Lasse:

>I understand on you that you _at least_ need VisDocs together with TX Control.

Depends. I don't. I have all of my document processing running from a document processing server. So, I hand off all my requirements to the server where I have Word, VisDocs, Netword Faxing etc installed and it all works like a charm.

>But thats in the cheapest version $638. It then really has to be good!

Depends. As I said, I think TX is expensive.

>The problem with Word as RTF generator is that you cann't be sure your costumers has it

Word is a great RTF generator. As to customers having it, well, that's another issue. My business runs my software and as such, I am not selling software to customers. So, this is not a concern for me personally.

>It takes time to start -

I hardly notice the time taken to instantiate Word on the box I run it on (Windows NT, twin Pentiums 890Mhz Dell Poweredge 2400 512Mgb ram).

>What happens in next version of Word??

Well, since Word 97 (I think), the Printout method has been consistent and that is mainly the method I call. So, I don't think the next version of Word troubles me. Anyhow, I am happy with Word 2000 and therefore, I have no plans to upgrade just yet <s>.

>When you deliver the tools you know what's delivered...

As I said, that's a different story when you are commercially shipping apps.

>What do you think of VisDocs??

I like it very much. I like the fact that using Word as its output mechanism, I can process my output to a printer, save it as RTF, use the Word "SaveAs" method and save it as a Word document and therefore e-mail, Fax it and so on. VisDocs has some RTF restrictions in that is more generally supports the standard RTF implementation rather than the MS/Word RTF standard. However, TX supports even less of the MS RTF standard so, go figure.

>It seems that I have to begin there

Well, it would not be a bad place to start. I certainly think that for report writing, you would be better of with VisDocs as a start. However, there may well still be better report writers available depending on your requirements. Like I said, Crystal, ABC Reports, Stonefield, R+R and so on.

>perhaps ad the TX Control.

Makes sense to do this after evaluating VisDocs.

HTH