Changes to rpt file not recognised

[Former Member]

Post Author: annedonnelly

CA Forum: General

Hi,I've been asked to help a company whose software supplier is being a bit awkward. The software is a stock control package and some of the reports are created using Crystal.They want to make some minor changes to the reports - moving fields about, changing labels, etc. The supplier told them to purchase Crystal v10, told them where the reports are and said to make the changes required and save them in the appropriate folder.We tried all of that yesterday with no success. Although we made obvious changes to a report the changes weren't displayed when the report was printed by the stock control system. Is the stock control system not using the .RPT file? Should we be saving the report in another format? I tried removing the .RPT file temporarily and the stock control system was still happy to print the report so I suspect it's either compiled into the executable or it's another file altogther.We tried all the obvious things like restarting the stock control software (even rebooting the machine). We weren't able to preview the report in Crystal as the data source (an XML file) is apparently created at runtime. I used Crystal many years ago but have no experience with recent versions.Any hints would be welcome.ThanksAnne

[Former Member]

Post Author: annedonnelly

CA Forum: General

Hi again,Sorry I didn't think it was relevant what the stock control system is - I didn't expect anyone to know the intimate details of that (it's actually DutyMaster from Red Prairie and is running as an executable. I've no idea what it's developed in).I was mostly concerned whether when changing a report I was supposed to compile the .rpt file into another format that would be picked by the system. From what you're saying that's not the case. I have checked and these are the only .rpt files on the PC. I did remove the one which we'd been told was the delivery note we wanted to change (and looks identical to the output) but the system didn't complain. The next time I visit will be when they have a salesman from the supplier on site so I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible in advance. Thanks for your helpAnne

[Former Member]

Post Author: rickcf

CA Forum: General

Since the supplier told them where the reports are, you modified (and even moved) them and the program still found the reports then I would definitly say you are not changing the right reports. No matter what the supplier says. I would search the drive for other versions of the report or any rpt files.

Since you are dealing with info relied upon from a supplier are you sure you changed the right report or did they tell you the wrong report? I would move all rpt reports to a safe location, run the program and report and see what blows up and see which report it was looking for (hopefully the program will tell you). If it does not blow up and all rpt reports are removed then I would assume it is in the exe. Obviously you have to be careful with this approch because you have to put back what you move.

[Former Member]

Post Author: synapsevampire

CA Forum: General

"Is the stock control system not using the .RPT file? Should we be saving the report in another format? I tried removing the .RPT file temporarily and the stock control system was still happy to print the report so I suspect it's either compiled into the executable or it's another file altogther."

You don't even tell us the name of the software package, yet you expect us to respond intelligently about its inner workings?

I think that you've taken all of the right steps, you seem knowledgable about software. What I would do is a search of the machine for all RPT files. You don't bother to mention HOW this app launches reports either, is it browser based, a Windows program, and idea of the language or the API used?

Do you know how to add in new reports? You might be able to delete the old ones and then publish a new one.

If you require further assistance, please include information about the application.

-k