Crystal Reports Distibution..

[Former Member]

hi,

How do we distribute an AddOn which basically pops up Crystal Reports.

The Addon is being created using VB.Net.Do we have to include the merge modules and provide the licence key of the Crystal Reports for Visual studio .Net application

Suggestions are welcome..

Regards Vishal

[Former Member]

Here's how I do it:

1) Create some datasets in VB.net

2) Create a crystal report object that uses the datasets as their datasource.

Then, at runtime - just fill the datasets and dim a new crystal report object from your strongly typed report object. Then, do whatever with it you want. Use a crystal report viewer and show it or use the PDF export function to create a PDF etc.

As far as distribution... one of the easiest ways is to create an installer project and add it to your .net solution. There are a few things you are going to need to do to get your add-on intalled correctly but that is covered in the fourms already. .net will pick up on the fact that you have crystal references in your project and add the correct files for your distribution. However, you may have to tweak the install a bit to make sure that the correct msm's are included. Just search for crystal report distribution in the .net helpfiles or on the web.

Once you get the hang of it, it is straight forward.

GL

[Former Member]

The Crystal add-on I am talking about is done by Acumen Allaince and I believe is available for Australia and NZ.

On the other point: You do not need to instal the entire Crystal reports to get a Crystal report working. All you need is to install the Run time filles. You can gether the run times when you refernce them in you add-on. i have done this before and it works. If you have a copy of the Crystal Developer version you are licenced to redistribute the run time files.

In fact the Crystal Add-On of Acumen Alliance runs off the runtime files( version 10).

This is a very good solution since you or the clcint can develop his own crystal report somewhere else and let the Crystal add-on run it within SAP.

I am not sure of the Crystal version .net comes with but am aware there are version diffrences between the .net one and the actual Crystal reports. Such as the Crytal Verison x - proper is diffrent to .net Crystal version x.

[Former Member]

Try this, connect your report to a Dataset based on a XML definition of your table in the proyectc, then fill de Xml file before run the report, it works in most of the cases

[Former Member]

hi,

Just a quick question.

I have Designed a Crystal Report in version 10.0 and displaying it in Business One on the Click of a button using VS .Net

I then create the Add on and try to run it on a client m/c which does not have the Crystal Reports installed on it but the necessary .net Framework and Merge Modules.

The Crystal Report still retains the data Base Login details (Server name and Data base name)of the Sql server where the Report was designed.

I tried the code through .net to provide the login details for every tables in the Client machine.

But it still does not work and gives logion error.

Does any one have idea abt this??

Is it necessary to have Crystal Report Software installed on the Client machine??

Priority Issue, Can u guys help pls !!!

Tim..

[Former Member]

Tim,

First off, you do NOT need to install the full version of Crystal onto the client machines to get a report to work. That would defeat the whole purpose of Crystal's integration into VS.NET.

In the past I either use the TTX file method to pass data only into the Crystal report (no database login needed) or I send the login info directly to the report tables from the VS.NET code.

Either of those methods should work for you.

[Former Member]

Hi

I use this piece of code to reassign the tables in the Load event of the form that has the crystal viewer

        Dim tablaslogon As New TableLogOnInfos
        Dim tablalogon As New TableLogOnInfo
        Dim conexionInfo As New ConnectionInfo
        Dim tablas As Tables
        Dim tabla As Table
        Dim documento As New ReportDocument
        documento.Load(Application.StartupPath + "\" reportname.rpt")

        With conexionInfo
            .ServerName = server
            .DatabaseName = database
            .UserID = userid
            .Password = passwd
        End With
        tablas = documento.Database.Tables
        For Each tabla In tablas
            tablalogon = tabla.LogOnInfo
            tablalogon.ConnectionInfo = conexionInfo
            

            tabla.ApplyLogOnInfo(tablalogon)
            Dim a As Boolean
            a = tabla.TestConnectivity()
            MessageBox.Show(tabla.Name + " " + a.ToString())
            tabla.Location = tabla.Name


' and for parameters 
 num = New CrystalDecisions.Shared.ParameterField
        parametros = CrystalReportViewer1.ParameterFieldInfo

        num = parametros("numeroFactura")
        valores = num.CurrentValues

        numP = New CrystalDecisions.Shared.ParameterDiscreteValue
        numP.Value = numfac
        valores.Add(numP)

        Next

HTH

Kind Regards

Salvador Biot

Message was edited by: Salvador Biot

[Former Member]

hi Barend,

Currently I'am using Visual Studio.net to fire off Crystal Reports designed using Crystal Reports Version 10.

So according to you There should be CR 10.0 installed on the client m/c on which the Addon will be installed.

Does it also need to have .Net Framework installed???

Also is it necessary to include during Addon creation Merge modules specific to Crystal Reports such as

Crystal_database_Access2003.msm

Crystal_database_Access2003_enu.msm

Crystal_regwiz2003.msm

this is what i read in the MSDN "Deploying Windows application with Crystal Reports"

Regards Vishal

[barend_morkel2]

Yes you will have to install the .Net framework on the client machine, unfortunate BUT true...

As for the .msm file - you would have to distribute them (and all other required files lying in the bin directory of your exe (like theinterop..dll files)) to the client machine

[Former Member]

the Crystal Add-On is good as well and free.. if you want to use it...... have u seen this ?

allows you to run your own report within SAP

[Former Member]

I would like to let you know of an SBO addon that we have created called CrystalWave. This addon integrates Crystal reports with B1. This might save you a some time trying to recreate the wheel. With this you do not have to install Crystal Reports on each machine. The addon also takes care of installing the .NET framework for you as a part of the install.

Please take a look at the following link:

http://www.twbs.com/CrystalWave.html

YOu can download a fully functional copy at http://www.twbs.com/selectcwversion.html

This will work only on the SBODEMO_US company.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Gopal Viswanathan

[AlexGrebennikov]

Hi Indika!

>> if you want to use it......

>> have u seen this ?

what addOn are you talking about?

could u send me a link or distributive?

plz, mailto avg(__at__)as(__dot__)ru

rgds!

[barend_morkel2]

You would have to install Crystal Reports on the machine you want to run the add-on on. This is a separate software package and must be treated so. You then install your add-on and use it as normal.