Lori,
In addition to my comments on the thread on "Progess Reports" that you started, here are some comments on how exported data can be used with Custom Reports.
1. Thad Jacobs has emailed steps whereby Crystal can directly read a .csv file using ADO connections. This eliminates the need to have Access in between.
2. If you link an Access database to your exported .csv file, Crystal can then report off the Access database quite nicely. I have found that, once setup, this method is much faster than #1 above. Also, once the Access and Crystal reports are set up, then you simply export the data (either manually, via a vantage menu, or scheduled automatically). The Crystal report (on next refresh) will see the new data. We use several reports with this setup that could never have been accomplished using straight Crystal or straight Access (let alone Report Builder).
3. Neither of the above steps need the ODBC connection with Crystal Reports. However, if you do still need Crystal Access directly to the database, then you really need to get your Web Component Server (Crystal 8.0) or Crystal Enterprise (Crystal 8.5) running. This only consumes one ODBC license for your whole company. Users run the reports through their Web browser (Internet Explorer). This method of report distribution has been absolutely wonderful for us. Report Distribution and management is far more simple that with compiled reports.
4. If you are looking for a true Progress 4GL report from start to finish... with options for data entry parameters and output screens, then you are way out of my league. Lonnie Drew might give you some tips in that area. He has designed such reports and posted them on the eGroups list (along with the source code). They are facinating reading.
I'd be glad to try to help you with any of these options (except number 4 of course). Trying to help you with #4 would be like the blind leading the blind.
Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics
In addition to my comments on the thread on "Progess Reports" that you started, here are some comments on how exported data can be used with Custom Reports.
1. Thad Jacobs has emailed steps whereby Crystal can directly read a .csv file using ADO connections. This eliminates the need to have Access in between.
2. If you link an Access database to your exported .csv file, Crystal can then report off the Access database quite nicely. I have found that, once setup, this method is much faster than #1 above. Also, once the Access and Crystal reports are set up, then you simply export the data (either manually, via a vantage menu, or scheduled automatically). The Crystal report (on next refresh) will see the new data. We use several reports with this setup that could never have been accomplished using straight Crystal or straight Access (let alone Report Builder).
3. Neither of the above steps need the ODBC connection with Crystal Reports. However, if you do still need Crystal Access directly to the database, then you really need to get your Web Component Server (Crystal 8.0) or Crystal Enterprise (Crystal 8.5) running. This only consumes one ODBC license for your whole company. Users run the reports through their Web browser (Internet Explorer). This method of report distribution has been absolutely wonderful for us. Report Distribution and management is far more simple that with compiled reports.
4. If you are looking for a true Progress 4GL report from start to finish... with options for data entry parameters and output screens, then you are way out of my league. Lonnie Drew might give you some tips in that area. He has designed such reports and posted them on the eGroups list (along with the source code). They are facinating reading.
I'd be glad to try to help you with any of these options (except number 4 of course). Trying to help you with #4 would be like the blind leading the blind.
Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics
----- Original Message -----
From: Lori Baker
To: Vantage Onelist (vantage@onelist.com)
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2003 4:25 PM
Subject: [Vantage] Custom Exportable Reports
How do you handle custom reports that need to be exported and have to have
interaction from the user? I'm using Crystal Reports with ODBC but I am
having major issues with licensing and Progress and would like to relieve
myself of the headaches. Any help?
Lori
Lori A. Baker
Director of Information Systems
WindStone Medical Inc. (formerly Cardio Pak Inc.)
406.259.6387
lbaker@... <mailto:lbaker@...>
www.windstonemedical.com <http://www.windstonemedical.com/>
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