Crystal Reports for Enterprise - Upload Parameters by user possible? - or - Handle a large amount of input parameters?

[former_member585876]

Hello Everyone,

I develop some Reports with Crystal Reports for Enterprise currently. Later, these Reports are used within the BI Launchpad by end-users. Now I’m faced with a problem regarding the input of parameters.

One of the reports is separated in two parts. The first part consists data from a bex query- so far so good. However, the second part consists of 70 different data fields provided by the end user. For reasons of data privacy it’s not allowed to store these 70 data fields in a database or DWH.  But we use these parameters to calculate key figures within the report.

Currently, we please the end-users to type in these fields in the input prompt of CR4E. Obviously, this is not a good solution.  Because of this I’m looking for options to make the input of a big number of parameters more easy. Therefore I’m consider some options and will be pleased about your opinion about these:

1) Is there a way to upload a file (e.g. excel, csv, text) while the report is running?

2) Is it possible to customize the SAP Crystal reports input prompt (eg. css, html)?

3) Is it possible to implement an own input prompt to the bi launchpad pass the parameters to the CR4E Report (eg. html, js) ?

4) Or do you know a good way / best practice to handle a large amount of input parameters?

Thank you very much!

Sebastian

[Former Member]

Hi,

you can use Excel spreadsheets or XML  files as input for your reports.

The only question is , what is the difference between an Excel spreadsheet and a Database.

The Excel spreadsheet has to be stored somewhere , so the report can grab it.

Regards Alexander

[former_member585876]

Hi Alexander,

the difference is, that the excel files are stored local on the users computers. We won’t store these critical data on a central db. The idea was, to upload the excel files in the frontend. But i didn’t found a solution for this. Do you know a way to enable end users to upload excel files in the Frontend?

Thank you very much

Sebastian

[Former Member]

No, i don't know of anything like upload excel sheets to the frontend.

For those 70 data fields, can you predefine them in a 'list of values' . Those can be stored with your report, so your users can pick the parameters from a list and they don't have to type them every time? At least that would be take some stress from them.

Regards Alexander

[former_member585876]

Hi Alexander,

I guess, we have to look for another solution. Those 70 Fields are Numbers therefore a List is not a possible. I also talked with colleques and other BO experts and they didn't have an idea. Nevertheless, thank you very much for your help!

Regards Sebastian