Section Contents

The following is a short description of each section in the online help.

What's New for Developers

With the release of Crystal Reports version 8.5 developers edition, Crystal Reports continues to improve the flexibility and power of the Report Designer Component, along with it's web reporting capabilities. New components and features allow you to enhance your users reporting experience and increase the availability of Crystal Reports.

This section introduces the new features and enhancements, which fall into three key cateories:

Key Features of Crystal Reports 8.x

This section highlights the key changes made for developers in versions 8 , and it points you to further information. For a more complete discussion of some of the more major changes, see A Closer Look at Some of the New Features.

Integration Methods

This section is to gives you an understanding of how integrating Crystal Reports into your applications has evolved. You will also learn the benefits of using the latest technology—represented in the Report Design Component (RDC). This technology will enable you to take full advantage of the powerful Crystal Report Print Engine and create the best applications available today.

Migrating to the RDC from the OCX

This section is to illustrates the benefits of using the RDC for integrating reporting functionality into your Visual Basic applications. Learn how to migrate applications from the OCX to the RDC to take advantage of the latest features within Crystal Reports. Also included is an overview of the RDC, its major components, object model, and a description of its advanced features not available within the OCX.

Introducing the Report Designer Component

This section introduces the Report Designer Component (RDC) and explains it's architecture along with some possible development scenarios. It also provides additional sources for help and information on the RDC, including sample applications that present the RDC in real-world scenarios.

Quick Start for using the RDC

This section helps you get started using the Report Designer Component (RDC) in Microsoft Visual Basic. Three examples provide you with the basic skills needed to use the RDC. You will find a high-level explanation of the steps required to add the RDC to a project, a tutorial on adding an existing report to the RDC, and a tutorial on creating and modifying a new report.

RDC Data Access

This section explains data access through the Report Designer Component (RDC), and describes how to connect to a data source through the Data Explorer. It also provides information on Active Data, the Microsoft Data Environment, and the database drivers used by the RDC.

Understanding the RDC Object Model

This section provides you with an understanding of the Report Designer Component (RDC) Object Model through a high-level overview of how a report is created. The overview is then related to the primary objects and collections contained in the RDC Object Model. More detailed information on a number of the objects, collections, and events is available at the end of the section.

RDC Programming

This section provides solutions to a number of common runtime challenges. Most of these challenges involve accessing an object and then changing the properties. The section first discusses special considerations when programming with the Report Designer Component (RDC); it then presents the two general methods to access an object in a report or subreport. The examples assume that you have used one of these methods to locate the object of interest in order to concentrate on the special considerations that you may have with each of the various procedures.

Programming the Crystal Report Viewers

The Crystal Report Viewer is a front-end user interface for viewing reports. In this section you will find detailed information on implementing the ActiveX and Java Bean viewers in your application.

Programming the Embeddable Crystal Reports Designer Control

This section demonstrates how to integrate the Embeddable Crystal Reports Designer Control (Embeddable Designer) into your application. Included are tutorials on creating sample applications in both Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Visual C++. A brief section on creating reports in the designer at runtime is also included.

Working with Visual C++ and Visual InterDev

This section illustrates how the Report Designer Component (RDC) can be integrated using other development languages. Included are examples in Visual C++ and Visual Interdev.

Report Designer Component Object Model

The Report Designer Component is the ultimate development tool for your reporting needs. In this section you will find a detailed description of the Report Designer Component Object Model and its properties, methods and events.

Report Viewer Object Model

The Crystal Report Viewer contains an extensive object model allowing you complete control over how the viewer appears and functions. This section provides detailed information on the properties, methods and events of the Crystal Report Viewer object model for both the ActiveX viewer, and the Java Bean viewer.

Embeddable Crystal Reports Designer Control Object Model

The Embeddable Crystal Reports Designer Control (Embeddable Designer) is a new addition to the Report Designer Component; it enables you to provide a Crystal Reports designer in your application. In this section, you will find a general overview of the control as well as detailed information on its properties and methods.

