Acrobat vs. Crystal Reports

[JabbaTheNut]

I am looking for a way to create a "filled-out" version of a credit application generated from data stored in a database. The application needs to be generated on the fly through VB.Net. Additionally, I need to save the filled-out version of the credit application in a finalized ("stamped&quot PDF format. I have been investigating the FDF toolkit, which is great for filling out the PDF document. The problem is, however, that you cannot save the filled-out version of the credit application as a stand-alone PDF file (i.e., no longer requiring the FDF file). I have seen some posts that discussed printing Crystal Reports documents to PDF using PDFWriter. Given the above circumstance, is the Crystal Reports method a good way to go? Or, is Acrobat the right way to go and I am missing something? Or, is there another method I should be using? Please help, I am in a tough spot. Thanks Game Over, Man!

 

[baileyhp]

You might try the Crystal Report 8.5 version. It has a built in "export" to PDF. ( you do not need adobe acrobat). It will export to a pdf file that you can save, emai etc.
h bailey

 

[JabbaTheNut]

Thanks for your input. I have looked at the Crystal Reports 8.5 method. I like it and intend to use it. I called Crystal Decisions regarding licensing under the above scenario. They indicated that the CR license that comes bundled with VS.Net is sufficient for my needs "as long as I am exporting to PDF (i.e. not using the viewer)". I mention this because it was a major deciding factor for me. To use Acrobat would cost approximately $3,000 for licensing. To use the Crystal Reports viewer method would cost about $20,000. However, to use the Crystal Reports export to PDF method costs nothing (other than the cost of VS.Net). Game Over, Man!