Version Management

[nbrk]

Hi all,

Does anyone use a version manager to source control their crystal reports? If so, how? I have heard through the grapevine that there is a 3rd party solution for versioning crytal reports...any one else heard of this?

Thanks in advance

 

[vidru]

We use StarTeam for version control of our software and reports, but I think it's a bit pricey. There are some free, open source options though - check them out here.

-dave

 

[nbrk]

Dave,

Thanks for your quick response. Have you heard of an interface into PVCS that integrates into Crystal?

Nick

 

[rhinok]

Versioning Crystal Reports is easy, as long as you don't have Crystal Enterprise. You can use Visual Source Safe, PVCS (no plug-in, that I'm aware of), Rational ClearCase, etc...

If you have Crystal Enterprise, then there is no easy solution. Versioning becomes a little more tedious, because of the manner in which CE stores your reports in the File Repository Server.

~Kurt

 

[nbrk]

Sorry to say but we have Crystal Enterprise..any ideas?

 

[rhinok]

Unfortunately, versioning is very manual with Crystal Enterprise. It goes something like this:[ol][li]Check .rpt file out of your Version Mgmt software and save to your desktop (or wherever)[/li][li]Open the .rpt file in Crystal Reports and modify[/li][li]Save As over the same report within your Enterprise Folders (you'll have to log in to the APS through CE)[/li][li]Once you've saved the report to your APS, you'll need to Save the report to your hard drive, too.[/li][li]Once the report has been saved to both CE and your hard drive,you can check the file back in to your Version Mgmt. software[/li][li]Don't forget to refresh the report in CE (may be required), reset the login, parameters or schedule (as needed)[/li][/ol]

~Kurt

 

[nbrk]

Kurt,

Thanks for the bad news. There has to be some kind of tool out there that interfaces entrprise to a version manager. Surely??

Nbrk

 

[rhinok]

Not that I'm aware of :-( Part of my job is to manage CE deployments for various development projects. I ask about this at every conference I attend, but haven't heard any good news yet.

~Kurt

 

[nbrk]

Kurt thanks for your input

Nbrk

 

[Madawc]

You could always go for a low-tech solution - a version number in the header, which programmers update when they make a change.

We also use the special field Modification Date, but this gets re-set very easily.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia)