Delphi 2 - CR 1

[nicsin]

Hi,

we have an app written about 5 years ago in delphi 2. Now we want to incorporate crystal reports in it (CR9). Is it possible?

Thnx

 

[Griffyn]

Please explain 'incorporate' a bit more for us. What are you wanting to achieve?

If what you're asking is 'can I have a delphi program activate and control the CR engine?' Then I presume yes (because I haven't tried). The CR engine is DLL based - I know because many programs distribute bits of it to do their reporting. I presume your Crystal Reports documentation will have help for doing just that?

If not, then the point to start at would be to try and import the DLLs, so that you can start creating CR objects in Delphi - I have no idea whether Delphi 2 is capable of that. Certainly D6 is.

 

[hilfy]

You will not be able to use the latest VCL component for Crystal - it has too many things that won't compile in D2. You can, however, import the DLL. You can get a tool that will extract the header information for you at

http://delphi-jedi.org/team_darth_home.

Also see this article -

http://www.drbob42.com/tools/index.htm

- about using C DLL's with Delphi.

-D

 

[nicsin]

Thnx for the replies.

I have been using crViewer91 component in vb6 quite succesfully over tha past few months, to create reports based on data stored in an access2000. I have created templates of the reports and feed them with active data (ado recordsets) from the vb app. I was wondering if I can do the same for an app written in delphi 2.

Griffyn,

I haven't found anything referering to delphi 2 in the CR docs.

hilfy,

thnx for the links but why and how should I use it?


If I use a newer version of delphi (7?), will I be able to compile the old code along with my additions?

 

[hilfy]

thnx for the links but why and how should I use it?

You run the program against the crpe.dll which is the Crystal Reports Print Engine that the VCL component wraps. This gives you a .pas file that has all of the procedure, function, and type definitions that are available in the .dll. You then use these to access the .dll to work with your reports.

If I use a newer version of delphi (7?), will I be able to compile the old code along with my additions?

No. You will probably have to do quite a bit of updating because several units used by the VCL have changed dramatically - including the names of some of the units.

-D

 

[nicsin]

Thanx hilfy. You made the scene clearer for me...