Accessing multiple data sources

[rudesyle]

Is it possible in Crystal 9 to access multiple data sources in one report (SQL,Excel, and Access) ? I've tried it a couple of times, get a warning message, and then when I try to use the fields from more than one data source, Crystal Developer freeezes, and then shuts down.

 

[kwalters135]

In Bischoff's book CR .Net, he states that CR does not have the ability to generate SQL statements for 2 different types of databases in a single report. He suggests using sub reports if possible, or try linking to the other db's from the db itself. Although all db vendors claim to adhere to the SQL standard, there are apparently subtle differences between them. As a last resort, try linking between only string type fields.

 

[synapsevampire]

Link (not import) all of the data sources into the MS Access database, the create an Access query as the reports data source.

This will prove faster and allow for reusability of the data.

As you probably know, those using Excel as a data source are causing additional work because it's not a literally defined data source, so fields that are seemingly of one type may be exposed as another data type.

Saying that you need to access multiple data sources isn't clear enough, do you mean that you're intending to have appended data from these sources, or that they're being joined?

Anyway, a blurb such as yours rarely conveys the information required for a solution, but I'd push you towards creating the data source within the database.

In general, post:
Example data
Expected output

It's also possible to import the data into SQL Server and report off of it all there.

-k