Topic: Need language advice

[PJYelton]

I am a little behind when it comes to programming languages, really only been working in Java UI and SQL the last 5 years or so.  My department is looking for me to create a little automated tool that executes nightly, runs stored procedures from two different database servers, combines the data from the queries and prints the results into an Excel sheet.

Now I am positive with a bit of research this is all doable in Java but I was wondering if anyone knew a language that might be better suited for this task?  No doubt there are many languages better at running SQL Server queries, but one that also easily works with Excel?  Java is such overkill when it comes to stuff like this.

[Rob]

You could probably do that in vb.net in a fairly short time. The excel stuff would certainly be a doddle.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Noun   1.   doddle - an easy task
child's play, cinch, duck soup, piece of cake, pushover, breeze, walkover, picnic, snap - any undertaking that is easy to do; "marketing this product will be no picnic"

[Rob]

Noun   1.   doddle - an easy task
child's play, cinch, duck soup, piece of cake, pushover, breeze, walkover, picnic, snap - any undertaking that is easy to do; "marketing this product will be no picnic"

Ha, yeah. Sorry.

[Perspective]

C# integrates well with SQL server and Excel. I did that once when I was working at MS.

[Perspective]

... and if you know Java, C# is easy. It's basically just java with extra capital letters.

[PJYelton]

Thanks for the help, I've done very little in C# but you are right, it seems easy to pick up after Java.  If it handles Excel then I am sold, from what I can tell it is a pain and rather bug prone to manipulate Excel in Java.

[ober]

I'm always going to tell you to go with PHP, just because it's fast and easy.  I've used the shit out of this library with excellent results: http://phpexcel.codeplex.com/

[webwhy]

what relational database are you using?  if it's MS SQL Server >= 2005, look into SSIS.  it's designed for tasks like you described and is extensible using any .NET language.

[PJYelton]

I don't know anything about PHP but I'm all for learning new languages so I'll look into it.  I've used a little bit of SSIS but only to move data from one DB to another on a schedule, never considered using it for something like this.  Lot of options now, this is great, thanks guys!