Report Distribution-Crystal 911-Help!

[Kallen]

Sorry to be so dramatic, but desperate times call for desperate matters. Okay, here's the situation.

I currently have Crystal Reports Pro 8.5, and will be designing reports as SQL Server as my source.

What I planned on doing was sending users these reports, and allow them to use the Crystal Report Viewer.

My problem is, that I can't find the viewer anywhere on within the Seagate Crystal program file.

My questions are:
One: Where do I get the viewer(s) and
Two: With the viewer are end users allowed to use parameters in their reports.

The goal of the company is to have all of these reports rolled out by the end of May, and until I can figure out the best way to distribute these reports, their wish is just a pipedream!!

Thanks to all

 

[Kallen]

HOLD the presses,

I was able to find the viwer, I had to disabe automatic launch of My Crystal Install CD. I added the Netscape viewer but after I install it, I can't find it anywhere on my PC as a file.

I was able to get the answer to my question in regards to parameters (source: The Complete Reference Crystal Reports 8.5 AWESOME BOOK).

After doing more research on distrubution, I am now under the realization that this will probably be a huge pain.

I am sure (after reading some of the posts in search mode) that many of you have the same problems. Does anyone out there have any creative solutions for distrubution, that you are currently using? I am starting to think that maybe we should buy a version of Crystal for all of the department heads that will get these reports on a monthly basis, but of corse this costs money.

Sorry if I appear as though I am all over the place, I am just starting to panic a little about this situation, as I have a short deadline, and work for managers, that don't understand technical limitations.

 

[dgillz]

What version of Crystal reports do you have ??? If you have crystal 8 or newer the report distribution does not come with Crystal, you have to download it via the Crystal Decisions website.

Don't panic! The end of may is a long time away and If your reports already exist, we should be able to get them to the department heads way before then. There is ZERO need to buy crystal for each department manager.

There are several good 3rd party report viewers out there, Hammerlaunch and CviewManager are the ones I am most familiar with. Go to

http://www.hammerman.com

and

http://www.chelseatech.co.nz

respectively for info on these viewers.

Let me know if you have any questions. Software Support for Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
dgilsdorf@mchsi.com

 

[Kallen]

I have 8.5. I am going to download both of the versions for a demo.

I will let you know how I do.

Thanks!!

 

[balves]

Unfortunately, Crystal has made the Report Distribution software functional only with the Crystal Reports Developer Edition.

So, if you want to go that route, Crystal Reports Professional will not work.

 

[chelseatech]

Thanks for the kind words Don, but just one small clarification.

If you just want report viewing, then download the cView demo. The product you mentioned cViewMANAGER is the report scheduler. The two share a common origin and work together. Editor and Publisher of Crystal Clear

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

 

[bjrollet]

Have you considered using ASP to deploy your reports. It's not that hard to set up and it works wonderfully.

 

[Kallen]

THANKS for all of the suggestions. I can't use an ASP at this time, because my dept does not have it's own Intranet site (which is where I would want to put it). I am thinking about upgrading to Enterprise so I could use the report viewer/distributor.

The only downfall w/ that though is I took a look at the Java Report Viewer and I found that I did not like it as mucyh as CView and Hammerman.

Does anyone know if the report viewer that comes w/ Enterprise will allow users to use parameters. Also, how do the reports print out. Over 90% of my reports are on landscape, and I noticed that when I was using the report viewer on the Internet, all of my reports did not print out properly.

Thanks