Convert 8.5 RPT to 8.0?

[mmarsten]

I have been writing reports with Crystal 8.5.
I run these reports from inside another application and not from Crystal.
Unfortunatly, I found out that this other application does not support Crystal 8.5, only Crystal 8.0 and Crystal 6.0 (not 7.0!).
Now I am stuck with a bunch of completed 8.5 reports that I can't use. I own Crystal 8.0 and Crystal 8.5 but they are on different machines. I've had problems installing both on the same machine.

Anyone know how I can convert the the 8.5 reports to 8.0?

The only thing I've thought of is to save the 8.5 as a 7.0 (since 8.5 won't allow saving to 8.0).
Then open the 7.0 in 8.0 and re-save. I was hoping for an easier solution (a utility to convert would be ideal) since my versions of Cystal are on different machines and I've got dozens of RPT's.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[balves]

I believe that V8.5 and V8 share the same format, so as long as you don't use any V8.5 feature that is not in V8 you're okay.

 

[mmarsten]

V8.5 and V8 may share the same format but there must be something different in the file.

I've tried to run the V8.5 files in V8.0.
The files opens without a problem but I get an error when I try to execute it - "Group specified on a non-recurring field." This file started out as an 8.0 file, it was re-saved as 8.5. Nothing was changed in this file except it was re-saved.

Besides that, the program used to execute/view the report is a commercial program that allows the execution of external reports. I tested it and it does not work with V8.5 RPT files. Probably because the program uses V8 DLL's and may have code that checks the version. I have no control over that program and no say in its use.

 

[kenhamady]

V8 should be able to run any 8.5 report.
They might, however, interpret formulas slightly differently. This would likely be a bug, but might happen. Are you grouping/charting/cross-tabing on a formula that uses an 8.5 function, or uses a variable, or is a constant?

Since any differences are unintentional, I doubt that there is a utility to do what you are asking. I think FastPlanet has a utility called VControl that updates RPTS to a newer version (7.x or 8.x) but I dont think it goes backwards. Ken Hamady, On-site/Phone Crystal Reports Training/Consulting
Quick Reference Guide to using Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/