TransRep provides a path for Oracle Reports users to adopt a powerful reporting tool in BIRT while considering migration their Forms and Reports Application.
Here are some resources to help you learn more about BIRT, access their tutorials and see how quickly you can install and start building reports as you consider alternatives to Oracle Reports.
About BIRT
BIRT is a powerful Open Source Reporting Solution. Supported by Actuate Corporation, BIRT is eclipse based and meant for Java and Java EE web applications. BIRT comes with a report designer within Eclipse or myEclipse. It comes with its own Runtime engine that is used for deploying the reports on the Java Application Server.
BIRT offers the same power as Oracle Reports, if not more. All things that are possible with Oracle Reports are possible with BIRT. The 1 main advantage, is that at of lowered costs with power.
Types of reports: BIRT allows users to do all kinds of Reports like Lists, Grouped Reports, Crosstabs, Letter & Documents, and ones with charts based on the charting option that BIRT comes with.
Databases behind BIRT: BIRT supports data from all kinds of databases, web services, java object.A single reports cab include data from a number of data sources
Business Logic: Support is built in for SQL syntax, procedures from database and/or handling of logic using Javascript and expression language.
Presentation: can be made on java, html, pdf, xls, xml formats.
Here are some links to resources on BIRT that can help quickly learn and start using BIRT
BIRT tutorials help users quickly ramp up on their skills and can be found here
http://www.eclipse.org/birt/phoenix/tutorial/
BIRT Examples can be found here: http://www.eclipse.org/birt/phoenix/examples/
If you want to learn more or be a part of the growing community: http://www.birt-exchange.com/be/home/