Recrystallize for Web distribution 1

[sue1127]

Hi all,

I need to distribute Crystal reports on the web, and security is essential. For example, a department head should be able to see the department expense report, but should be able to look only at his/her budget lines. Money is very limited, and we will probably not be able to afford Crystal Enterprise.

I have recently heard of a 3rd party package called Recrystallize Pro which can be used to distribute Crystal reports securely on the web. Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of this product, or of any other method to distribute reports without "breaking the bank"?

Thanks very much,

Sue

 

[chelseatech]

Regarding Sue's question about running secure reports via the Web Component Server or CE Std - it can be done.

The security has to be in the report as it's not available in Crystal Enterprise Standard.

We added a security table into our DB, and had a Code and a PIN field. The report is designed and the Security table is linked to the other tables inb the report. Parameters are required for User and PIN.

ASP asks the user who they are (and their PIN) and validates against the initial security DB.

When the Web page calls the report it passes the UserID and the PIN and the report checks both are valid as part of the record selection. Ken can try and run Bruce's report by copying the URL and changing the KEN to BRUCE, but he'll have know my PIN as well or the report will return no valid records.

Seems to be working okay at my client site. Editor and Publisher of Crystal Clear

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

 

[HowardHammerman]

Regarding the processor license....
$45,000 buys unlimited users for one processor in a server. If there are multiple processors in the server, it will use only one. If you want the software to use the second processor (if there is one) then you must pay more (about $35,000) and they will unlock the code appropriately. In addition to the $45k you must add 25% for maintenance and support.

more later... Howard Hammerman,

Crystal Reports training, consulting, books, training material, software, and support. Scheduled training in 8 cities.
howard@hammerman.com

http://www.hammerman.com

800-783-2269

 

[LMCRYER]

hey Howard,

Can you send me the info to talk to that sales person that you trust? I am going to have to call them and go through several things and I don't want to get the run-around (which is already difficult on this end because I use the relay service!)

Please advise.

lmc
cryerlisa@hotmail.com

 

[Guest_imported]

I see no mention of Seagate Info 7 here, which is very odd. It's the most generous licensing agreement orginated by Crystal.

This is an excellent solution for those wishing to deploy Enterprise reporting for a variety of reasons, the single most important being that you receive 50 FREE scheduler and distributer licenses, 1 FREE developer license, and you do not fall victim to Seagate's new extortionate licensing policies.

For those that know nothing of Seagte Info, it was given away up until 2000, and is CR 7 compatible. It also does scheduling and distribution, handles cubes, error notification, etc. It's what Crystal Enterprise might become some day, but by the time they get there, someone should eat up Seagate's market share.

Implement SI 7 (4th generation product), and don't worry over licensing issues, and you can empower your users. Why did they distribute 50 licenses for free (it even states on the CD cover that this is free software, and they gave it away at trade shows).

I suggest to all of my clients that they NOT use Crystal for web deployed reports, they are cost prohibitive. The Crystal Broadcast License doesn't sound legal to me, does anyone know? For instance, if I wait for processing WEB distributed reports to more than 50 users until I detect that a user has manually clicked or typed something somewhere within my enterprise, does that constitute a manual process?

Please, Microsoft, or someone with the development resources, bury Crystal. We can't switch to another product right now because of the lack of features, but it's laden with legacy thinking and mixed signals.

This is an interesting site, I've been doing Crystal contracting for the past 7 years, with another 3 years of experience with Crystal products, and other than the more VB centric, MS hosted Crystal newsgroup, there aren't any decent Crystal related WEB sites.

Or are there?

thesynner@hotmail.com

 

[kenhamady]

I have checked out every site and forum and this is the most active forum for CR, and IMHO it has highest quality of participants of any forum.

However, I don't think you can still get the Info 50 free license deal from any retailer or from Seagate any more. I have seen some on Ebay and I am pretty sure that there are lots of these floating around. My opinion is that idea was to use these to get people hooked, and then steer them into the upgrade path to CE, which could be the same reason you can still get v4.6 free with VB. 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

 

[Nuffsaid]

Hi All,

So I called my rep and guess what, I can't seem to get a straight answer... what a suprise.

Anyways, based on what I've been told, perhaps we're not so bad off. 30k for 25 named users, but I've got 6 "processors" running the system. Maybe should just leave well enough alone.

Some Person, we use both Info and Enterprise, and although Info "Can do the job", as far as web reporting goes, we find it slow and cumbersome. In my opinion, Info was designed for a LAN deployment and Seagate tried to push it to the web, with little success. Enter Enterprise, a true web based application. True, it can't do everything Info can,.... but, what's up next week???

As Info dies with release 7.5 where do we go from here ???

Don't get me wrong, we love the Info licensing, but we use the system in more of a "push" environment where as Enterprise is used in a more of "Come and get it" scenario.

Just my thoughts.....

Nuffsaid.

 

[HowardHammerman]

Hi all,

I am NOT going to add any more info. I am just going to say what a GREAT BUNCH of people participate on this site!!

I will be going to the Crystal Decisions User Group meeting May 1 to 3 and will ATTEMPT to get better information. Maybe even something in writing!!!

What is AMAZING is that C.D. could simply post their prices and policies on their web site and eliminate all this confusion.

Anybody else going to the Orlando conference?? Howard Hammerman,

Crystal Reports training, consulting, books, training material, software, and support. Scheduled training in 8 cities.
howard@hammerman.com

http://www.hammerman.com

800-783-2269