Crystal Reports: Compiled reports in Version 8

cView Features....

Administrator:

• File Associations. You can install cView as the default viewer of rpt files. So if you send a rpt with saved data to a cView user, the user just needs to click on the rpt file to open and view inside cView.
   
• Database Security. cView stores all the database security information prior to processing the report. You can lock this away from users, so they never see the database password.
   
• Ease of Control. Manage a folder of reports, and use the local network security to decide who can view which reports.
   
• Secure Subreports. If your report includes a subreport that requires a database password, cView can process the report. Some report viewers can't.

Now, as an administrator, start putting all of these pieces together. What emerges is a feature set that can make a big difference in your organization. For example:

• Reduced TCO. Your total cost of ownership of your Business Intelligence reporting system is drastically reduced because cView is simple, flexible, and powerful. It has the functionality you need, without issues that force users to drive tech support nuts with trouble calls.
   
• Inexpensive upgrade path.You're going to upgrade your version of Crystal Reports some time. Why make that process inherently expensive via a Web-based viewing solution when you can make it inherently cost-effective with a desktop-based viewing solution?
   
• Ease in scalability. cView makes it easy to add seats to your business intelligence system. Just buy another low-cost licensing pack, and you're good to go. For repeat customers, we offer repeat purchase discounts and we provide options that eliminate complicated license management.

• Desktop Shortcut. You can create a shortcut on your desktop to run a report in cView with one click. The shortcut just needs to call cView, a function easily accomplished by file association.
   
• Ease of Use. View is easy to use. It is as simple as clicking a toolbar button, or using a menu to do a File/Open on a rpt file.
   
• Interactive Reports. If a report uses parameters, cView will prompt the user with the questions and allow them to select answers from pick lists. cView supports all parameter types including multi-value, range, and multi-value/range.
   
• One-click Print and Export. With one click of the toolbar, cView will print or export the report without requiring you to preview it first.
   
• Output Flexibility. A viewed report can be exported to other formats including PDF, Excel, Word, XML, and csv. The results can be printed, emailed, or saved in a disk folder.
   
• Report Instances. cView can create a instance of your report. This is a report with saved data that you want to archive or store for later viewing.
   
• Set Print Date. You can set the print date prior to running a report so the reports process at a specific time. This is useful for running reports at another historical point in time.

• View History, Folder and Instances. You can select a view of all the reports in a folder, the history of the last ten reports, or all the reports in the instances folder. Then you just select the report and can print, view, or export that report.

You do have other options for report distribution, besides those provided by Business Objects. See our Crystal Report schedulers and distribution tools, as well as our Crystal Reports viewers.

This article is copyrighted by Crystalkeen, Mindconnection, and Chelsea Technologies Ltd. It may be freely copied and distributed as long as the original copyright is displayed and no modifications are made to this material. Extracts are permitted. The names Crystal Reports and Seagate Info are trademarks owned by Business Objects.