Here's how I rank the various options for Crystal Distribution. I am assuming these are 'from scratch' crystal reports, not the ones that Vantage uses (as mentioned in other emails, these use .dbf tables that are exported from Vantage, and thus do not need ODBC drivers, in general).

BEST OPTION:
Use the Web Component Server of Crystal

ADVANTAGES:
1.. No need for ODBC except on your Web Server. This saves $100 a crack for the ODBC licenses you would need on each workstation running the report.
2.. More powerful reporting options, such as Group Tree view, On-demand subreports, etc. Basically you can manipulate the view of the report almost as powerfully as when you are in Crystal Designer.
3.. Very low CPU & software requirements on workstations to view the reports. All you need is Internet Explorer or Netscape.
4.. Once CWS is installed on the server, adding new reports is as simple as adding a line to the HTML file that the user will be looking at.
DISADVANTAGES:
1.. More complicated to set up on server initially (than compiling reports), but worth the work.
2.. May need a dedicated server, thus some extra hardware and possible server software, but still cheaper than a bunch of ODBC licenses. (Vantage doesn't recommend puting WCS on the Vantage Server, but it has been done - to varying degrees of success. This would save some hardware cost.)
3.. Slightly slower than running report right from Crystal Designer.
4.. You have to know a bit of HTML code to set up the web pages to view the reports. Not hard to pick up, however.
SECOND OPTION:
Use Crystal's Report Distribution/Compiler

ADVANTAGES:
1.. More simple than doing the Web Component Server.
2.. Once a number of workstations have been through the installation process for one compiled report, adding addtional compiled reports to that workstation is as simple as adding a shortcut to the compiled crystal report.

DISADVANTAGES:
1.. Extra cost of having ODBC on each workstation that runs a compiled report (about $100 each if you're legal about it).
2.. CPU of workstation is a factor in speed of report processing. Slower than Crystal Designer.
3.. Fewer report viewing features than Crystal Designer or Web Component Server.
4.. Major design changes in the original report may require a recompile. (Smaller changes, such as adding a field or moving a few things around shouldn't need a recompile.)
5.. Each new workstation that needs a compiled report means installing ODBC on that workstation. Means more work.
6.. Installing Compiled reports on various workstations with different operating systems can sometimes cause errors. Seagate can walk you through these. Crystal 8 seems a bit more bug-free in this area than Crystal 7, in my opinion.

SUMMARY:
If you can do it, and use the powerful and flexible Web Componenet Server. Otherwise, the Compiled report feature is dandy.

Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics

----- Original Message -----
From: Jill Seath
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 9:03 AM
Subject: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

Could someone let me know the outcome of the debate on the best way to
give users access to specific reports in Crystal?
Do Crystal and ODBC need to be installed on each work station?
Where should I set up shortcuts to each report? etc
Thanks
Sophie

eGroups Sponsor

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files, please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups, choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If the report uses ODBC to connect to data the client PC will also need an
ODBC connection (such as Merrant's for Progress). If the report uses only
.dbf files as created by Vantage (such as for Job Traveler, PO, Invoice,
etc...) then the client PC will not need any ODBC connector. The .dbf files
get placed on user's PC in the local vntgwork folder.

Crystal (depending on version) has a report distributor that makes a
portable version for non-Crystal PCs. In V8 you have to download the
distributor from Seagate. Segate is also discouraging it in favor of web
distribution of reports which sounds like a lot more work to me and involves
having to set up a web server internally. The report distributor has been
very easy to use. I created Favorites items on Vantage screen pointing to
the .exe files created on the user's PC. Only hassle has been re-loading on
each PC when changes are made.

-Todd C.
Harvey Vogel Mfg. Co.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jill Seath [mailto:JillSeath@...]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 11:04 AM
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Subject: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

Could someone let me know the outcome of the debate on the best way to
give users access to specific reports in Crystal?
Do Crystal and ODBC need to be installed on each work station?
Where should I set up shortcuts to each report? etc
Thanks
Sophie

eGroups Sponsor

<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=17000071
83:N/A=466331/?http://features.yahoo.com/webceleb/carrey/> Click Here!

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files,
please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
<http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/>
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to
www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups,
choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above
will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Everything Todd has said here is correct. I would like to add that even if you are using the .dbf files, the user will need to run whatever report is being used in Vantage first to update the .dbf files. Otherwise, that user will always receive the same report.

In my opinion, the web is the best way to distribute reports. It can be a hassle to setup, but it is well worth the effort. Don't be afraid to call Seagate Support to ask for help. They will walk you through whatever you need.

A second choice would be to download the PDF writer beta from Seagate. The KB article is at http://support.seagatesoftware.com/library/kbase/articles/c2006248.asp
and the file is located at
http://support.seagatesoftware.com/communityCS/FilesAndUpdates/scr8-pdfexportdriver.zip.asp

The PDF is a good choice for distributing reports, because it shows the report exactly as Crystal would. No other export can do this. Plus the users can't change any of the information. Which may or may not be what you want.

