Automating Crystal Reports Job using SQL Server Agent

[Leslie]

Hi All,

I am trying to automate the sending of reports using SQL Server Agent.
Pulling raw data with SQL is no problem, however, it sure would be nice to
create automated report runs (i.e. monthly, weekly, daily jobs) using Crystal
Report formats.

Does anyone have suggestions on how I can automatically format my raw data
in these extracts before sending out the reports (also an automated job)?

Thanks!
Leslie

[Tjoelker]

I don't have any suggestions for SQL formatting, but I would reccommend the
Solomon Application Server. You can schedule Crystal reports and some
Solomon processes to run in a variety of intervals, with a variety of output
formats including PDF and Excel. The reports can automatically be sent to
email addresses, file folders, or a printer. The product integrates well
with the ROI screen and associated templates. I've found it to be an
effective tool for the distribution of information.

Tjoelker

[Leslie]

We do not have Application Server. I can probably get the same thing done
from DOS using a script and a macro generator.

Does anyone know the syntax for launching Crystal Reports and having it open
a report upon launch?

For Example:

C:\"Program Files"\"Seagate Software"\"Crystal Reports"\crw32.exe
X:\"Solomon IV"\Usr_Rpts\40610.rpt

I get a file handle error when I run the above command at the DOS prompt.
I'm sure there is some kind of switch or syntax requirement to actually read
the file and open it upon launching Crystal Reports. Anyone know off hand
what the correct syntax should be?

Thanks,
Leslie

[HSalim]

Leslie,
It is not possible to launch a crystal report from the commandline as far as
I know.
As you know, a crystal report may have an unlimited number of parameters of
different datatypes. Perhaps, supporting a varrying list of parameters via
the commandline was troublesome.

However, crystal does have a way to programatically open and run reports and
Crystal also has an AciveX viewer.

There are a few companies that make a Crystal reports scheduler tool, which
is not much more than a nice little UI on the report launcher. I suspect I
could build this in a week or two but for the time...
I recall buying one such tool from http://www.jeff-net.com/jnrrb.htm for a
client who needed to schedule reports, and they are quite happy with it.
They seem to have improved the website and hopefully the product as well
since I bought it about a year ago.

Regards
HS

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