Need Ideas to have Multiple Users view only their data

[VKZIMM]

We have a simple Access database and are using Crystal reports 10. So far we add the data and print the reports for the users, but one report will be a status report and we want each user to only view their data and not be able to make changes to the crystal report. I know we could run the report for them and email or pdf print it, but I was wondering if there was a way I could have them run the report and not be able to make changes. That way they could see the latest data when they want. Any suggestions?
I could make separate reports for each user so they would only see their data, but I am worried about them messing in Crystal reports.
Thank you in advance.

 

[fisheromacse]

there are several crystal reports viewers available.

http://www.businessobjects.com/forms/crystalreports/viewer/

http://www.logicitysuite.com/products/logicity.html

http://www.groffautomation.com/

http://www.thereportviewer.com/

http://download.cnet.com/Quick-Crystal-Report-Viewer/3000-2064_4-10830648.html

 

[VKZIMM]

I downloaded the first viewer and maybe I am not using it correctly, but is seems someone must run the report and save the data so the person with access to the viewer can see it.

Is there a way that the user can run a report to update the data?

Thank you for your help.

 

[lbass]

Ken Hamady has a list of viewers on his website:

http://www.kenhamady.com.

-LB

 

[kray4660]

Most of the viewers I have looked require that the data be static. Since most of our users need to update the data, we had to go to the Business Objects Enterprise solution (Do they still have Crystal Server?). Anyhow, yes it is pricy, yes it requires a dedicted server, yes it can be a pain to maintain. But it does work for our needs (for the most part).

 

[lbass]

I think Ido Millet's viewers allow refreshing (and probably others):

http://www.milletsoftware.com.

And they are inexpensive.

-LB

 

[IdoMillet]

If you must provide the report as a Crystal report then at least one of the viewers on Ken Hamady's web site allows you to protect the report design and still let the user view it.

However, it's not clear why you can't opt for exporting the report and providing the output as alternative format (e.g., PDF). Even if you need true ad-hoc viewing, you can approach this via frequent exports (to web page, pdf, etc.)

hth,
- Ido

view, export, burst, email, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[kenhamady]

One correction to kray4660's comment. There is only ONE viewer out there that requires the data to be static and that is the one put out by SAP. Every other viewer I have seen allows you to refresh the data and there are a dozen listed on my site's LINKS page.

There are 2 viewers that allow you to set up filters based on the windows user, one of them being the DataLink Viewer mentioned above. And DLV is also the only one that allows you to lock the RPT file to prevent changes. So if you really do need to allow on-demand access then this is probably the way to go.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guides to Formulas, Parameters, Subreports, Cross-tabs, VB, Tips and Tricks

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[TeyBrady]

APOS has a product called view time security which does row level security rather nicely.

http://www.apos.com/ViewTimeSecurity/

 

[fisheromacse]

i have only used the SAP viewer (do not think much of it) and the offerings from Groff Automation (not pretty but quite functional!)

 

[qu1ncy]

The Logicity Crystal Reports Viewer might be considered a candidate for your requirements. The free version provides an easy-to-use app that can refresh a .rpt, add parameters, search the generated report in the viewer, convert to .pdf and other formats, email the report, schedule Logicity to auto-run the report and save it to a shared location.
We've been testing it for a few days and so far we're impressed with the free version, however, the purchased version has a few more features and appears to get more support options.

Found these limitations described on a User Forum:
1.)Currently a limitation of Logicity, in order for scheduled tasks to run you need to be logged in as the user the report is scheduled to run as. It is OK for the screen to be locked but you must be logged in.
2.)If you do not have a printer installed on your workstation where the PDF is being generated from, you may see incorrect page sizes in your exported Crystal Reports.
3.)Page size, fonts, or margins look different from the computer where the Crystal Report was designed, compared to workstations where you'll run the report with Logicity. However, Logicity Support offers a solution to this in their User Forum.

For feature comparison between the free “Logicity” version, and the purchased “Logicity Professional” version, see:

http://www.logicitysuite.com/products/logicity-pro/17.html

For info about Support, please see:

http://www.logicitysuite.com/support/faq.html#1.1

For license cost estimates, please see:

http://www.logicitysuite.com/

Q