C.E. 8.5 Beta Questions

[paulosinuk]

Hi,

We're currently in the Beta program for C.E. 8.5 but not really getting the support that we need. A couple of questions for anyone out there in similar straights:

1) Since upgrading we have found that the limit on report instances isn't taking affect globally, some objects are limited but not all. I've tried resetting limits at global and folder level but it doesn't seem to take affect for all objects. Before tackling the 700 individual objects seperately and assigning a limit has anyone encountered a similar error? Crystal say it's a side effect of the upgrade and recommend setting the limit on all 700 objects but I'm sceptical about implementing this when the higher levels have not worked.

2) Has anyone found a way to get a list of groups and associated users out of C.E. I've been dabbling with the CSP query builder and can get two seperate queries to work but can't get them to link. Below are the queries:

Group Selection

SELECT SI_GROUP_MEMBERS, SI_ID, SI_NAME
FROM CI_SYSTEMOBJECTS
WHERE SI_PROGID ='CrystalEnterprise.UserGroup'

User Selection

SELECT SI_ID, SI_NAME, SI_USERFULLNAME
FROM CI_SYSTEMOBJECTS
WHERE SI_PROGID='CrystalEnterprise.User'
ORDER BY SI_NAME

3) Has anyone implemented View Time Security as a processing extension? Crystal say it's dooable but they're charging us for something that was originally advertised as a function of 8.5.

4) Likewise has anyone picked up on the plugin for C.E. called 'Report Application Server' enabling the user to change the report aesthetics as they view? We cottoned on to the idea that this would allow you to effectively 'report on a report' getting around issues about sorts being governed by groups and not being able to sort on a formula. Now we're being told that this is an additional cost, when originally this was a freebie! Anyone got any experience with it's usage?

Liekwise if anyone has questions about 8.5 beta I'd be happy to answer.

Cheers

Paul

 

[synapsevampire]

This is all interesting stuff, I'm sorry that I have no answers for you, I'm just implementing 8.5

I do have a problem in that I can't save reports to CE from CR 8.5, even though I applied the patch and rebooted, any thoughts?

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[paulosinuk]

Sorry we don't save reports from CR, they all come through me for posting to maintain a modicome of control.

That said, I've just tried it and it didn't work here either.

If you are just implementing, look out for the change in security rights governing what a user can view through e-portfolio. View doesn't allow a user to export so we had to change the rights of the groups to 'Advanced' and play with the inherited rights in the new advaned screen.

Can you keep an eye on your instances and let me know if your limits are working.

Cheers

Paulos

 

[synapsevampire]

Will do, Paulos, and thanks again for sharing your concerns/experiences.

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[chelseatech]

I've had a play with the Report Application Server and it's got some nice features. Essentially it provides a web interface to a report expert, and you can create variations on the original report.

As an experiment, we created an "empty" report with DB tables and links, but no fields, groups or formulas. The RAS was able to create a new report from that data source, so it could be a cool tool to give to users.

I can't comment on pricing or licensing however. Editor and Publisher of Crystal Clear

http://www.chelseatech.co.nz/pubs.htm

 

[Guest_imported]

I will take an educated stab at your questions:

Q2: I is much easier to use the built-in Crystal Import Wizard to import users and objects from other SI or CE environments, than to use your csp script. Keep in mind that CSP was not 'designed' to do anything but process requests through CE. Although, it is essentially ASP, there are big differences.

Another easier approach is to use DTS, if you are using SQL Svr to replicate the CE db info to the new environment.

Q3: View Time Security based on processing extensions is built into CE 8.5 and is fully available for use. The reason support cannot speak much abt it is because they are not obligated to support the beta product, and they really don't have any real-world experience at using the product.

Q4: RAS is an addition add-on product that was introduced with CE 8. It replaced the free Seagate Analysis and Analysis Server from the SI days. It is a very good tool for doing exactly what you stated. Allowing the end users to modify reports to better suit their needs. It will tie up bandwidth and processor resources, so you might want to limit the users who have this priv.

As far as synapsevampire's question:

What errors are you getting when you select the Enterprise option when you attempt to save reports. As I have done this numerous times and teach it regularly, I have yet to come across you issue. More info in another post or email would be helpful.

Rod Oatis
Certified Trainer/Consultant/Developer in CRW/SI/CE incl 8.5

 

[synapsevampire]

Rod_Oatis: Thanks for the response, and I would email the problem, but I don't have your email.

I do have another thread wherein I mention my problem. I don't receive errors, I'm now able to logon to the APS, I just don't have an option to save to the Enterprise (folders).

