A solid understanding of the repository can really improve the the efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of your reports. Hammerman and Associates offers classes on this very subject. We aren't going to cover all of it here, but will provide some highlights. 

Use the CR9 Repository for those commonly used objects

The Crystal Reports 9.0 repository is a great place to store some commonly used items in your report. This includes text strings, images, SQL Commands (see next item) and Custom Formulas.

The Repository is initially stored in an Access database and has an ODBC connection with the System DSN of “Crystal Repository.” But you can use any ODBC data source including a database in your network so you can all share the same common objects.

Create a new database for the repository. We recommend you copy the existing MS-Access database, but you can start with an empty database. (The initial repository is Repository_en.mdb, stored in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Crystal Decisions\2.0\bin).

Create an ODBC connection to the new database. The new database does not have to be an Access database. If you use your SQL Server or Oracle server then, by using server security you can control who can view and who can edit items in the repository. 

You next need to set Crystal Reports 9.0 to use this new Database connection. This control information is stored in an INI file and can be edited with any text editor such as NotePad. The INI file is at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Crystal Decisions\2.0\bin\orMap.ini .

There is a line in this file that says… Crystal Repository=Crystal Repository .

Edit this to say Crystal Repository=New ODBC DSN.

You can also add a Custom Formula to the CR9 Repository.

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