Crystal XI and Btrieve

[splitthird]

We have an old application that has Btrieve as its database (don't have the version as it part of app - prob circa 1995). We connect to the Btrieve with Crystal Reports 8.5 via Data Dictionary Files (DDF).

Now we are moving to Crystal Reports XI R2 and struggling to see how we continue to connect to the Btrieve DDFs.

An article in BO support says that Pervasive native connection is the replacement for PC file connection to Btrieve, but are struggling to find more info on this. We know nothing about Pervasive except that they took over Btrieve.

Strangely Btrieve DDF are still listed under Database Files in the database expert.

thanks in advance for any light that can be shed on how to report on old Btrieve DDFs with Crystal Reports XI

Jonathan

 

[synapsevampire]

Trying the btrieve ddf didn't work, or?

-k

 

[splitthird]

database files sees the ddf file, but when you try and connect to it just gave error like "database unknown". Haven't got exact error as in hotel now.

 

[synapsevampire]

Ahhh, OK.

Here's a whitepaper which touches on it, saying that you use 'Btrieve' (Pervasive native connection to Pervasive files) in CR XI:

http://support.businessobjects.com/library/kbase/articles/c2018235.asp

-k

 

[splitthird]

Yep that is the one that I loosely refer to in the original post. Problem is I just have no experience of this Pervasive native connection - I presume that involves some sort of client.
What I also am unclear about is whether there are any versioning issues - i.e. CR XI works with what version of pervasive client and that client works with what versions of Btrieve and DDFs.

I'm hoping there is someone who has been through this situation....

 

[synapsevampire]

Here's another paper which mentions Btrieve in two areas, direct and OLE DB, search for btrieve, hopefully that will help.

-k

 

[splitthird]

I click on "database files" and then browse to the File.DDF

then the error messages are:

"Failed to Load Database Information"

followed by

"Unknown database connection error"

I am then returned to the database expert with no connection.

 

[splitthird]

The problem was resolved by the installation of the btrieve client (sounds obvious I know). The btrieve client then presented itself in the list of data sources (ie separate from the database files under which the ddf extension is listed).

 

[synapsevampire]

<Laffin>

Never considered that you were trying to connect without the client... That holds true for many databases.

-k