The other thread is: Logon APS failures in 8.5

I'd really appreciate any info, you might have, please respond to either, I'll look for your response in each.

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[paulosinuk]

Thanks to you all for your responses.

Point 2 - Getting a list of users/groups out of Enterprise.

My original point about getting a list of users and groups out was based upon a requirement from management to do a security review of a our 350 users. They want to know what groups the users are in and I don't want to examine the 24 groups or 350 users manually. I need to get a list out,as this will probably become a regular requirement.

It will also form the basis of two tables required for regular reporting on users accessing the system and the reports they look at.

Effectively this is about turning Crystal in upon itself to examine security and usage.

Point 3 - View Time Security Extensions

We have had Crystal back in and whilst view time extensions is a feature of 8.5 they are informing us that the actual security extension has to be written and is 10 days work. Considering that we were demonstrated a system that was built by Crystal in house that did 95% of what we require, 10 days development seems steep and should be considered by anyone implementing view time security.

Point 4 - RAS

Thanks for your comments on this it sounds like it might do the job. What I really need to know though is will it enable a user to adjust their variant of the report so that it can be sorted on a formula, something that the original report can't perform.

The issue is that I have a report that generates against four groups, all of which are required in order to examine the transactions with this formula. Now the boss likes this but wants to ignore the groups and sort on the formula output. I had previusly suggested just exporting to excel and sorting on the formula field output but apparently this is to much work for her.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Paulos

 

[synapsevampire]

Point 2:
You can query the CE tables for whatever you need, there's a CSP query builder that comes out of the box in CE that you have a link to in the default Crystal Enterprise Launchpad.(

http://<yourserver>/crystal/enterprise/launchpad/en/default.htm)

Point 3:
Entensions might be of interest to me, have you seen any good tech documentation on them?

Point 4:
A report can be sorted on a formula, in RAS or just CR (create a formula and try it).

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[paulosinuk]

Hi,

Point 2 : Yeah, I know and my original mail outlines the CSP query I've been using but I haven't yet found a link between the program groups.

Point 3 : All I know is that an extension can be based upon an exe written in C or V.B. and is used (or is in our case) to pass additional selection criteria at the time of viewing or viewing an instance of a report. We have 180 reports of which only 60 are unique, the others exist to focus on a particular region or country that the user is based in. The theory is that we could cut down our excess reports by installing view time security that simply appends the selection criteria when a report is requested.

This has the disadvantage of increasing processing time at the time of selection but will reduce the overall administration of processing effectively duplicate reports each night.

In theory you could turn the view time extension to other purposes but for the life of me I can't think of any. If you do manage to use it for another purpose let me know.

As for documentation, I don't think any exists at the moment within Crystal but if we proceed with the consultancy there will be some coming off of that and an EXE you could debug.

Point 4:

You only seem to be able to sort on a formula that isn't based upon variable. The report uses a subreport to calculate a proportion of the overall figure and as a consequence I don't seem to be able to sort on it.

This is why I was hoping RAS would help.

 

[Guest_imported]

Just a side note-- if you are a member of the Beta program from Crystal Decisions, you signed a non-disclosure form not to discuss the product, it's features, etc.

As a member of the beta program, you should have access to a number of private forums where your CE8.5 questions are answered by Crystal. Check with whoever signed you up for the beta to get the correct login details for the forums.

 

[paulosinuk]

Note to BI_Maven

Yes thanks for that.

If I was getting the support that I needed then I wouldn't have refered to other mediums to find the answers.

 

[icytrue]

Can anyone help me with scheduling to SMTP email feature in CE8.5. The instructions in the Admin guide are very sparse and are not enough to help me. When I schedule I get either


login error. CrystalEnterprise.Smtp: SMTP_E_TCPSOCKET_RECV(4)

or

address error. CrystalEnterprise.Smtp: SMTP_E_MAILBOX_UNAVAILABLE_2(550)

presumably my config is wrong setting up the job server, but I need help to sort out why.

thanks Icytrue

icytrue@hotmail.com

 

[paulosinuk]

Icy,

Can't help you with the code, Synapse might be good for that but if you are trying to mail a group you won't be able to do it. Atleast I haven't been able to mail a group of users but we are talking about a BETA!

Paulos

 

[rhinok]

CE 8.5 allows the user to schedule reports to a specific format (Word, Excel, Text, etc...). Does CE 8.5 give the user the ability to point to an external pick list ala Seagate Info? Currently, this ability is only available through additional coding.