Inserting dynamic images

[apdageek]

We have some images which we want to display in a Crystal Report. The location of the images is stored in an Oracle database in 3 fields (which must be joined together to get the entire file name) and the images are stored in either a PDF or TIFF file on another server.

We would like to create a report that goes through the database, reads in the file information and then displays the image.

I tried inserting an OLE object in the report with Crystal Reports XI, and browsing to 1 of the image files. Crystal only displays that 1 image. It doesn't display any of the other images even though I used the formula editor to concatenate the 3 database fields together to get the file location.

Is there any way to get this to work in Crystal without using Visual Basic or some other programming language?

 

[IdoMillet]

See the online help for this functionality under "To make a static OLE object dynamic."

Among the notes in that section, is the following:
"This feature is activated when you refresh your report data; therefore, you may not notice a change in the static OLE object until you click the Refresh button in Crystal Reports."

Cheers,
- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[IdoMillet]

Also, the dynamic picture path feature is not supported under Crystal Enterprise.

- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[apdageek]

I inserted an OLE object into the Details section of my report, browsed to a picture file, and saved it. I then modified the OLE object by going into the formula editor, creating a formula that concatenates the 3 database fields that make up the file name, and saving it. I was following the steps outlined in "To make a static OLE object dynamic".

The object never changes, even when I refresh the data.

Any idea what I need to do differently to get this to work?

 

[IdoMillet]

If your formula fails to point at an existing file, Crystal defaults to showing the original image.
If you show your formula, it would be possible to point out possible problem areas.

- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[apdageek]

Here's the formula:

{Get_images.DOCSERVER_LOC} & {Get_images.PATH} & {Get_images.PATH(1)}

Here's an example of a filename:

\\ARCHIVE\CHCO$\CHCOL01\SYLVESTE\DOC_ARTI\195GPDF.PDF

This filename is correct and I verified it by putting it into the address bar in Windows Explorer.

 

[IdoMillet]

I don't believe PDF's are a supported image format.

- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[apdageek]

I tried this with .TIF files and they aren't working for me either.

 

[apdageek]

I got it to work for the .TIF files!

 

[IdoMillet]

Good. Thanks for "closing the loop".

- Ido

Visual CUT & DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com