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Tod Brannen
14-Sep-2005, 04:40 PM
Greetings,
Our client has CR XI development version. I am just learning it and
trying to stay one step ahead of them. I can't see this info anywhere so I
will ask here. How do I run a CR XI report and not bring up the IDE? If I
double click on the .rpt it opens the development system IDE. I would like
it if that did not happen.
Also, I added a parameter for a begin date and end date which works fine,
but the prompt dialog fills the entire screen for just two small date
entries at the top. Is there a way to size the prompt?

Thanks,

Tod Brannen

Free Agent
16-Sep-2005, 10:48 PM
Well, I don't feel so bad not knowing this stuff, if none of you know
either.:-)

Tod Brannen

David Martinko
16-Sep-2005, 10:58 PM
Not sure what you are saying... did you want to compile the report into an
exe so it doesn't open in the IDE (by which you mean Crystal Reports).?

--
David Martinko
Redeemed Software
248-535-7495
RedeemedSoftware(SHIFT+2)Hotmail(PERIOD)com
www.redeemedsoftware.com

"Tod Brannen" <tbrannen@ate.net> wrote in message
news:skJZqTXuFHA.3396@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> Greetings,
> Our client has CR XI development version. I am just learning it and
> trying to stay one step ahead of them. I can't see this info anywhere so I
> will ask here. How do I run a CR XI report and not bring up the IDE? If I
> double click on the .rpt it opens the development system IDE. I would like
> it if that did not happen.
> Also, I added a parameter for a begin date and end date which works fine,
> but the prompt dialog fills the entire screen for just two small date
> entries at the top. Is there a way to size the prompt?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tod Brannen
>
>

Free Agent
18-Sep-2005, 10:29 PM
Hi David,
I don't know what I need to do. But if I can compile it into an exe
(Crystal exe?) then yes, I guess that is what I want. It just does not seem
right that a user can't just RUN the report, but has to open the report
developer. I admit ( again) that I don't know much about Crystal yet.

Tod Brannen

David Martinko
18-Sep-2005, 11:02 PM
Rats! I did a quick search and I no longer see an option for compiling a
report. I remember this was an option, but it may have been all the way back
to WinQL or Seagate Crystal Reports... I'm not sure when this was removed,
but it was an option years ago. Sorry to get your hopes up.

You could create a simple VDF program that accepts a commandline argument...
Assign it to open RPT files... the when the user clicks on it, it launces
the report... A simple SDI using a dialog and no main or clientarea and a
simple report object. Easy to do if you just control all the prompting from
Crystal Reports... then no VDF screens needed.

Using the CrystalReport class, it would look something like this...

CrystalViewer.src
Use CrystalReport.pkg
Object oCrystalReport is a CrystalReport
End_Object
Procedure Loading
String sReportName
cmdline sReportName
If (sReportName = "") abort
Set Report_Name of oCrystalReport to sReportName
Send Run_Report of oCrystalReport
End_Procedure
Send Loading
// note: you will need to use a dialog to get the preview window. Crystal
preview is not modal by default and it will exit the preview when the last
line is executed of this program which aborts it. You don't want to leave it
open and hidden (eats up resources if they run a lot).
Abort
--
David Martinko
Redeemed Software
248-535-7495
RedeemedSoftware(SHIFT+2)Hotmail(PERIOD)com
www.redeemedsoftware.com

Marco
18-Sep-2005, 11:16 PM
Tod,

Crystal, used to support a compile of a .rpt to an .exe.

Now they are trying to sell Crystal Enterprise, which is providing a
website (intranet), where users can login, then see only reports they
are allowed to run.
Not only can the users run the reports, they get them in their browser,
with drill down, basic layout changes etc.

All in all, very very cool.

They even have a free version for limited connections/users (check licence)

But...
If you go beyond the free version limitations, the costs are enourmous
(like 15k or so)

What is much more preferable I believe for reports that are not
integrated in your main app, is creating another small VDF program for
calling the crystal reports.

ps: Must thing for Crystal developers to know about:
* Sub reports
* Hiding of sections (conditional)
* Group 'Extra' parameters

Cheers,
Marco

Tod Brannen wrote:
> Greetings,
> Our client has CR XI development version. I am just learning it and
> trying to stay one step ahead of them. I can't see this info anywhere so I
> will ask here. How do I run a CR XI report and not bring up the IDE? If I
> double click on the .rpt it opens the development system IDE. I would like
> it if that did not happen.
> Also, I added a parameter for a begin date and end date which works fine,
> but the prompt dialog fills the entire screen for just two small date
> entries at the top. Is there a way to size the prompt?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tod Brannen
>
>

Tod Brannen
19-Sep-2005, 10:19 AM
Marco and David,
I thought of using a VDF program to call the report. However, this
particular user does not have any VDF licenses. We would have to sell them
on it. I was looking for a way that it could be done in Crystal. Can't
reports be deployed on your intra-net? I thought I read that somewhere. I
will have to do some more research.

