Reporting tools for the work place. (Wall Data's Arpeggio)(includes related article on Arpeggio Live) (Software Review)(Evaluation)

Wall Data is well known in the MIS community for its RUMBA products. The Arpeggio line of products is Wall's integration with Concentric Data systems--makers of R&R Report Writer. Arpeggio brings the best of R&R Report Writer and RUMBA Data Access together, for reporting on the 32-bit Windows desktop.

There are three versions of Arpeggio: Viewer, Desktop, and Developer. This separation is sure to save money, as well as heartache, for the MIS manager. The problem with these "one-size fits all" packages is that it puts dangerously powerful tools in the hands of people who don't know how to use them. Wall Data has addressed this problem with its multiple packages, so you don't have to give users more than they need or can safely use.

Arpeggio Viewer is the version to ship to your standard user--it has no report creation abilities. Viewer provides easy-to-use tools for finding and generating reports.

Arpeggio for the Desktop adds the report creation and data access features. This version is aimed at the power users who want to create their own reports, as well as administrators who set up the reports for the enterprise.

At the top end is Arpeggio for the Developer, which includes everything in the Desktop version, plus the 32-bit development tools. There are no 16-bit tools--only a 32-bit ActiveX (.OCX) component and 32-bit API. Wall Data has aimed Arpeggio squarely at the Windows 95/NT corporate market.

Data access

Originally called the RUMBA Data Access tool, the Arpeggio version has gone totally 32-bit. This hasn't been a half-hearted conversion. Wall Data has done well in using 32-bit components and the OLE architecture championed by Microsoft. The right mouse button pops up menus wherever it goes on the desktop.

The purpose of the Data Access tool in Arpeggio is to simplify the process of getting to data when using the Report Designer. Data from any source, including the RUMBA DRDA can be brought into the Data Access desktop (figure 1). These data components can be wrapped up with easy-to-understand names and pre-defined queries to simplify the report creation process.

[Figure 1 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Also included with the Data Access tool is the Data …