Developer Edition

[BettyM]

From what I understand . . . the developer edition allows me to compile my reports and my users would not have to own Crystal Reports to view a report.

Do users need any additional software viewers to see the report? Can the reports be coded to allow for users to put in things like start and end dates for the report?

 

[shaunk]

I wouldn't go down that road if I was you. The interface to the compiled reports is unappealing and a whole lot of hassle to setup.
Crystal has its own Web Publishing technology but if you want something simpler and easy to setup follow this link to Recrystallise --

http://www.recrystallize.com/merchant/products.htm

They have a product called CVIEW which is cheap for a five user licence and will meet your needs. There is also bunch of other products for report scheduling / exporting etc. You can trial any of the products for free.

Another third party vendor that brings richness to the Crystal Product is to be found at

http://www.christianstevenson.com

 

[dgillz]

Unless you desire a web-based report, which you did not mention, I disagree with Shaunk wholeheartedly. The compiled crystal report will include parameter fields such as form and to dates, if you put them into your report.

You will need to download the crystal report compiling and distribution expert as this does not ship with the product anymore, and you must have the developer edition to do this.

If you need to schedule these reports rather than having a human being run them, there are several good 3rd party tools to do this, please see faq149-1479 for some options on doing this. Software Sales, Training and Support for Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
dgilsdorf@mchsi.com

 

[GJParker]

You need to be aware that the crystal report compiling and distribution expert referred to by dgillz is only for use with Version 8 and 8.5 and not for use with version 9 reports.

If you are using either of these versions then I would agree with dgillz, all the functionality you have asked for is included in the crystal report compiling and distribution expert. and in answer to yuor original question NO your users do not need crystal reports installed and no additional software or viewers are required.

Good Luck Gary Parker
Systems Support Analyst

 

[dgillz]

To add a slight correction to what Gary posted, You can you the report compiler all the way back to at least version 6, possibly farther, and you did not need to have the developer's edition to do this until v8.5. He is correct in that v9 and forward you will be unable to compile reports.

Even then, you can either make a VB executable of your cryatal report or purchase a 3rd party report viewer. Check out

http://www.milletsoftware.com

and

http://www.chelsetech.co.nz

for some info on report viewers. There are others out there as well.

Software Sales, Training and Support for Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
dgilsdorf@mchsi.com

 

[kenhamady]

I have a list of all of the viewers available on my web site.
Also allow me to add a clarification.

RPTs can't run themselves so there is always a viewer engine installed to run the reports. If you use the compiled reports option, and give reports to someone who doesn't have Crystal Reports, they will need the distributioni engine, a small (7MB-9MB) set of files to run the reports and this needs to be installed with the reports. Of course, all of the 3rd party viewer programs will install an engine of some kind.

If you know a VB programmer, another option is to create your own viewer in VB. 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