Crystal Reports Upgrade

[Former Member]

I support a legacy software system that uses CR 8.5 to display reports. The programs work fine as is, but now need to be updated - various resources were hard coded and are moving. Recompiling breaks the report because the viewer - CRViewer.dll won't render the reports on a Windows 7 64 bit OS

So I downloaded and installed version 2016 using the temp 30 license, and pointed my program to the new version of CRViewer.dll. Version 8.5 is still installed and the program is still using CRAXDRT.dll - since it is not included in the 2016 download.

The report was shown in the viewer, but it had what looks like up and down arrow controls all over the place.

So I opened the .rpt file in the new version and saved it. When I run my program now, I get an error - Invalid TLV Record.

Reading through comments here, it seems the only advice is to upgrade to .Net and often there is a link to a Wiki. I'm not able to integrate a .Net application into my application.

I'm not sure what my options are - and how to proceed even if I did write something in .Net. And suggestions would be appreciated.

[Former Member]

Don,

Thanks for the reply. I have seen this Wiki page, and it is not very clear to me as to what I'm supposed to download and install. I have tried CRforVS_13_0_5 but not sure if it was correct - I already have VS 2012 installed.

You stated: "Also, CR for VS, link above, is the Runtime Package for All versions of CR Designer above 2011."and also "on the WIKI page there are 2 App's that you can use to see how its done now."

I do not see these links - can you provide them? I'll need examples on how to rewrite the display programs for these reports in .Net.

[Former Member]

Thanks for the reply. I already have VS 2012 installed, and have seen the Wiki page in your link - but it is not very clear what .exe I'm supposed to download and install.

I have Googled this issue and all links lead to this Wiki page - it is not very clear to me.

I have downloaded CRforVS_13_0_5.exe and installed it, but not sure if this is correct.

Quote: "Also, CR for VS, link above, is the Runtime Package for All versions of CR Designer above 2011". and "on the WIKI page there are 2 App's that you can use to see how its done now."

I do not see these links on the WIKI page.

[Former Member]

I've gotten pretty far along on this - have a test program written. I have opened the old .rpt report file in the IDE to do the set DB command. The report takes a minute or so to load, then when I click on the Database menu, the IDE just hangs. I tried to save the report first, thinking that the IDE will do some kind of upgrade, but it just saves it, and then behaves the same after reopening.

I'm using the newest IDE downloaded the other day with the temp license key. Any ideas? Thanks.

[former_member11696]

Not sure how much more explanation than this to get to the download page:

START HERE: to get to the DOWNLOAD page, click the link below

THIS is a LINK to the download PAGE → Download Crystal Reports developer, for Microsoft Visual Studio

To skip the e-mail log in page here is the direct link: http://www.crystalreports.com/crvs/confirm/

here's the links to the sample app's:

how-to-parameters-in-crystal-reports-for-visual-studio-net

Printing Crystal Reports in .NET

[Former Member]

Don,

Thanks for the reply. I have seen this Wiki page, and it is not very clear to me as to what I'm supposed to download and install. I have tried CRforVS_13_0_5 but not sure if it was correct - I already have VS 2012 installed.

You stated: "Also, CR for VS, link above, is the Runtime Package for All versions of CR Designer above 2011."and also "on the WIKI page there are 2 App's that you can use to see how its done now."

I do not see these links - can you provide them? I'll need examples on how to rewrite the display programs for these reports in .Net.

[former_member11696]

Hi Brian,

Unfortunately there is nothing that will make your old program work now, CR 8.5 is 15+ years old.

The link you are looking for is this:

https://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/BOBJ/Crystal+Reports%2C+Developer+for+Visual+Studio+Downloads

So the problem is CR 8.5 reports are old format, rpt files were updated in version 9. Once you save them in CR 2016 they will no longer open in CR 8.5.

So your next step is to get Visual Studio 2010 -> 2017, install the EXE from the link above ( link to another download page ), install it on your PC after VS is installed and then on the WIKI page there are 2 App's that you can use to see how its done now.

One for Parameters which has DB log on abilities and other cool stuff and another for Printing, which you can merge into the Parameter app.

As for each CR 8.5 report, the DB drivers have changed as well so you need to open each report and Set Location so it updates the DB drivver to the new version.

Oh, and you cannot have CR 8.5 and CR 2016 on the same PC.

Also, CR for VS, link above, is the Runtime Package for All versions of CR Designer above 2011.

Don