReports has been a great customization. We are new to PowerSchool, so making our own customizations presently requires too steep a learning curve.
I talked with a business analyst at PowerSchool and was told that all state reporting will be going from the Reporting Engine to ReportWorks. Seemed shocking after seeing the preference most everywhere for customizations.
Unless they have made some very important changes under the hood, that would make me very sad.
Personally, I would prefer Pearson concentrate on fixing all the current bugs in PS 7 before creating a brand new thread on the self service support portal.
Honestly, RW is just too clunky and inflexible. They really should just use the Crystal API and embed Crystal Reports' report writer directly into PowerSchool. Problems Solved!
Comments
EducaITed
Thu, 03/08/2012 - 1:20pm
Permalink
You know what would be money?
The first person/company who can convert all the Report Works templates into customizations! You kind of cannabalize Report Works though...
Rob Whittaker
IT Software/Hardware Coordinator
K. International School Tokyo
jtreadwell
Thu, 03/08/2012 - 1:23pm
Permalink
re: You know what would be money?
Do you mean make them just as flexible as the templates too? So the end user could just move things where they want them? Or are you thinking just a straight up copy of the template and changing it means customizing it?
Jason Treadwell
Custom Solutions Specialist
jason@powerdatasolutions.org
www.powerdatasolutions.org
EducaITed
Thu, 03/08/2012 - 1:59pm
Permalink
What would be great is if you
What would be great is if you had a browser based tool that connects to your PS install, populates with your data fields and allows you to create customizations on the fly with editors for Javascript, xml and tsql in a single screen and runs them all together like what you can do with excel and pivot tables.
Both of your suggestions are good as long as you could move things around easily on the screen where you want them would be best, the more freedom to easily manipulate your data is key. If you could Drupalize PS with dragging custom fields about, panels, theming etc would be nice, global role management to allow you to show/hide menu items based on a user's role too. (oh yeah and the frames on the student info page, another post...)
In order to get say a District Enrollment Summary, ideally I should not have to run a report to access the same data I can see in the browser. I think Reports Works should only be used to print out data but that it customizable these days...
Rob Whittaker
IT Software/Hardware Coordinator
K. International School Tokyo
eggerde
Thu, 03/08/2012 - 1:47pm
Permalink
Reporting Engine for me
1. The only way to get to all of the tables.
2. Can use SQL to get exactly what I want.
3. Flexible output : HTML for an on screen list, or PDF, or as a delimited file.
Dennis Eggers
Powerschool evangelist
dennis.eggers@hesperiausd.org
sdeibert
Mon, 03/12/2012 - 9:54pm
Permalink
At least right now
I can't speak for the future of ReportWorks to know if that will change. If SQL queries were allowed in ReportWorks, watch out. The other issue that probably it needs to face is where its output can go and in what format. Since there are drop-downs on the Publish page for those options, it is assumed there are plans for that, I will watch to see what comes up.
I believe Dennis's response here is backwards. The capability he mentions is only available in custom pages, not ReportWorks.
Steve
Steve Deibert
PowerSchool System Administrator
Archdiocese of Seattle PowerSchool Consortium
stevedeibert@gmail.com
eggerde
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 4:45pm
Permalink
Actually the capabilities I
Actually the capabilities I mentioned are available in the Reporting Engine. RE is the way State Reports are written by Pearson. Report Works is sorely lacking in any useful functionality. No ability to use SQL is it's biggest failure. And the designer is really funky. Not easy to use at all.
I was very dissappointed when PS 7 was released and it didn't make use of any of the Java Open Source reporting systems out there. Personally I prefer Jasper Reports. It has a WYSIWYG designer with a functional SQL builder and drag and drop field objects. Very easy to design reports. Also can create all kinds of charts and graphs.
If Report Works ever has the ability to use SQL to create data objects, then maybe. Right now it's really a waste of time.
Dennis Eggers
Powerschool evangelist
dennis.eggers@hesperiausd.org
rhoorn
Mon, 03/19/2012 - 12:31pm
Permalink
I prefer to use customizations
But I'm not savvy enough to create my own. ReportWorks is clunky.
ndemet
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 1:21pm
Permalink
ReportWorks will be the future
I prefer writing my own SQL. sqlReports has been a great customization. We are new to PowerSchool, so making our own customizations presently requires too steep a learning curve.
I talked with a business analyst at PowerSchool and was told that all state reporting will be going from the Reporting Engine to ReportWorks. Seemed shocking after seeing the preference most everywhere for customizations.
Nick DeMet
Gloucester County Public Schools, VA
eggerde
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 4:51pm
Permalink
Re: ReportWorks will be the future
Unless they have made some very important changes under the hood, that would make me very sad.
Personally, I would prefer Pearson concentrate on fixing all the current bugs in PS 7 before creating a brand new thread on the self service support portal.
Dennis Eggers
Powerschool evangelist
dennis.eggers@hesperiausd.org
brian_andle
Tue, 03/20/2012 - 1:52pm
Permalink
Re: ReportWorks will be the future
Many states already use the Report Works engine for state reporting, but you never see that part.
mwalters
Wed, 03/21/2012 - 7:13am
Permalink
Depends...
...if I need a formatted paper report, report works. If I need a list, quick aggregate totals, etc.: then it's SQL reports.
Most of the time, though, I can get what I need done much quicker using SQL than report works.
How the data will be consumed really determines what tool I use, though.
troule
Mon, 04/09/2012 - 9:29am
Permalink
Standards Based Report Card Templates
Hi! We are new to PowerSchool and are wondering if you have any Standards Based Report Card Templates?
Also any tips on teaching this to our 22 school districts next week?
sbeyerl
Fri, 05/18/2012 - 1:19am
Permalink
SBRC templates
Did you find any nice Standards Based Report Card templates? If so, I would like to see them too.
Susan Beyerl
SIS Coordinator
Los Lunas Schools
Los Lunas, NM
randyrowe
Thu, 08/01/2013 - 12:37pm
Permalink
Crystal Reports!
Honestly, RW is just too clunky and inflexible. They really should just use the Crystal API and embed Crystal Reports' report writer directly into PowerSchool. Problems Solved!
Randy Rowe
Sr. Applications Analyst
Topeka Public Schools
rrowe@tps501.org