Crystal Reports: Web Component Server

Here's a feature that was new with Crystal Reports Version 8. Of course, that was a long time ago but that's where it started. This feature got a lot of promotion, and it's the improved delivery of reports via a Web server.

We installed this software on the Web server in our office network, we have to say we were impressed. And so have been the thousands of users who have installed subsequent versions of Crystal Reports. Assuming they can afford it, which many cannot.

That's why we offer schedulers and viewers, which combine to make a cost-efficient desktop solution.

The Web component server is fast and supports some powerful features. So if delivery of reports via a browser is something you could make use of, we recommend you have a good look at this feature in version 8 (or later).

Of course, we are way beyond Version 8 today. But how many of these ground-breaking features have you missed out on? Are you using a recent version as if it's a really old version, because you haven't looked at what it can really do? If so, spend some time browsing the menus.

Some other suggestions for getting more out of your Crystal Reports investment:

1. Look at the third-party plugs we offer. These include viewers, schedulers, image-related tools, mail tools, data conversion tools, and some nifty UFLs.
2. Get a book on Crystal Reports.
3. Locate a local User Group, or start one of your own. Consider having meetings quarterly, rather than monthly, so it doesn't become onerous.
4. See if there's a class or seminar in a city you'd like to visit. Convince your boss it's a good investment for the company to send you, and enjoy your trip.
5. Set aside one hour per week just to try something new in Crystal Reports.

Of course, nobody is making you do this. You could probably just keep doing what you're doing and maybe hang onto your job for a long time. But here's the thing. If you become especially adroit with this business intelligence tool, you become more valuable on the job market. You also help your company's bottom line, if its executives make good decisions based on the information.

This means you and your employer can more easily justify a raise or promotion. And if that doesn't produce results for you, well, you have something significant to bring up at job interviews. If you created a local group or joined one, you also have a network from which those job opportunities can flow.

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