Thanks,

Tod Brannen

David Martinko
19-Sep-2005, 10:49 AM
I can create a program for you. Contact me privately if you are interested.
--
David Martinko
Redeemed Software
248-535-7495
RedeemedSoftware(SHIFT+2)Hotmail(PERIOD)com
www.redeemedsoftware.com

phvwijk
19-Sep-2005, 02:01 PM
To all,

Crystal 8.5 was the last version to create an exe for running a report. This
was not officialy supported. But worked in most cases.

Crystal enterprices is delivered as a 5 named user for free with pro or
development CRXI

For a 5 concurrent user crystal enterprise you have to fork out 7500 US
which is comparable to others

You can write your own rpt launcher in Vdf. In vdf11.1 there is sort of
sample how to do that.

You can buy several RPT launchers on the market. Some pretty advanced with
scheduling features.
The following is a nice one but there are many more.
http://www.milletsoftware.com/Visual_CUT.htm

Peter H. van Wijk
X-Organize Consultancy N.V.

"Marco Kuipers" <marco.kuipers@nci.com.au> wrote in message
news:lNK0zDNvFHA.2172@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> Tod,
>
> Crystal, used to support a compile of a .rpt to an .exe.
>
> Now they are trying to sell Crystal Enterprise, which is providing a
> website (intranet), where users can login, then see only reports they are
> allowed to run.
> Not only can the users run the reports, they get them in their browser,
> with drill down, basic layout changes etc.
>
> All in all, very very cool.
>
> They even have a free version for limited connections/users (check
> licence)
>
> But...
> If you go beyond the free version limitations, the costs are enourmous
> (like 15k or so)
>
> What is much more preferable I believe for reports that are not integrated
> in your main app, is creating another small VDF program for calling the
> crystal reports.
>
> ps: Must thing for Crystal developers to know about:
> * Sub reports
> * Hiding of sections (conditional)
> * Group 'Extra' parameters
>
> Cheers,
> Marco
>
> Tod Brannen wrote:
>> Greetings,
>> Our client has CR XI development version. I am just learning it and
>> trying to stay one step ahead of them. I can't see this info anywhere so
>> I
>> will ask here. How do I run a CR XI report and not bring up the IDE? If I
>> double click on the .rpt it opens the development system IDE. I would
>> like
>> it if that did not happen.
>> Also, I added a parameter for a begin date and end date which works fine,
>> but the prompt dialog fills the entire screen for just two small date
>> entries at the top. Is there a way to size the prompt?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Tod Brannen
>>

Ido Millet
19-Sep-2005, 06:41 PM
Hi Peter,

Thanks for the positive words about my Visual CUT software, but that would
be an overkill in this case. For just a viewer, my DataLink Viewer is a
better & cheaper choice: http://www.milletsoftware.com/DataLink_Viewer.htm

For a comprehensive list of 3rd-party viewers, see:
http://www.kenhamady.com/bookmarks.html

Tod, I'm sure that David could create a VDF viewer for you VERY quickly...

Cheers,
- Ido

"Peter H. van Wijk" <phvwijk@x-organize.com> wrote in message
news:4Um16YVvFHA.1276@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> You can buy several RPT launchers on the market. Some pretty advanced with
> scheduling features.
> The following is a nice one but there are many more.
> http://www.milletsoftware.com/Visual_CUT.htm
>
> Peter H. van Wijk
> X-Organize Consultancy N.V.

Tod Brannen
20-Sep-2005, 03:45 PM
Ido,
Your viewer looks very good and I want to give it a try. Seems
reasonably priced also. I have my own VDF report launcher (very primitive),
but as I said this customer does not use VDF and I probably would not be
able to sell it to them just to view reports. But maybe I am wrong.

Tod Brannen

Mark Powers
20-Sep-2005, 04:29 PM
Tod:
I had the privlidge of going to Ido's class at the conference in June.
Adn based on that, I would recommend any of his tools also! Very good
stuff.
Mark Powers

Tod Brannen wrote:
> Ido,
> Your viewer looks very good and I want to give it a try. Seems
> reasonably priced also. I have my own VDF report launcher (very primitive),
> but as I said this customer does not use VDF and I probably would not be
> able to sell it to them just to view reports. But maybe I am wrong.
>
> Tod Brannen
>
>

phvwijk
20-Sep-2005, 08:23 PM
Hi Ido,

Well pricing is always relative.

