Locking Down Reports

[plarson3]

Using CR 10 Advanced Developer, but not using Crystal Enterprise.

Want to be able to secure/lock down/password protect my .rpt files. Any way to do this? I see the READ ONLY options, but those options can be turned back off by the user.

 

[synapsevampire]

Assuming that you me3an that you have files within a directory/folder in a Windows environment, I think that your question is whether you can make the reports read only.

If a user does NOT have the rights to change the attributes of a folder or it's files, then you can mark them as read only, or lock out people from seeing the folder or the contents.

This isn't a Crystal question, this is a Windows question, and your sys admin should be able to give you permissions to do this and teach you how to use Windows file security. It's fairly straight forward, you just need to allow which users you want in (or roles), and then set each of their security levels.

-k

 

[IdoMillet]

Other than folder protection, there is no such option in Crystal, but you can work your way around it.

In my DataLink Viewer software I allow report developers to generate an rpz file from the rpt file. The rpz file can't be opened in Crystal, but can run just like a regule rpt file in the viewer. One extra level of protection is to block exports of rpz files into rpt files or into report specification format. The combined effect is total protection of your intellectual property in terms of report designs.

You can use the same approach in developing your own application.

Cheers,
- Ido

CUT, Visual CUT, and DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[plarson3]

Would the Java Reporting Component of Crystal, which is what we use, recognize and run your .RPZ files?

You probably know this, but the JRC is the web component of CR10, which will run an existing .RPT file and then display in a web brower format.

 

[Madawc]

You could export, which would allow the users to see the output, and maybe re-analyse it if you exported to Excel. Does this help?

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK)

 

[plarson3]

We use Crystal and the JRC embeddeded as part of a larger application that we deliver to outside clients. The application itself does in fact export the reports to PDF once they are run.

But what I want to prevent though is ability for our clients to pull the report files themselves (.rpt) from the guts of the application and modify them.

 

[kenhamady]

Remember that if you provide ALL of the Export DLLS then they will be able to export to RPT format which gives them the source of the report.

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

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- TEK2(AT)kenhamady.com

 

[IdoMillet]

To answer plarson3's question, no rpz files can only be viewed in DataLink Viewer but, assuming you wish to develop your own solution rather than call my viewer from your application, I suggest you follow the same design approach.

Ken is absolutely correct about the export to rpt files. That's why I indicated above that "one extra level of protection is to block exports of rpz files into rpt files or into report specification format"

hth,
- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com