Putting reports on the Web

[BobWman]

We have designed a project using VB6, SQL 2000 and Crystal reports 8. We will soon be upgrading to Crystal reports 8.5. The project has about 50 reports, and the user has decided that they want to make many of the reports available on the Web.

We have 3-4 developers that have little or no Web experience. Very little knowledge of VBScript, HTML, etc. We know that there are several options for implementing Web reporting, and we are trying to decide which option would be best for us.

There are people in the department that have Web development experience, and we could get some limited assistance from them.

What option(s) would you suggest? Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

 

[synapsevampire]

If the usage is limited to 5 users, then the Crystal Enterprise that comes with Crystal Reports 8.5 will probably allow for WEB publishing immediately without code.

Crystal has extortionately priced WEB viewing, so read up on it.

Even if you create a report and export it for use on the web, if more than 50 users view it, there's a $10,000 Broadcasting License...

I suggest that you contact Crystal and specifically asl about licensing PRIOR to expending any more resources on this.

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[BobWman]

My understanding is that there is a maximum of 5 concurrent users allowed. We do not intend to exceed this limit. What happens if a 6th user logs on?

Publishing directly does not allow users to enter sort/filter criteria. Nor does it allow for the most current data. We may have to do it that way, but is another method possible - without getting us in over our heads.

Thanks.

 

[synapsevampire]

That's easy, the 6th user doesn't lon on, they receive an error message

With the Standard version of CE 8, you can specify many options available to the user like refreshing data, parameters, etc., as for the most current data, you can just schedule the report, and disallow users from refreshing the data. They would then enter the historical instancing area (View History) and select the report's date of interest. Since these are already processed, the performance is good, they even cahce reports.

It sounds like a good solution for you.

Again, please contact Crystal, there are lots of gotchas in this less featured version, such as only 2 accounts, Adminstrator or Guest.

-k

http://www.informeddatadecisions.com

kai@informeddatadecisions.com

 

[moonknightt]

There is another and better way to integrate your reports than using Crystal enterprise. Asp can be used. it would have the same problem as the 5 concurrent user license but it is much better becasue you do not have two licensing issues. CE has its own Licensing issues and then Crytal reports has its own.. but using ASP u have to only deal withthe Crystal reports Licensing Issue. there is a tool out there called Recrystallize which converts your reports to ASP...Good Luck

 

[BobWman]

Thank you both for the input. Licensing is not a major concern because the probability of more than 5 concurrent users is negligible. If there happened to be more than 5 users - an error message would be acceptable.

My main concerns are as follows:
1. The resources we have to commit to the solution. We have limited expertise in this area, and may or may not be able to purchase a product like Recrystallize.
2. If we go with a non-static method, like ASP, it would be nice if we could provide users with capability to select sort and filtering criteria. Does Recrystallize allow for this?

Also, I am not sure what Crystal Enterprise is, or what it does? What about the Web Component Server vs. ASP - would one of them be better/easier than the other for us?

fyi - All of our users have Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

[moonknightt]

Recrystallize is inexpensive and it produces Dynamic reports in different formats and Styles.. if user license is not an issue i would go this route as the learning curve is not steep at at all. Recrystallize is a ASP code Generator. it would display the reports in any format you like..HTML...Adode PDF and can also give youthe option to export.

http://WWW.Recrystallize.com

If you are using CR 8.5 then the web component server has been moved to or replaced by CE.

 

[kenhamady]

The following article might be helpful to put your options into perspective:

http://www.kenhamady.com/news0202.html

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

http://www.kenhamady.com/

tek@kenhamady.com