Protecting Intellectual Property!!

[Zcript3r]

We are using Crystal Reports 9 to create some unique reports for the Fast Food Industry. One problem we are running into is the fact that since Crystal doesn't seem to support report compiling anymore, anyone with Crystal Reports Developer can open up our reports and have their way with them.
Does anybody have a way to protect the intellectual property that is wrapped up in the reports?

Thank you.
Rob Wasiniak

 

[dgillz]

Assumming you are using cr developer or advanced editions, you can place the report in a vb project and distribute the project as an executeable.

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Exact Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.trianglepartners.com

dgilsdorf@trianglepartners.com

 

[zemp]

You can do that using the Crystal Reports RDC. The report is part of the exe and the end user can't see or manipulate it.

Thanks and Good Luck!

zemp

 

[Madawc]

You could export the report data. That way, they only see the output from that run.

Madawc Williams
East Anglia
Great Britain

 

[Zcript3r]

The problem we are having is that we are developing a product that allows Crystal Reports to be distributed across an organization. We are doing this with a custom piece of code we are calling our Launchpad. This application allows the Crystal .RPT file to be dropped into a folder and then that particular site or computer can run the report. Since there is no way for a Crystal Report Developer to password protect the Report itself, we are trying to come up with a way to protect the intellectual property that is in the report.

Report writing is a very good money making business. But when the report is utilized outside of a compiled appliation, like we are trying to implement, there is no way to secure the information used to create the report.

If anyone could offer any suggestions of how to solve this problem, it would be much appreciated!!

Rob Wasiniak

 

[IdoMillet]

Rob,

I have an idea for you but it should probably not be discussed in this public forum. E-mail or call me.

Cheers,
- Ido

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

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[chelseatech]

Another approach is to encrypt your rpt files.

Use a custom viewer to select the rpt file, unencrypt the file, and then process it for the user.

However, if they can export the report, they could save a copy of the RPT with saved data, and then reverse enginner your work.

Compiling the RPT into the EXE with the embedded report designer is the most secure method I'm aware of. However there may even be a way to reverse engineer the EXE and extract the RPT.

Editor and Publisher of Crystal Clear

http://www.chelseatech.co.nz/pubs.htm