How can you run one report against different databases? 1

[hammer02]

We currently are using Crystal Reports 6.5 against a SQL Server 6.5 database. The problem we get into is that the database name gets embedded into the report. As a result it makes it basically impossible to run one report against our production, developmnet and QC databases.<br>
<br>
Is it possible to have Crystal use the data source to identify the database to use? Any other ways to get one report so it can be run against different databases (that are exactly the same by the way, just named differently).<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
MH

 

[MichaelD]

Hi,<br>
<br>
If you use ODBC, you can alter the DSN to point to different servers without changing the report.<br>
<br>
--Michael<br>
ReCrystallize Web Publishing Wizard for Seagate Crystal Reports<br>
<A HREF="

http://www.recrystallize.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.recrystallize.com</A>

 

[MalcolmW]

You don't have to do it through DSN changes, although that works fine to. You can set up distinct DSN's for each of production, QC, and development, and just point Crystal at the database you want to use, and change it at your whim.<br>
Database¦Set Location<br>
then Log on server button<br>
then choose Microsoft SQL Server as the database driver (or pick the DSN if you are using ODBC)<br>
then type in the server name, login name, login id, and database name. <br>
Crystal will then chug away for a while, as it verifies that the data structure is the same. If it is identical, then end of story. If it is different, it will prompt you to &quot;fix up the report&quot;, which often is just a formality triggered by minor differences in database structure.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p>Malcolm Wynden<br><a href=mailto:wynden@island.dot.net>wynden@island.dot.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[johnk]

This is not an answer to the original issue, but may be of interest.<br>
<br>
We develop applications using an Access database, then deploy them on user systems which use either access or SQL Server. With the current version of Crystal Reports the database type must be selected at design time, not run time. This causes us to have to maintain 2 versions of our reports.<br>
<br>
I hear that Seagate Software may provide for run time selection in an future release.