Export report output to PDF automatically/silently.

[Former Member]

Hello,

We want to export silently a crystal report output (version XI R2) to pdf format.

We currently invoke crystal reports from our Oracle Webforms (10g) and the output is then shown via an url with the viewrpt.cwr program. This works perfect.

But as already mentioned we we want to omit the user interaction for a couple of reports.

Is there a command line version of viewrpt.cwr so that we can print a report to a specific path and file name (the path and name will be programmatically derived)?

Or maybe on the otherhand can someone give me some clues where to start. I get a feeling i need to program something myself in .Net or Java to get this working, i hope not i would thimk that these things are out of the box functionality.

Thank you

Auke Quist

[aasavaribhave · Accepted solution]

you can use viewrpt.cwr to export to PDF directly using:

http://<webserver>/businessobjects/viewrpt.cwr?id=152&apstoken=A1B2&cmd=EXPORT&EXPORT_FMT=U2FPDF:0

this will open the the report in broswer in PDF format directly.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Aasavari Bhave

Yes, i know this option. But it did not work for me...

I invoked the follwoing command:

http://nldev004/businessobjects/viewrpt.cwr?id=95119

&apsuser=cce_ont_usr

&apspassword=***

&apsauthtype=secEnterprise

&cmd=EXPORT

&EXPORT_FMT=U2FPDF%3A0

&promptex-p_PREFACE="FALSE"

&promptex-p_IVE_CORRECTION="N"

&promptex-p_BPD_YEAR="2011"

&promptex-p_BPD_CODE="3"

&promptex-p_BPD_START_DATE="28-02-2011"

&promptex-p_BPD_END_DATE="28-03-2011"

&promptex-p_IVE_FORMAT="CUS"

&promptex-p_WT_CUR="GBP"

&promptex-p_language="ENG"

&promptex-p_user="CCE"

&promptex-p_system="Circle%20T%20E-invoicing"

&promptex-p_release="2.5.5.4%20SVY/BKR/WDC%20Development"

&connect=1

Problem was that the browser was launched showing an Adobe Reader informational messagebox with the text File does not begin with '%PDF-'.

But anyway, even if i get this working i still have an issue, the functionality i want is that it is exported silently. We do not want to launch 50 or more url's with invoices when the user is closing a financial period.

Edited by: A. Quist on May 9, 2011 4:23 PM

[ido_millet · Accepted solution]

At least one of the 3rd-party Crystal Reports Desktop Scheduling tools listed at: http://www.kenhamady.com/bookmarks.html provides that functionality.

[former_member607473]

There's a free tool from Rainforest called Crystal Reports Exporter (crexport.exe). It runs on Windows and requires some .NET components.

http://www.rainforestnet.com/crystal-reports-exporter/how.htm

[former_member183750]

There is nothing equivalent to "command line version of viewrpt.cwr ". As you suspect, you will have to code this your self. In CR XI R2, you have the option of 3 SDKs; RDC, .NET and Java. I don't know much about Java so if you need more info on that, post your queries here:

As far as RDC . This technology has been retired in CR 2008 (12.x) and support of CR XI R2 terminates in June of this year.

Thus .NET should be the best option for you. With .NET you have the option of the CR SDK for .NET, RAS SDK for .NET and perhaps even the BOE SDK (if you have BOE). See the following for more info:

[Choosing the Right Business Objects SDK for Your Needs|

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/40bccdfd-88a6-2b10-1da1-c47a54b62...;

[Crystal Reports For Visual Studio 2005 Walkthroughs|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/index?rid=/library/uuid/2081b4d9-6864-2b10-f49d-918baefc7a23]

[Samples CR .NET|http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/BOBJ/CrystalReportsfor.NETSDK+Samples]

[Samples RAS|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/samples?rid=/webcontent/uuid/80774579-b086-2b10-db91-ed58c4dda375] [original link is broken];

[Developer Help Files|http://devlibrary.businessobjects.com/BusinessObjectsXIR2SP2/en/devsuite.htm]

[crsdkt net tutorials cr115|http://devlibrary.businessobjects.com/BusinessObjectsXIR2SP2/en/en/CrystalReports_dotNET_SDK/crsdk_samples_aspx/data/crsdk_net_tutorials_115_en.zip]

[How to Use The RAS SDK .NET With In-Process RAS Server|http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/10b840c0-623f-2b10-03b5-9d1913866b32]

Ludek

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/SAPCRNetSup

Got Enhancement ideas? Try the [SAP Idea Place|https://ideas.sap.com/community/products_and_solutions/crystalreports]

[Former Member]

Ok. Thank you Ludek for the info.

Gimme some time to investigate this. Although i keep finding it strange it's not available out of the box.

For your information:

We are using Crystal Reports XI (11.0.0.1994) to develop our reports.

The reports are saved in a repository hosted by Business Objects Enterprise Product: 11.5.

I am now deciding between three options:

1. Define a File trigger in the central Management Console that constantly checks if a (dummy) file is written there. If that happens then 1 or more reports should be scheduled to run silently and writes down the pdf's and in the end the (dummy) file is

cleaned up.

2. Write a Visual C# program (.Net) as an alternative for the silent command line printing.

3. Buy this functionality.

I'll let you know the outcome

Kind Regards

Auke