title: I need to code a dynamic report builder in ASP.NET, where should I start?
body: <p>I've been tasked with creating a dynamic report builder to extend our current product that should allow our users to configure with relative ease a useful report drawing data from what they've inputted into the system. Currently we customize these reports manually, and this process involves a developer (me) taking the requirements of the report (fields, aggregate totals, percentages, etc) and publishing the results as a relatively interactive page that allows for the ability to 'drill down' for more information in the record rows, etc. </p>
  
  <p>The reports are not extremely complicated, but they're involved enough that programmatically generating these reports doesn't seem possible. I feel like creating an interface to allow the users to customize the look of the report shouldn't be too difficult, though involved in and of itself. Where I am at a loss is how to create an interface that will allow users who have absolutely no 'programming' literacy the ability to easily generate the SQL queries that will pull the information they need. </p>
  
  <p>In fact, they need to be able to create these queries and access the bowels of their inputted data without ever being aware of what they're really doing. I feel for this to work as required, the generation of the report has to be as indistinguishable from magic as possible. The user should be able to drag and drop what he/she needs from sets of possible data and magically produce an report.</p>
  
  <p>I'm up for the challenge of course, but I really don't know where to start. Once I get the gears moving, resolving individual issues will be 'easy' ( well actually more like part of the process), but getting off the ground has been challenging and frustrating. If anyone can offer me a direction to search in, I'm not afraid of putting in the hours. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to some positive suggestions. </p>