Print or print preview takes too long

[vshapiro]

I have a strange problem. I have two different reports in web application. But, both of them user view through CrystalViewer, both drilldown reports. Both reports appear on the screen pretty fast but when I click print or print preview one of them almost does not work. For 10 pages report print preview to appear takes 4-5 minutes. The same if I click print. Second report works almost instantly.
I am looking for reasom....???
One more thing. When I ran this report just in Crystal (not through application with vb code it isOK)...
I am using VB.net and Crystal 9.0. Oracle database.

 

[synapsevampire]

Hard to say, there are lots of possibilities.

Perhaps you're not getting the record selection passed to the database, perhaps it's your code, but I'd think that the performance would be similar in either case.

-k

 

[vshapiro]

But report appear on the screen very fast. It is only when I want to print or print preview it. So, how it could be record selection passed to database??

 

[Mike Lewis]

Vshapiro,

What do you mean when you say the report "appears on the screen" fast? How is that different from print preview?

It would also help to know what database you are using. If the table has a very large number of records, but you are only using a small percentage of these in the report, it might be worth experimenting with SQL expressions in your selection criteria. These can greatly reduce the number of records which have to travel across the network, thus greatly speeding up the report.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[vshapiro]

I am using Oracle database.
When I ran application I have a web page where user select desired report, click on link and report appear in 2-5 seconds. Then if I click Print button or go to File then Print Preview it takes very long to print or to appear in Print preview.
As I understand record selections passed to database when user click on link and then see the report on screen...??
And Print shouldn't be any problem.. Am I missing something??

 

[Mike Lewis]

Vshapiro,

What I'm trying to understand is this: When you say the "report appears on the screen", what are the users actually seeing? Are they seeing the data? If not, what are they seeing?

Mike




Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[vshapiro]

Users seeing all the data perfectly. they see normal report on the screen

 

[Mike Lewis]

Sorry, but this is not making sense.

You say they see the "normal report" on the screen. You also say this is working OK. But you also say that the "preview" is too slow.

If they are seeing the normal report with all its data, then that IS the preview. The preview is just a the report on the screen.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[vshapiro]

no,if you go to Files then you can go to print preview. Or... OK, if I can just click Print button I need to wait more then 5 minutes or even more until report start printing.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Files / Print Preview is just the same as opening the Preview tab in the designer. The only thing that would slow that down is if you are also refreshing the data.

But are you now saying it is the printing that takes a long time? If so, could it be a printer problem rather than a CR issue?

Mike




Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[vshapiro]

I am not refreshing data. It is only printing. And it is not printer data. i tried on different machines with the different printers. And users have the same problem...??

 

[Mike Lewis]

I'm sorry I haven't been able to help with this. Perhaps someone else can offer a suggestion?


Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[vshapiro]

Thank you Mike. Looks like noone can solve it. I will probably put a Button on my report which will send user to pdf format if he needs to print. Very strange!!

 

[madelca100]

Hi,
this is my first time so be gentle.

without actually seeing the report it is difficult to determine what would cause the printer to slow down.

I assume printing a similar sized word processing document doesn't take 5 minutes to print. So we can assume the network connection is fine.

Are there any graphics on the page?
(Shading or dropdown boxes are considered graphics.)

The fonts selected for the report may slow a printer down also.

try the following:
1) make a copy of the report to play with
2) remove any fancy formatting and images from the report.
3) print one page and check the timing
4) change the font to Arial or another 'standard' font
5) print one page and check the timing
6) you get the idea?

start with a simple report and add sections/graphics until you find the culprit.

hope this helps,
mike