Moving existing Crystal Reports to SQL Reporting Services

[nsimmons]

HI All,

We're using Crystal Reports version XI and are moving to SQL Reporting services 2000 or 2005. I have a load of existing reports that I need to migrate across in some way. I was told that I could possibly export the files in RDL format and import them into SSRS but I can't find an easy way of doing this (though I'm new to SSRS so it's possible I'm missing something). I can produce an XML file from Crystal Reports but again trying to get this into SSRS is proving difficult.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks.

 

[synapsevampire]

Check out:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/whitepapers/migrate-crystal-to-reporting-services.mspx

-k

 

[nsimmons]

Hi synapsevampire, thanks for your reply...

I have previously looked at the document you suggest but the steps seem to be...

· Create a new Report Project in SQL Server Business Intelligence Studio
· Data Tab - Create a new DataSet and configure the Data Source connection information
· Data Tab – Create the Query information in the DataSet to retrieve the necessary fields for the report
· Data Tab – Create any parameters to the DataSet Query and test the Query
· Layout Tab – Create the Report Headers and Footers
· Layout Tab – Create the Page Headers and Footers
· Layout Tab – Establish row level data, groupings, and subtotals
· Layout Tab - Create Formulas and Custom Functions
· Layout Tab – Create additional features such as matrices, charts, multiple data sources, subreports, and linked reports.

which to me is basically manually re creating all your reports - now that would be ok if I had 10 - but I have hundreds. Does anyone know of an electronic way of doing this? I'm not an xml or rdl expert but can't I export from Crystal XI and import into SSRS and then simply tidy things up?

Thanks to All.....

 

[IdoMillet]

There is no standard export/import option.

The document mentions 3rd-party tools. Perhaps you should pursue that angle.

- Ido

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

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[synapsevampire]

An interesting notion, however the complexity of Crystal would make this a very difficult task.

And exporting to XML won't give you the logic, simply the output.

-k

 

[nsimmons]

Thanks guys - I'll have a hunt for the 3rd party tools - otherwise I'll be stuck in a room somewhere for 2 years converting....

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
<Snide remark follows>

That's in additon to the time needed to apply all those patches to SqlServer and Windows..

<End Snide Remark>




Hope you have success in finding an easier way to convert...



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."