Hello Brucey,
1. Question is not quiet clear... but... If I understood your question correct - you got SQL server somewhere in the middle of nowhere and you want to do some reporting from it.
In this case you should do the following:
1.1 Create SQlConnection and open it (more info here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.sqlconnection.aspx[
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1.2 Open that connection and create a data reader to read data which is required for your reporting. More info here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.sqldatareader.aspx[
^]
I had very similar tasks before so I read all data to generic List<t> and then with LINQ I filtered and created anotherone which I moved into Excel for presentationla purpose.
More about how to do it here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.office.interop.excel.aspx[
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2. Question again not clear - not clear what you have and therefore not clear which is the best way to go.
But if you have all data flowing into SQL Server - then try doing it with a triggers. More about triggers here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.office.interop.excel.aspx[
^]
3. No idea what the question is about. Sorry ;]
4. A database? I thought you have an SQL Server...
Cheers!
Modestas.
P.S.: With all respect mate - please ask detailed questions as I doubt that there are many people keen on babysitting :)