Upgrade from crystal report 8.5 to crystal report 2011

[Former Member]

Hi All,

Currently we are using crystal report 8.5 (PEAPI and dictionary files) (with VB6) to generate historical data for our product. Reports can have millions of records. We are using 2-tier architecture ( our client resides on windows machine and database

- Oracle10g dedicated server- resides on linux server).

We are planning to upgrade it to CR2011(with .NET)

My understanding is :

Crystal report designed in SAP Crystal Report 2011/SAP Crystal Reports(version for Visual Studio 2010)/.NET SDK for CR2011 and developed in VS2010 will use Crystal Reports(version for Visual Studio 2010) runtime. Please comment.

Is there any way to use PE APIs in Crystal report 2011 ? If not which is the best way to upgrade ?

Please comment.

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Print Engine APIs were retired in version 9 of Crystal Reports (that was in 2002). At this time you will have to rewrite the application using CRVS2010 if you want to use VS2010.

For more details re. history of CR SDKs see the blog [Short history and resources for Crystal Reports Software Developer Kits (SDK)|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/17870] [original link is broken] [original link is broken];.

For more information on what is currently available see the blog [Crystal Reports Developer Solutions - Flexible Options for Developers|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/18628] [original link is broken] [original link is broken];.

Ludek

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/SAPCRNetSup

Got Enhancement ideas? Try the [SAP Idea Place|https://ideas.sap.com/community/products_and_solutions/crystalreports]

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Ludek.It helps me lot.

If we develop our application in VS2010 using CRVS2010 then upgrade it to CR2011 full version.

Is there any improvement in crystal report viewer like more export options,context menu in left panel (like we have in crystal report designer) ?

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

CR 2011 and CRVS2010 should be pretty well equivalent. Also, CR 2011 does not include any SDK as CRVS2010 takes care of that.

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Lukes. Crystal report viewer control which comes with CRVS2010 has very less export format and no destination options. It is not as poweful as what we have in Crystal report designer preview.

so what is the way to fix it ? Do we need to purchase any third party control or write code for export formats ?

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Not sure which viewer you are using, should be CR.Windows.Form and in code using RAS ( Report Application Server ) you'll get these options which are now controllable by you to allow all or just some:

private void ViewReport_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    rptClientDoc = rpt.ReportClientDocument;
    //crystalReportViewer1.ShowProgressAnimation(false);
    crystalReportViewer1.ShowGroupTreeButton = false;
    crystalReportViewer1.EnableDrillDown = false;
    //rpt.Refresh();
    crystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = rpt;
    // next line causes a delay due to the engine having to go to the last page.
    //rpt.FormatEngine.GetLastPageNumber(new ReportPageRequestContext());


// set up the format export types:
int myFOpts = (int)(
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RptFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.PdfFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RptrFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.XLSXFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.CsvFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.EditableRtfFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelRecordFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RtfFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.WordFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.XmlFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelFormat |
    CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelRecordFormat);
    //CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.NoFormat); // show no export types
    //int myFOpts = (int)(CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.AllFormats);

crystalReportViewer1.AllowedExportFormats = myFOpts;

...

Only change is the Excel Export formats have changed, and no option to use the old Excel types available in CR 8.5. Search Kbase for Exporting to Excel, there is a great article on how to optimize your reports for best output.

Don

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Also, see the blog [Export file formats for SAP Crystal Reports for VS 2010|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/23179] [original link is broken] [original link is broken];

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Don.

I am using CrystalDecisions.Windows.Forms.CrystalReportViewer control.

Issue here is :

In Crystal report 8.5, PDF,CSV,RPT,Excel,ODBC,Paginated,Record Styles,RTTF,Text, Word,XML formats and Application,Disk file,Exchange Folder, Lotud Domino, MAPI destinations are supported. In CR2011 crystal report viewer, less export formats and only single destination is supported.

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

I'm a bit confused

CR 8.5                                  CRVS2010

 PDF                                      check
CSV                                      check
RPT                                       check
Excel                                     check
ODBC                                    Never was available at runtime (You really need this?)
Paginated                             You really need this?
Record Styles                      You really need this?
RTF                                       check
Text                                      check
Word                                    check
XML                                      check

Lotus Domino ehh? Is that still used?