Visual Basic Solutions

Crystal Reports offers you a wide range of solutions for your reporting needs. This section provides a general overview of the more common Crystal Reports development tools. These include the Crystal Report Engine API, Crystal ActiveX Control, and Crystal Report Engine Automation Server, but not the Report Designer Component. The Report Designer Component is the preferred Development tool and is described in previous sections.

Crystal Report Engine

The Crystal Report Engine is used alone and as a base class for other Crystal Reports development tools, including the Crystal ActiveX Control, Crystal Report Engine Automations Server, and the Crystal Visual Component Library. In this section you will find a general overview of how the Crystal Report Engine is used in an application, as well as a detailed section on the Crystal Report Engine API and it's most common functionality.

Crystal Report Engine Index

The Crystal Report Engine API is a powerful development tool for your reporting needs. In this chaptersection you will find detailed information on the functions, structures and constants of the Crystal Report Engine API. Syntax for the functions and structures is provided for C, Microsoft Visual Basic, and Delphi. In addition you will find a section on obsolete functions, structures, and constants, including a list of obsolete calls with the applicable replacement calls.

The Crystal Report Engine Class Library Reference

The Crystal Report Engine Class Library is based on the Microsoft Foundations Class Library, and provides an object oriented approach to programming the Crystal Report Engine in C++. In this section you will find detailed information on methods, structures and constants, along with a list of obsolete methods and structures.

Crystal Class Library for NewEra Reference

The Crystal New Era Class Library is a wrapper around the Crystal Reports Engine API created specifically for programming in the Informix New Era development environment. In this section you will find detailed information on classes and their associated methods, and constants.

Visual Basic Wrapper for the Crystal Report Engine

This section provides information on the functions and structures included in the Visual Basic wrapper for the Crystal Report Engine (Crwrap.bas). Special structures and functions have been created for Visual Basics native 4-byte alligned type.

Crystal Report Engine Object Model for the Automation Server

The Crystal Report Engine Object Library provides an object oriented approach for programming the Crystal Reports Engine in your application. In this section you will find detailed information on objects and collections, along with their associated properties, methods, and events.

Crystal ActiveX Control Reference

The Crystal ActiveX Control provides an easy to use interface for adding the basic functionality of Crystal Reports to your application. In this section you will find detailed information on properties, methods, and error messages.

Creating User-Defined Functions in C

Crystal Reports allows you to create User Defined Functions that are recognized by the Crystal Reports Formula Editor. In this section you will find detailed information on programming User Defined Functions in C.

Creating User-Defined Functions in Visual Basic

Crystal Reports allows you to create User Defined Functions that are recognized by the Crystal Reports Formula Editor. In this section you will find detailed information on programming User Defined Functions in Microsoft Visual Basic.

Creating User-Defined Functions in Delphi 3.0

Crystal Reports allows you to create User Defined Functions that are recognized by the Crystal Reports Formula Editor. In this section you will find detailed information on programming User Defined Functions in Delphi.

Code samples for the Crystal Report Engine Automation Server

This section provides code samples using the Crystal Report Engine Automations Server. The code samples are written in Visual Basic and can be easily incorprated into your applicaion.

Code samples for the Crystal Report Engine

This section provides code samples using the Crystal Report Engine. The code samples are written in C, dBASE, Delphi, and Visual Basic and can be easily incorprated into your applicaion.

Active Data

This section provides information on using active data in the Crystal Reports Development environment. Three areas are covered; the active data driver, Crystal Data Object, and Crystal Data Source Type Library. By reading these sections you will learn how to create active data reports, create recordsets, and connect to the datasource through the Report Designer Component automation server.

Crystal Data Source Object Models

Crystal Reports provides support for reporting off data when no true data source exists. In this section you will find detailed information, including properties and methods, on Crystal Data Objects and the Crystal Data Source Type Library.

The Crystal Active Data Driver Reference

This section provides information on the functions available in the Active Data Driver (P2smon.dll). These functions simplify the creation of Data Definition Files and allow you to pass a recordset to a report using the Crystal Report Print Engine.

Appendix A: International Office Directory

This appendix provides contact information by region. For technical support information, see the Technical Support Guide.



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