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Balboos - 12 Dec 2004 05:48 GMT

Hi, all:

I've been trying to figure out how to use memory variables in Crystal
Reports (rather than dbase content). I'm not referring to loading
parameters, but rather, to the ability to put data in a report without
having to first put it in a database.

Basically, the idea is to take advantage of the Crystal Report features
on a Form for easy printing and saving to .pdf files.

The help supplied with Visual Studio (2003 Ent-Arch) is maddening!

If this can not be done (by design?), than that would be valuable
information, as well.

Thanks in advance,

.NET Newbie,

Balboos

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Norman Yuan - 12 Dec 2004 17:58 GMT

There are two ways to place data onto CrystalReport (.NET version, coming
with VS.NET): "PULL" and "PUSH". "PULL" meanspointing report to a database,
when the report is openning, it pull data from database directly. "PUSH"
means you push data in your app (it may originally from database and your
app processes the data for certain purpose) into the report. I think this is
what you want. For example:

Dim ds As DataSet
Dim cn As New SqlConnection(....)
Dim ad As New SQLDataAdapter(....)

ad.Fill(ds,"MyTable")

'''ou may want to manipulate data in DataSet before push into report here.

myReport.Database.Tables.Item("TableForReport").SetDataSource(ds)

Note, the SetDataSource() method allows you to set data source for the
report to a DataSet object in your app's memory, meaning you "push" data in
your app into the report.

> Hi, all:
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Balboos

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Balboos - 13 Dec 2004 00:14 GMT

Thanks for the information, but unless I misunderstand, I still need
database interaction for the data (as a DataSet object). I would like
to insert String object(s) into the report - no database interaction at
all. It is, indeed, the PUSH style that I'm after.

As an scenario, a user types a letter into an edit box. The text in the
box is then inserted into the report. In addition, I control the
strings for headers, footers, etc.

My hope is to us the Crystal Report as an object that allows me to print
text (from any source) using it's already built-in features.

Again, thinks for what you've added so far. It may be useful in the
future (or as a horrible alternative, as a back door method by using
database views created just for the purpose).

Balboos

> There are two ways to place data onto CrystalReport (.NET version, coming
> with VS.NET): "PULL" and "PUSH". "PULL" meanspointing report to a database,
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>>
>>Balboos

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Developer - 13 Dec 2004 01:45 GMT

I'm a recently new user of Crystal and VS.Net (inherited the project
that uses Crystal Reports, hate Crystal Reports), but I think you can
pass parameters to the reports, so a text box can display that parameter.

> Thanks for the information, but unless I misunderstand, I still need
> database interaction for the data (as a DataSet object). I would like
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
>>>
>>> Balboos

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Balboos - 15 Dec 2004 14:50 GMT

Thanks, but I discovered 'parameters' prior to my original post. I'm
not looking to (1) add items to a picklist, or 2) force the user to go
through a prompt (for each?) item I write to the report. The parameter
option seems to be designed to invoke a popup. If the popup could be
avoided, and I could attach a value directly to the parameter to display
it to the screen, that would have been the way.

More snooping around, online, led me to a number of groups where the
same question as mine was being posed. Similarly, they have nothing
nice to say about the help/documentation. And no useful answers were
forthcoming.

Putting text directly into a report, without the need for extracting it
from a 'data source', would seem to be a rather natural need for report
design. The facility to do this should be well documented and easy to
impliment.

Thanks for the try,
Balboos

> I'm a recently new user of Crystal and VS.Net (inherited the project
> that uses Crystal Reports, hate Crystal Reports), but I think you can
[quoted text clipped - 65 lines]
>>>>
>>>> Balboos

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Michael. - 29 Dec 2004 18:11 GMT

You don't actually need a database to fill the dataset object. you can create
one from scratch and fill it with the data you want.

> Thanks for the information, but unless I misunderstand, I still need
> database interaction for the data (as a DataSet object). I would like
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
> >>
> >>Balboos

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