Crystal Reports 2016 - ODBC connection seems good but...

[Former Member]

The ODBC connections test successfully...but it seems to connect to just one DB and I cannot switch it to another, it used to prompt (this is a new pc install and I know very little about CR. Thank you in advance!

Kim

[former_member430833]

Hi Kim,

If you can, would you consider using OLE DB with your data source to replace the ODBC connection?

Here's a video which can walk you through the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KbvKQ5WOMc&t=127s

I hope that helps.

Edwin

[Former Member]

Edwin,

I will look into this as a possibility but can you tell me the difference between this and what we are using now: advantage for switching? just trying to understand...thank you!

regards,

Kim

[former_member430833]

Using OLE DB instead of ODBC could be the resolution to a recent update from Microsoft which accidentally interfered with Excel and Access data connections as sources for applications like Crystal Reports: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dataaccesstechnologies/2017/10/18/unexpected-error-from-external-da...

Microsoft has since issued a fix. I am unsure if your reports are affected by that update, but the OLE DB suggestion could be a fix.

[former_member292966]

Hi Kim,

If they are doing this in Crystal Reports, they need to go to Database | Change Datasource Location. They will need to make a new connection to the new database and have the report use that.

Simply changing the connection information won't work.

Good luck,

Brian

[Former Member]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for replying. I understand what you are saying, I have tried that to no avail, not sure what I am doing wrong. And ironically, changing the information, as stated, does work and it is how this user has always done it on her old computer (which is what we are still using to run reports). 😞 Did you see my additional post regarding more information below?

Thank you again for replying.

Kim

[former_member292966]

Hi Kim,

What database are they using?

If they created a new report and saved it, do you know if they are able to change databases on it?

It's strange that the report can't do a Set Datasource properly. But I've had cases where something in the report was stuck and I only found a way around it by starting from scratch. So strange is not an uncommon occurrence.

Good luck,

Brian

[Former Member]

more information: they pull a report and then they open a report for a different DB and when they select to refresh the data a prompt comes up requesting a password - this is where the user changes the port number and DB name and therefore it then grabs data from a different database. this is using it incorrectly but it justifies the means so the question for this user is how do I make it prompt for a password for each database? it must be possible...anyone please??

[Former Member]

this is the prompt we get on the old pc...