1) Vdf does has a runtime fee per user.
2) Creating even a simple viewer will cost some time.
3) Depends what you use it for but maybe pushing the reports is all what
is needed and using visual cut could be the cheapest option.
4) 10 viewers will also have its price tag and you forget the time needed
to install 10 workstation if they do not have the facilities to automate it.

So visual cut is not so bad option ;-)


Peter H. van Wijk
X-Organize Consultancy N.V.



"Ido Millet" <ixm7@psu.edu> wrote in message
news:JuYjaOXvFHA.3732@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> Hi Peter,
>
> Thanks for the positive words about my Visual CUT software, but that would
> be an overkill in this case. For just a viewer, my DataLink Viewer is a
> better & cheaper choice:
> http://www.milletsoftware.com/DataLink_Viewer.htm
>
> For a comprehensive list of 3rd-party viewers, see:
> http://www.kenhamady.com/bookmarks.html
>
> Tod, I'm sure that David could create a VDF viewer for you VERY quickly...
>
> Cheers,
> - Ido
>
> "Peter H. van Wijk" <phvwijk@x-organize.com> wrote in message
> news:4Um16YVvFHA.1276@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
>> You can buy several RPT launchers on the market. Some pretty advanced
>> with scheduling features.
>> The following is a nice one but there are many more.
>> http://www.milletsoftware.com/Visual_CUT.htm
>>
>> Peter H. van Wijk
>> X-Organize Consultancy N.V.
>
>

Ido Millet
25-Sep-2005, 07:27 PM
Tod,

I only noticed your message now because I visit this discussion list only
sporadically.
I emailed you the download instructions.

Cheers,
- Ido

"Tod Brannen" <tbrannen@ate.net> wrote in message
news:aGthERivFHA.1896@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> Ido,
> Your viewer looks very good and I want to give it a try. Seems
> reasonably priced also. I have my own VDF report launcher (very
> primitive),
> but as I said this customer does not use VDF and I probably would not be
> able to sell it to them just to view reports. But maybe I am wrong.

Ido Millet
25-Sep-2005, 07:34 PM
Hi Peter,

All good points. I took the requirement of being able to RUN Crystal
reports at face value. As you know, I believe that at least 85% of users
prefer to have report content delivered to them on a periodic & exception
basis ("Push" mode) rather than run ("pull" mode) reports themselves. If
the "push" mode is acceptable to Tod, I agree that Visual CUT is a simpler,
cheaper, and more powerful choice... :o)

Regards,
- Ido

"Peter H. van Wijk" <phvwijk@x-organize.com> wrote in message
news:NIevvBlvFHA.2172@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
> Hi Ido,
>
> Well pricing is always relative.
>
> 1) Vdf does has a runtime fee per user.
> 2) Creating even a simple viewer will cost some time.
> 3) Depends what you use it for but maybe pushing the reports is all
> what is needed and using visual cut could be the cheapest option.
> 4) 10 viewers will also have its price tag and you forget the time
> needed to install 10 workstation if they do not have the facilities to
> automate it.
>
> So visual cut is not so bad option ;-)
>
>
> Peter H. van Wijk
> X-Organize Consultancy N.V.
>
>
>
> "Ido Millet" <ixm7@psu.edu> wrote in message
> news:JuYjaOXvFHA.3732@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
>> Hi Peter,
>>
>> Thanks for the positive words about my Visual CUT software, but that
>> would be an overkill in this case. For just a viewer, my DataLink Viewer
>> is a better & cheaper choice:
>> http://www.milletsoftware.com/DataLink_Viewer.htm
>>
>> For a comprehensive list of 3rd-party viewers, see:
>> http://www.kenhamady.com/bookmarks.html
>>
>> Tod, I'm sure that David could create a VDF viewer for you VERY
>> quickly...
>>
>> Cheers,
>> - Ido
>>
>> "Peter H. van Wijk" <phvwijk@x-organize.com> wrote in message
>> news:4Um16YVvFHA.1276@dacmail.dataaccess.com...
>>> You can buy several RPT launchers on the market. Some pretty advanced
>>> with scheduling features.
>>> The following is a nice one but there are many more.
>>> http://www.milletsoftware.com/Visual_CUT.htm
>>>
>>> Peter H. van Wijk
>>> X-Organize Consultancy N.V.
>>
>>
>
>