I just got off the phone with SAP sales. I didn't like what I was hearing, and I think it was a crossed connection. I don't think she was understanding what I wanted and, ultimately, when I need info now, she tells me that a salesman will call me back on Monday.
What I'm looking for is something like Crystal Reports Server XI (according to documentation I've Googled), what sales recommended I need was "Business Objects Edge". After badgering her enough, I finally got a ball park figure of "a few thousand" for the package. That's a little steep.
What I need is a way to publish reports via the web. Basically when one of our customers wants to see a report, rather than someone running the report, exporting it to Adobe and emailing it to them, we want them to be able to click on a link on a web page, then the report is built in the background as a web page an then it is sent down the pipe to their browser.
We currently own Crystal Reports XI (Developer). Is Crystal Reports Server XI part of the package, or is it something that I need to buy as an add on?
Hopefully someone can respond (quickly) to this and tell me if what SAP sales told me ("Business Objects Edge") is the correct option, or if what I was thinking ("Crystal Reports Server") is the correct option, and if it is already part of our system, we just haven't installed it yet.
TIA
Hi TIA,
Crystal Report Server is right choice. If you want to publish WEBI /DESKI reports along with Crystal Reports then you can go for Business Objects Enterprise. If you are publishing only crystal report then go for Crystal Reports Server.
As per my understanding there is no CR server XI you may have to go for either CR 2008 Server or Crystal reports for BI4.0.
Also Crystal Reports Server is not included in your package, you need to purchase it.
Thanks,
Sastry
Hello Clifton
I agree the CR Server is probably the best option for you. See the below link re. description of CR Server vs. BO Edge and others:
http://scn.sap.com/community/bi-platform/blog/2011/06/20/sap-crystal-server-2011--update-7
A free trial of CR Server 2011 can be found here:
http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sme/freetrials/index.epx
You may want to download the above free trial, evaluate it and see if it fits your needs. I do not have any $$ figures as that would be for sales, but I do know that CR Server will be in the x + 3 zeros range.
If that is too steep, your option then is to go with Crystal Reports for Visual Studio 2010 and build your own web app.
- Ludek