What version do we need?

[cbestal]

We want to be able to give a client complete access to our database, so they can create reports and save them on the server to be pulled up anytime. Only about 5 people at the clients location will create the reports, but they must be viewable by anyone at that location.

Our database server (SQL Server) is on the internet so they would need to access it remotely.

Some limitations we face are that we don't want to give VPN access, so the report design must be done remotely via a web browser or connecting to SQL Server through some desktop application via IP and port.

Can Crystal Reports/Enterprise do this?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Use CR on the Desktop of your users then have them use the publishing wizard or some other method ( the CMC or directly from CR) to publish then to your Web server ( if a firewall is involved, additional effort is required)..You will need at least the Professional edition of CE and CR ( all design to be done in CR on the users local PC..To have ad-hoc design ability in CE you would need some pricey additional licences).
A visit to the Business Objects site will give you more info on the architecture..

 

[KingfisherINC]

We want to be able to give a client complete access to our database" FWIW that sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Crystal Enterprise would need to be housed on your internal network. You could then use Crystal Reports Explorer against a report template or Business View.


Kingfisher [CECP]

 

[KingfisherINC]

Crystal Reports Explorer (a.k.a. Ad-Hoc)

http://www.businessobjects.com/global/pdf/products/crystalenterprise/MS019AFINALAdHocFactsNew.pdf

Kingfisher [CECP]

 

[MJRBIM]

Crystal Reports Explorer (a.k.a. Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching)

The quote we got for CE-10 PREMIUM - including Ad-hoc - was a jaw dropper....

 

[KingfisherINC]

As my Uncle says "It's all relative"...

Kingfisher [CECP]

 

[Madawc]

It's also possible to export a Crystal report as Excel or Word or Acrobat/PDF. Some users prefer the output in Excel because they can then make their own analysis on it.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK)

 

[chris777]

cbestal,

Can I ask what is probably a dumb question? Have you tested creating reports remotely using CR? I am wondering about throughput/speed issues passing data through the network.

Also, passing data over the internet in an unencrypted format is never a good idea. I would rethink using a VPN or some other kind of security layer.



Chris
Data Intelligence Group

http://www.digus.com

 

[cbestal]

Crystal Enterprise would need to be housed on your internal network. You could then use Crystal Reports Explorer against a report template or Business View.

Ok, so we install CE on our remote web server (connected to our DB server). Then users can run/create reports over the Internet (e.g.

http://ce.domain.com/reports)?

If it can, then this seems like the best approach so far. This will take care of security since the users will only be able to create/run reports via a web browser.

What is the cost for something like this? 10K, 50K?

Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[MJRBIM]

You'll need to contact BO, but depending on your number of users and processors - you'll probably want to add a zero to your 10K, 50K guesses.

 

[cbestal]

you'll probably want to add a zero to your 10K, 50K guesses

Then that is definitely not an option.

What about Use CR on the Desktop of your users then have them use the publishing wizard or some other method ( the CMC or directly from CR) to publish then to your Web server running CE Express or CE Pro?

Security issues aside, can CR on the desktop connect to a remote database, for report creation/modification and publishing?

Thanks again.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
assuming no firewall it should work OK..