One thing that I've done with numerous companies is setup automated reports using Visual Basic and Crystal. Please feel free to contact me offline on how to do this. It isn't that complicated. Also, please feel free to contact me if you need help setting up your web server. It can be a pain, but once it is working, it works really well.

Ted Kitch
ted@...

----- Original Message -----
From: Todd Caughey
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 10:19 AM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

If the report uses ODBC to connect to data the client PC will also need an
ODBC connection (such as Merrant's for Progress). If the report uses only
.dbf files as created by Vantage (such as for Job Traveler, PO, Invoice,
etc...) then the client PC will not need any ODBC connector. The .dbf files
get placed on user's PC in the local vntgwork folder.

Crystal (depending on version) has a report distributor that makes a
portable version for non-Crystal PCs. In V8 you have to download the
distributor from Seagate. Segate is also discouraging it in favor of web
distribution of reports which sounds like a lot more work to me and involves
having to set up a web server internally. The report distributor has been
very easy to use. I created Favorites items on Vantage screen pointing to
the .exe files created on the user's PC. Only hassle has been re-loading on
each PC when changes are made.

-Todd C.
Harvey Vogel Mfg. Co.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jill Seath [mailto:JillSeath@...]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 11:04 AM
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Subject: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

Could someone let me know the outcome of the debate on the best way to
give users access to specific reports in Crystal?
Do Crystal and ODBC need to be installed on each work station?
Where should I set up shortcuts to each report? etc
Thanks
Sophie

eGroups Sponsor

<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=17000071
83:N/A=466331/?http://features.yahoo.com/webceleb/carrey/> Click Here!

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files,
please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
<http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/>
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to
www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups,
choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above
will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

eGroups Sponsor

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files, please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups, choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ted,
Thanks for the PDF tip. That gave me an idea for a report we already do that someone is using to look up Job numbers on paper. Using PDF he can do a search for the job# instead of sifting through 100 pages.

Troy

----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Kitch
To: vantage@egroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

Everything Todd has said here is correct. I would like to add that even if you are using the .dbf files, the user will need to run whatever report is being used in Vantage first to update the .dbf files. Otherwise, that user will always receive the same report.

In my opinion, the web is the best way to distribute reports. It can be a hassle to setup, but it is well worth the effort. Don't be afraid to call Seagate Support to ask for help. They will walk you through whatever you need.

A second choice would be to download the PDF writer beta from Seagate. The KB article is at http://support.seagatesoftware.com/library/kbase/articles/c2006248.asp
and the file is located at
http://support.seagatesoftware.com/communityCS/FilesAndUpdates/scr8-pdfexportdriver.zip.asp

The PDF is a good choice for distributing reports, because it shows the report exactly as Crystal would. No other export can do this. Plus the users can't change any of the information. Which may or may not be what you want.

One thing that I've done with numerous companies is setup automated reports using Visual Basic and Crystal. Please feel free to contact me offline on how to do this. It isn't that complicated. Also, please feel free to contact me if you need help setting up your web server. It can be a pain, but once it is working, it works really well.

Ted Kitch
ted@...
----- Original Message -----
From: Todd Caughey
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 10:19 AM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

If the report uses ODBC to connect to data the client PC will also need an
ODBC connection (such as Merrant's for Progress). If the report uses only
.dbf files as created by Vantage (such as for Job Traveler, PO, Invoice,
etc...) then the client PC will not need any ODBC connector. The .dbf files
get placed on user's PC in the local vntgwork folder.

Crystal (depending on version) has a report distributor that makes a
portable version for non-Crystal PCs. In V8 you have to download the
distributor from Seagate. Segate is also discouraging it in favor of web
distribution of reports which sounds like a lot more work to me and involves
having to set up a web server internally. The report distributor has been
very easy to use. I created Favorites items on Vantage screen pointing to
the .exe files created on the user's PC. Only hassle has been re-loading on
each PC when changes are made.

-Todd C.
Harvey Vogel Mfg. Co.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jill Seath [mailto:JillSeath@...]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000 11:04 AM
To: 'vantage@egroups.com'
Subject: [Vantage] crystal Report Distribution

Could someone let me know the outcome of the debate on the best way to
give users access to specific reports in Crystal?
Do Crystal and ODBC need to be installed on each work station?
Where should I set up shortcuts to each report? etc
Thanks
Sophie

eGroups Sponsor

<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=17000071
83:N/A=466331/?http://features.yahoo.com/webceleb/carrey/> Click Here!

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files,
please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
<http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/>
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to
www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups,
choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above
will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

eGroups Sponsor

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files, please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups, choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

eGroups Sponsor

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files, please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups, choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above will work the next time you try it.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]