Crystal Reports Solutions: Process Against Live Data

Have you looked at Windows-based viewers, but ruled them out as an option because they can't process against live data? If so, you need to look again. The cView. Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer does process against live data.

So, why would you want a viewer in the first place? You may have heard people complain about not Crystal Reports being outdated by the time they get them. This is a common problem when you distribute reports in a static format (e.g., PDF), rather than in the rpt format.

Many administrators believe they must distribute reports this way, because the beancounters won't approve the necessary number of license seats to allow distribution in the rpt format.

You are left with a situation that defeats the purpose of having Crystal Reports in the first place. Yeah, that'll really help your career, won't it? Hmm. You need a different answer. The good news is--we have it.

But you ruled out a Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer, because the ones you looked at don't process against live data and you know that's a critical feature if people are really going to know what's going on. As we mentioned, the cView. Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer does process against live data. Simply install this software on the client machine, and your problem is solved.

In fact, this software solves quite a few problems. In addition to saving you money, a Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer provides several other important benefits. Using a Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer, you can:

• Eliminate "we can't read it" as an excuse for generating islands of information in parallel with the reporting system.

• Provide decision-makers with timely reports that contain up-to-date information.

• Add new users without a major capital investment (or, actually, being turned down for one--you know the drill).

• Add new report recipients with less impact from cost per seat ROI issues.

• Accommodate "casual users" of reports.

• Use the native functionality of Crystal Reports, and distribute your Crystal Reports in the rpt format.

• Give report recipients the option of exporting to other formats.

• Eliminate the pre-distribution delay that results from changing reports to a static format (e.g., PDF), just so people who lack a Crystal Reports license can read them.

• Ensure everyone who receives a report can process it against live data (as needed)--rather than get an "island of information" report based on yesterday's news.

• Overcome budgetary constraints that would otherwise prevent important information from arriving on the desktops of key people.

• Conduct training classes, without buying a non-transferable seat.

• Share reports in one-time or occasional meetings, without pre-conversion from the rpt format. This eliminates the problem of "sealing in" the data. You are spared the sometimes costly problem of creating an "island of information" or "information silo" problem.

• Set parameters in the report, so users can see the data they want and so that you do not have to maintain separate reports with different data selections.

• Give users the option of a “One-Click” icon on their desktop to run a favorite report. This is a favorite with non-IT people.

• Easily restrict confidential reports to specific users.

• Provide a quick “turn-key” installation on each desktop, rather than dedicating a Web server to an intranet

• Avoid the cost and time administering a Web server for an intranet.

Those are some powerful advantages. Isn't it about time you made the cView. Windows-based Crystal Reports Viewer part of your Crystal Reports strategy?

All we ask is that you insist on quality--insist on cView.

Download your evaluation copy, today.

For more information on cView, or to start solving your problems today, click here.

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.