Confused About Compiled Reports 3

[BettyM]

We purchased CR 9 Developers edition to compile reports for our users. We own 8 Standard, too. Both will work for creating the reports we need.

My understanding was that Standard didn't compile so we upgraded.

Here is what we want to do:

1. Compile reports and distribute to users with the ability to answer prompts

2. Use something like VB to prompt for parameters like start and end date for the compiled report.

Now I am reading in the forum that 9 doesn't compile and that prompts in compiled reports is not possible . . . so not sure what to do or how to do what I need to do.

Help.

Sorry for the dumb questions.

 

[Jacque]

BettyM,
Crystal v8 & v8.5 compiler and report distribution expert can be downloaded from the Crystal Decisions website

http://support.crystaldecisions.com.

Go to the 'Download Files and Updates' and search for: SCR8_Distr_Expert*

Compiled Reports and the Report Distribution Expert are only supported in the Developer Edition of Crystal Reports.

For more info, check out KB articles c2006523 and c2011739 on Crystal Decisions website.

Sorry but I can't help you with the VB portion.
TGIF
Jacque

 

[SurfingGecko]

One very important thing to remember is that the Crystal Reports Report Distribution Expert that shipped in version 7 of Crystal is no longer shipping as a part of the product.

It was available as a download for version 8 and 8.5, but 9 will not support it.

If I may be so bold, you may want to have a look at our Crystal Ease product as a solution.

Cheers
SurfingGecko

http://www.surfinggeckosoftware.com

 

[kenhamady]

If you want a viewer, like the one you get with the distribution feature, I have a list of a dozen or so on my web site.

If you want to create your own client based viewer, you can do it with VB. The code required isn't very complicated, but getting it to install cleanly and handle databse security might takes some coding. That is why these viewers are pretty handy.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com

 

[JEX]

Hi there,

Why do you still want to compile? Your other option is to use RAS. That way you can save all the reports in a central directory and your users can access these reports via a web browser. They don't need any dlls or any client software. Easier for you to maintain. Any parameters can be designed in the report and users will be automatically prompted. Just an idea.

As noted above, the Distribution Expert is no longer supported for v9.

cheers...J

 

[kenhamady]

Jex,

With RAS, if you want 4 people to be able to hit the refresh button at the same, you have to pay $25,000. Just getting started with a reasonable level of performance costs about $2,000, and there is nothing in between.

To do the same thing with client based viewers costs about $100. RAS is for when you need WEB based delivery and is not really a replacement for client based viewing.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com