SQL data display on computer without SQL database connections

I'm new to ignition and database networking so I apologize if this is a dumb question. Right now engineers need to run a SQL query through Minitab/Excel and copy charts over to a powerpoint daily, then send that to management. We're looking for a way to automate this so that we don't have to make daily powerpoints and management can just open a browser to see the data.

The problem is that management group does not have access to SQL. I know that Ignition can connect to a SQL database for data, but after creating an application, can it be run on a computer on that does not have a SQL developer or viewer?

If Ignition can't do this, does anyone know of a different way? Our engineers are spending to much time producing charts :sweat_smile:

Yes this is more than possible.
The gateway is the only place that the actual connection to the SQL Data is needed.
You can then use either perspective or vision to create the application that displays the data.

You can also do reports and have then emailed out as PDF to whoever would need them as well.

I'm assuming to use vision or perspective that the managers computer would need that installed on it. I'm not sure IT would go for that many licenses.

Could the reports be save to a network location? And can they be set up to auto generate say at 8am every morning?

Vision and Perspective modules are normally licensed as unlimited.
You can see that on the gateway config web page, under config-licensing.

Yes reports can save to file locations, by default the Ignition gateway service can only save to the local hard drive of the gateway though.
If you need to save to network shares, you will need to configure the gateway to run as a user with network access rights.

Yes reports are easily scheduled either using the Reporting Schedule feature inside the report, or by doing a scheduled event on the gateway itself.

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There are many ways to skin a cat.

They don't need a client activation to receive emailed reports on a scheduled interval. You just need reporting module. The report can be scheduled to email itself to groups of people on a schedule. It sounds like your data is in SQL so you would basically just query the data into a report and set the report on a schedule to email out.

Another approach would be to do it with visualization screens in either Perspective or Vision where the users pull up data AdHoc based on their specifications. Perspective wouldn't require them to install any software. They could just open it in a modern web browser (not Internet Exploder).

Another approach would be to build your own in gateway scoped scripts. You save money on activations and spend more money in time and technical debt (I wouldn't recommend this approach).

I feel like reporting module is probably the approach that best matches what you're looking for.

EDIT:
I should mention that there is a learning curve to the Reporting Module. I would recommend using the trial mode to try it out before buying it.

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