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protect rpt's

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gerdecc

Technical User
Nov 21, 2001
4
DE
Hi, i want to sell my created rpt-files. does anyone know how i can protect them that they can't be copieed or changed.
Thanks for all help
 
Good question.

I don't have the answer you need but here's what I know about this.

In earlier versions of crystal you could create
a) EXE versions of the report
b) Distribute the report.

By creating an EXE you would achieve your aims with the following caveats.
a) The client needed to have CR installed
b) I think the client needed access to the same datasource names as you used when creating the report.

If you choose to distribute the report a whole list of DLLs were included in the distribution file and usually meant a report was about 2-3 Mb in size. The advantage being the end user did not require Crystal to be installed.

You are able to download add-ins that will allow you to distribute reports but Seagate have suggested support for this option will not continue for long.

Can anyone add to this? Steve Phillips, Crystal Consultant
 
hi Steve,

Thank you very much.
I will try out and post, if I found something save.
 
Gerdecc, please clarify:

Do you want A)the protect the coding of the report so that an unsophisticated or ill-intentioned user cannot muck up the logic in your formulas? or B)To be able to sell your .rpts to a client and have a deterrent to keep others from "pirating" your work? I am envisioning an "installation key" or something similar here.

If A is the case, I cannot add more than what Steve Phillips said. If B is the case I would love an answer from anyone out there that knows how to do this.

I work with Macola software which optionally comes with several "canned" crystal reports specific to that package. The .rpts all install, but they do not execute properly if the Macola license files do not show a registration for these reports. Again, I would love to know how to do this.

Software Support for Sage Mas90, Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
Cell/VM: 714-348-0964
 
The original compile feature does not protect the RPT. The EXE has to be distributed WITH the RPT file. See faq149-277 for info on the original compile feature.

The only protection you have is if you create an application using the new RDC method for integrating your report. Here you can create a report with a VB object instead of an RPT. The object is a DSR file and it is similar to a form object. This is truly compiled into the program and there is no RPT to distribute.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guide to using Crystal in VB
tek@kenhamady.com
 
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