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Different Editions of RAS 9

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sbdavis

Programmer
Feb 12, 2003
18
US
I would like to share some information I received from Crystal Report concerning different editions of RAS 9. If this is common knowledge, please let me know.

By way of background, I have been looking at how to create a dynamic pick list using RAS9 (which supports ASP but not CSP). I did find the SDK documentation (RAS_SDK.chm) in my RAS9 installation. However, I could not use the SDK. Turns out I have CR9 Professional, which comes with a version of RAS9 that does not support the Viewer SDK, even though the SDK documentation is shipped. I have to upgrade to CR9 Developer to get the RAS9 Viewer SDK functionality I need.

This is frustrating, since I had all the functionality I needed when I used CR8.5 with CE8 (CSP SDK). But since I have moved all my reports to CR9, and made new ones, I cannot go back. Here is the message from Crystal Support:

Crystal Reports 9 and RAS 9 come in a number of different editions. This allows you to purchase the specific product edition that best suits your business needs.

-The Standard Edition only comes with the designer component and database files and export dll's.

-The Professional Edition comes with the designer and RAS ePortfolio-Lite interface only, which will enable to you to call reports over the web using our ePortfolio-Lite interface, but no custom ASP support for RAS or RDC tools are included. So what you are asking about will not be possible with this version.

-The Developer Edition of Crystal 9 comes with ePortfolio-lite as well as support and tools for the RAS viewer SDK which allows for the passing of parameter values, database logon and selection formulas programmatically via the RAS viewer SDK. The RDC component also includes access to the report object model for viewing, but not Report Creation API's.

* This developers edition is licensed to use the Viewer SDK's that are installed with the products

-Lastly, the Advanced Edition comes with the full RAS SDK which includes the Viewer SDK and Server SDK which provides rich report creation and modification tools (eg. setting dynamic datasource locations) for RAS as well as the RDC object model.

* This advanced edition is licensed to use both the Viewer and Server SDK's that are included with the products.

If this sounds like a bit of a rant, I guess it is. I am not happy having to purchase the upgrade so I can use the RAS Viewer SDK. When I pleaded my case to Crystal Sales, their response was that the CE9 included in CE8.5 was "free", and there is now a different business model used for RAS9/CE9.
 
I forgot to add that the list prices are:
CR9 Professional $495
CR9 Developer $595
CR9 Developer Upgrade $315
I would have preferred to see an upgrade price of about $100.
 
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