Null value issue in Enterprise Version

[PleaseGiveHelp]

I just recently upgraded to Crystal Enterprise as we are now going with Crystal 8.5 (previously with version 7.0). I have several reports which accepted null values. If you did not specify a value for a parameter it would simply return all data.
However this has all changed. In some reports there is a new box to check if you want to specify a null value. However on others there isn't. And if you simply do not enter a value (which in version 7 would equal NULL) you get an error message. Note this is in the web version. Yet if I run the report in the non-web version 8.5 on my desktop I am able to run the report without specifying a null value. What is the difference between the web component and the stand alone desktop version?
Is there any way to get the web version to work like the standalone version? I do not want to have to enter a value if I want ALL records. Help!

 

[RamForum]

Hi
i was going through all the threads and just read yours. I had the same problem. You need to enter "*" if you want all the data. you cant leave the parameter blank. If in case in your report u have dates, you have to specify the date. We were seeking the help of crystal's tech support. they said this issue has not been taken care in Crystal 8.5.
The same report would run fine in Crystal Reports but not in Enterprise if u havent entered any parameters.
~
RamForum

 

[stormtrooper]

I'm having the same problem with version 9. Has there been any updates on this or has a solution been found?

I am in the process of migrating from CR7 to CR9 and I have a formula which captures null date parameters. They run fine in Seagate 7 when scheduling but in CE 9 the report will not run unless you enter a parameter. Plus, the parameter is no longer nullable or blank.

My selection criteria is as follows:

If IsNull({?pDate})
Then ({MY_DT} >= {@Fiscal_Start_Dt} And {MY_DT} <={@Fiscal_End_Dt})
Else {MY_DT} In {?pDate}

Is there any way around this? Please advise. Thanks.

 

[stormtrooper]

A little more info on our scheduling process...

When the report is scheduled in SI7, there is no need to enter a parameter value. The report then takes that value as a null value and executes the report with the specified date range. And if the parameter value is entered, then the report executes with the paramter values.

When the report is scheduled in CE9, there seems to be no way around the parameter issue. If one is not supplied during scheduling then the report fails. If one is supplied the report works fine.

I guess my main question is is there anyway the report could be scheduled in CR9 without using the parameter (unless we need it)? So, in otherwords, it must remain on the report.

Thanks again.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
I think if you change the parameter type to string and use a start and end date for the desired range, it will work with null values ( string parameters can be null, dates cannot, it seems). Try this revision:

If IsNull({?pStartDate}) or {?pStartDate} = ""
    Then ({MY_DT} >= {@Fiscal_Start_Dt} And {MY_DT} <={@Fiscal_End_Dt})
Else {MY_DT} In Date({?pStartDate}) to Date({?pEndDate})

May work..

 

[stormtrooper]

But you still have to enter a parameter value in order for the report to run. What I would like to do is to be able to schedule the report without having to enter the parameters at all (skip that step) and just hit the 'Schedule' button after the login.

With SI7 there was still a 'Parameters' tab but you didn't have to enter anything in there and the parameter values would be taken as null. Now with CE9, you cannot schedule the report without a parameter. So in that sense, it is an extra step when scheduling. Very time consuming when there are 100+ reports to be scheduled.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
I believe you can set a default value ( of "" ) for a string parameter and that should avoid prompting..I think.
( at least you can in 8.5, haven't checked 10 yet)
Be sure the 'prompt user for parameter' is not checked in the CMC.

 

[romulan]

Hi,
Sorry to re-open this, but has this problem with default 'null' dates been sorted in CEv10? I use CRv10 with CEv10 on SQL 2000 / ODBC and seem to have the same issue when schedulling the report via the CE WEB:it forces me to enter a date!
Thanks - struggling new v10 programmer.