Crystal Reports 7 on Windows XP?

[Former Member]

Hi,

I have a VB 6 application that currently runs on NT4 and uses Crystal Reports 7 with approx. 30 reports. We are now in the process of upgrading to Windows XP.

Will we be able to install Crystal Reports 7 on XP?

Will our reports still work on XP?

Will we be able to maintain the code for the existing reports and create new reports under XP?

If the answer to any of the above questions is a 'no', what next higher version should we use if we want to limit the code changes in reports and in the VB 6 application? Would that be version 8.5? I'd rather not move to a '.Net' version. Is it still possible to purchase that versions? Does it have 'official' support on XP?

Regards,

Magnus

[ted_ueda · Accepted solution]

Both Crystal Reports 7 and 8.5 are out of support.

Currently supported Crystal Reports, starting from CR 10, does support XP. However, CR 10 will be out of support by the end of this year.

I'm assuming, since the application is VB6, that you're using the Report Designer Component (RDC) SDK.

Since Visual Basic 6 is also out of support, that SDK is not provided with the latest version of Crystal Reports - Crystal Reports 2008.

The RDC is fully supported with the immediate prior version of Crystal Reports - Crystal Reports XI Release 2.

There are still trial editions (30-day evaluation) for that here:

[http://www.businessobjects.com/product/freetrials.asp|http://www.businessobjects.com/product/freetrials.asp]

Since VB6 is no longer supported by Microsoft, I do recommend seeing if you can upgrade to using the CR.NET SDK.

Sincerely,

Ted Ueda

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Thanks.

What is the migration effort like to move my CR 7 reports to CR XI R2? Would CR upgrade them automatically with no manual effort?

What API changes would I have to make from my VB code to use the upgraded reports?

Any links would be helpful or insights from ppl who might have done this already.

Regards,

Magnus

[former_member184995 · Accepted solution]

You should just be able to open them in CR XI R2 and then save them.

Upgrading an application is another story.

If your app is using the RDC then you can upgrade it, but the database connectivity changed at version 9.

Here is a pdf that explains the connection properties:

http://support.businessobjects.com/communityCS/TechnicalPapers/cr_rdc9_connectionproperties.pdf.asp

Also, manual deployment of RDC applications is no longer supported:

http://technicalsupport.businessobjects.com/KanisaSupportSite/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&ext...

If you are using ocx or crpe then you will have to change your application to use either the RDC , .NET, or Java.

NOTE: RDC no longer exists with CR 2008. You may want to do as Ted said and move to either .NET or Java.

[former_member203619]

For some more info on upgrading to RDC, you can also see this forum post

One again - please note that the RDC is not available in CR 2008 - so you would be limited to using XI R2.

Shawn