Re. Mapi, see [this|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/12157] [original link is broken] [original link is broken]; blog for your options.

E.g.; what is the actual issues here?

Ludek

Edited by: Ludek Uher on Nov 10, 2011 7:39 AM

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

They are still available just reorganized into different headers.

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RptFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.PdfFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RptrFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.XLSXFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.CsvFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.EditableRtfFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelRecordFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.RtfFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.WordFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.XmlFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelFormat |

CrystalDecisions.Shared.ViewerExportFormats.ExcelRecordFormat);

Plus you get the new RPTR to lock the report.

Are you programmatically setting the exports or just using the Export button in the viewer? If you are using just the viewer then that is as is. Work around is to replace our export button with your own export button.

I don't recall CR 8.5 allowing for multiple export destinations at the same time. But if it was then you will have to create your own export button and export UI to allow your users to select multiple destinations.

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Don and Ludek.

I am using defaul export button. I am planning to implement work-around.

1. To add export button.

We need to write code for advance exporting.(To add forms for export format & destination and export options for each formats. so more development time will be needed to migrate reports from 8.5 to CR2011. Does SAP provide any paid control to view crysatl reports ? Please comment

2. Use ActiveXViewer

Can we use ActiveXViewer in our code ?

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Does SAP provide any paid control to view crysatl reports ?

- No it does not. No such thing...

Can we use ActiveXViewer in our code ?

- No you cannot. You are not licensed to use it. Nobody is. It is only included for internal purposes (e.g.; the .NET Report Design IDE)

- Ludek

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I read following article from SAP website:

I use SAP Crystal Reports, version for Visual Studio 2010. Why should I consider SAP Crystal Reports 2011?

SAP Crystal Reports 2011 lets you design reports more quickly, access more data, and provide more control over exports. It allows you to design reports outside of Visual Studio, enabling specialization of report design tasks.

Save report options u2013 By saving export options within your report, you can

help ensure your export works exactly as intended, even when deployed within

your application. This relieves you from training your end users on which export

options to choose.

Does Crystal Report 2011 full version solve above mentioned export issues ?

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Gaurav,

Same as the Viewer as in CR Designer. Some legacy formats have been deprecated. For those that are not in the UI you can always create your own export button and use the API's directly.

In the Object browser find this: CrystalDecisions.Shared.ExportFormatType

and you'll see all of types you can use.

For those those others there are other ways but you'll have to do it outside of Crystal...

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Don.

My understadning:

If we use Crystal report 2011 full version, we will by default get all export options which are avaliable with Crystal Report designer.

Please comment.

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member183750 · Accepted solution]

Crystal report 2011 full version does not have any SDK.

As we've been rehashing the same info on htis thread for some time now, I recommend either creating a phone case:

http://store.businessobjects.com/store/bobjamer/en_US/pd/productID.98078100?resid=S6I@hgoHAkEAAGsiyV...

or calling sales:

866-681-3435

So that someone can explain the issue over a phone as over these forums, it's just not working for you...

- Ludek

Edited by: Ludek Uher on Dec 19, 2011 7:04 AM

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Ludek,

I understand CR2011 does not provide any APIs and CR2011 viewer is not as powerful as CR8.5. CR2011 does not provide advance viewer.

Can you please explain what is the meaning of "more control over exports" in full version of CR2011 ?

I read following article from SAP website:

I use SAP Crystal Reports, version for Visual Studio 2010. Why should I consider SAP Crystal Reports 2011?

SAP Crystal Reports 2011 lets you design reports more quickly, access more data, and provide more control over exports. It allows you to design reports outside of Visual Studio, enabling specialization of report design tasks.

Save report options u2013 By saving export options within your report, you can

help ensure your export works exactly as intended, even when deployed within

your application. This relieves you from training your end users on which export

options to choose.

Thanks,

Gaurav

[former_member11696]

CR for VS 2010 is the version to use for Programming your application. CR 8.5 is 10 years old.

Download the trial version and instlal it on a clean PC, CR 8.5 does not support side by side installation.

Once you have it and used it then if you have any questions post anew.

Don