Creating Crystal Reports with VB6 using the RDC component (Oracle 8) 2

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

I'm creating an automated report generator using Visual Basic 6. It uses Crystal Reports 8 to generate dynamic reports from an Oracle 8 database. I'm trying to do this with the new RDC component included in Crystal Reports 8. Has anyone used this? My problem is that whenever I launch the program I get an error that says the server isn't connected. I tried to correct the problem by referencing an ADO database object in the report but it gives me the same error.

Also, does anyone know of a good book that describes how all three of these (VB6,Oracle 8, and Crystal Reports 7) relate in plain english. I have (no joke) 7 books all of which explain a little of subject but nothing explains the relationship of all 3 together. The RDC component is especially troubling to integrate with Oracle. s-)

 

[kenhamady]

Does "dynamic" mean live data within user selected parameters or does it mean the user gets to design the report using the new report creation API?

Did you create an RPT with Crystal or did you create a DSR within the RDC environment?

How are you connnecting the report to the Oracle tables, via ODBC?


One problem is that the same report can't be changed from reading direct tables to reading a recordset. You can create the report to read Oracle directly, and then launch it from VB or you can have VB read the tables and pass the data to the report via recordset. However the same report can't do both.

Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

Dynamic means that the user enters the parameter and a series of reports are then generated and stored for the user to access later.

I created the report in Crystal and then imported it into the DSR in the RDC environment using the "insert existing report" button.

I had created the report to read the Oracle database tables directly.

When I run vb application it seems that it can't the report can't access the database. Do I need to open the database in vb somehow before the CrystalReportViewer opens? I've been reading for days and I'm still a little cloudy on the relationship between Crystal Reports and Oracle when in a Visual Basic application environment.

 

[kenhamady]

As far as I know, launching from the VB environment in itself shouldn't affect the relationship between the report and Oracle.

The original report runs fine in the CR design environment?

The oracle connection, client software, dsn, odbc drivers, etc are all setup the same as they were in the CR design environment?

What is the text of the error message? Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

It only works if I have run the report in Crystal Reports and saved it with the data. When I don't do that it errors out with "Server Not Yet Opened".

 

[kenhamady]

It appears that I missed something. The RDC does need to open a connection to the server using either LogOnServer or SetLogOnInfo.

Check out the following article for a fairly clear description of when to use each command. You probably want LogOnServer.

http://support.seagatesoftware.com/library/kbase/articles/c2002650.asp

Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

Thanks. I'm much further than I was. Now I just need to figure out where to use the LogOnServer method.

Its "reportname.LogOnServer(dsn,servername,userid,password) correct? Does this go on the form load event for the form that contains the CRViewer or in the Initialize event of the RDC component. Any idea?

 

[kenhamady]

I think you can use it anytime before the report is called. For Oracle syntax take a look at:

http://support.seagatesoftware.com/...ebverlogonserver_vs_connect_vs_logoninfo.html

You might even be able to use a simpler "connect" property.

Ken Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[kenhamady]

Oops, sorry, that was OCX syntas not RDC.
Let me find the right document. Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[kenhamady]

They are like this in V8 RDC:

report.database.LogOnServer ( pDllName , pServerName , [pDatabaseName], [pUserID], [pPassword] )

or

Report.Database.Tables (1).SetLogOnInfo ( pServerName ,[pDatabaseName], [pUserID], [pPassword] )

I have since heard that the second option (SetLoginInfo)is was more flexible. Each table can be different. If they are all the same, setting the first one will set it for all. Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

Okay here's my code for the form that calls the RDC component. I keep getting a compile error that says "expecting function or variable". It highlights the SetLogOnInfo of the code below. If I use the other method, LogOnServer, and comment out the SetLogOnInfo line, it errors out with the same error and hightlights the LogOnServer of the code. Can you see anythiing I haven't done correctly by chance?

Dim Report As New crptCMUsageReport
Dim intResult As Integer

Private Sub Form_Load()
Screen.MousePointer = vbHourglass
'intResult = Report.Database.LogOnServer("pdodbc.dll", "DATABEAST", "DATABEAST", "usernamehere", "pswdhere&quot
intResult = Report.Database.Tables(1).SetLogOnInfo("DATABEAST", "DATABEAST", "usernamehere", "pswdhere&quot
CRViewer1.ReportSource = Report
CRViewer1.ViewReport
Screen.MousePointer = vbDefault
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Resize()
CRViewer1.Top = 0
CRViewer1.Left = 0
CRViewer1.Height = ScaleHeight
CRViewer1.Width = ScaleWidth

End Sub

 

[kenhamady]

Try taking off the:

intResult =

from the front of the line.
Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

Then I get two errors. A compile error saying "= expected" and then the same syntax error as before. I read something a while ago that said the SetLogOnInfo statement returns a value.

 

[CrystalVisualBOracle]

I think I got it mate! YEAH! Thanks. FYI - Buried deep in the depths of the KBase I found the syntax as follows:

Report.Database.Tables(1).SetLogOnInfo "DATABEAST", "DATABEAST", "usernamehere", "pswdhere"

No parentheses. Strange but I'll take it

Thanks again!!!

 

[kenhamady]

Glad I could help you stumble in the right direction. This one could certainly be documented better. Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal