Add Table from different databases on crystal reports - sql

Im using Crystal Reports to connect to my SQL Server Database from an ERP(PRIMAVERA).
The Problem is, there's a default report that i want to change and put more fields.
The user who created the report, used the same tables as i want to use, but one, that is not in my database.
I want to add a new table to the Datasource, thats from another Database(my database) to the default report that i want to edit(wich has the default datasource same as mine, but one table different).
Is it possible? If it is, how can i do it?


Yes this is possible. In the Database Expert, simply choose (or create) the connection to the 2nd database. Then add the table to the report. Crystal will give you a warning, but you can bypass that and use the table.
If the report is being used as part of another application, it may not work, but if your running from Crystal, there should be no problem.

Related

how do i change the sql query on a crystal reports locally without access to a customer's database from my machine?

I need to change the sql query used to pull data from a customer's database on an already existing report but they dont have crystal reports installed on their sql server.
I have a copy of their data on my local machine and can make the change and test it with no problems, but when I upload the report back onto their sql server, it complains that it can't find the database (unsuprisingly, as I've had to change the connection in the report to use the copy of their data on my machine!)
What I need to know is how I'm able to edit the sql query used on the report on my machine and have it retain the database connection that's used on the report somehow?
The change i need to make on the report is a bit more complicated than changing links in the database expert in crystal, its a change to the sql query used to pull the data from the database.
thanks, any help is appreciated, i'm fairly new to crystal reports so apologies if this is a simple fix.

You can change the SQL offline if you are using a command. If you are using database expert, you need to connect to the database, which you are already doing. To update database connection on the client computer you can use a tool like this one http://r-tag.com/Pages/CRDataSource.aspx.

MS SQL find table in which change is put by application

I have a MS SQL database with several hundred tables. The database is used by an application. If I Change a Setting in Software Options of this application I know for sure, that this is written into SQL database.
Any way to find out in which table the Change takes place? I could do tests in test database to be sure that no other data Change while toggling those Settings in user Interface of application.
I have no idea how the Change will take place: Could be a new value in a table or Change of a probably numeric value that already is in place.

Change DB that Access query points to

I'm trying to make a query in Access 97 point to a different database. I cannot find out how to change the db.
I've tried adding another odbc connection but it doesn't give me the option to choose it when running the query.
I've tried to create another query but it still has the old db tables and i cannot choose the new db tables.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
thanks,
Nighmares

Try viewing the SQL source of your query. Is the old database name there? Can you just replace it and save your change? Another option would be to point your existing ODBC connection to the new database.

when you add another ODBC database Access will give you the option to add tables from it. You'll need to add whichever tables you need or you won't be able to access them via design view.
You can always use the Connection object to dynamically connect to any DB.

How to distribute a SSRS report?

(distinction, I'm talking about distributing a report--not deploying a report to a report server)
To our product we've recently added support for it so it can dump various stats to a database (mssql server). Since then, I've made reports (where the datasource is my own sql server). But if I want to get these reports into the hands of customers (pointing to their own database, obviously) so they don't need to make their own (or if they don't want/can't make their own) is there a good way to do this?
I'd rather not have to give instructions on how to use the report creator and have them copy/paste what I've done nor have them open it and change the datasource. I'm completely new to using SSRS and don't know any of its intricacies. I know I can query the database to see what reports are available, is there a way to just add an entire report to the database via code (c# or java)?

Assuming that they have SSRS installed and configured, and assuming that their DB (tables, SPs etc.) match your report - one of the way this could be done is:
When creating your report use a shared datasource (don't use one embedded into report)
Ask a customer to create shared data source in their SSRS instance under the same name, but pointing to their DB
Profit! That's it, all you have to to is to give them the RDL file, they will upload it to their SSRS. It will use shared datasource they provided to pull data from their DB

extract raw SQL query from a Crystal Report .rpt file

I've got an .rpt file that I did not write and can find no documentation about. I want to be able to review the SQL that is generated from this report so that I can figure out, well, what data it was pulling and what WHERE clause parameters were used.
I can open it up and see the report layout. But when I select Database|Show SQL Query... the report tries to connect to the data source. The problem is, the data source being used is unknown to me, probably an ODBC connection used by whoever wrote the query. All I can do at that stage is 'Cancel' and I'm back to looking at the report designer.
Am I missing something? Can I get to the SQL query without connecting to the datasource? It seems like viewing the selection criteria shouldn't be dependent on a data connection.
Thanks.
version: Crystal Reports 2008

I know that this is an old thread, but I encountered this same problem. Effectively we used to have a database/application that has since been aquired by an external agency.
Although they now have the database/application they don't have access to crystal reports, so we can't just send them the old report that we used to run. Likewise we can't run it as we don't even have the database set up anywhere.... So instead our plan was just to extract the SQL code generated by the report and forward that on.
We experienced the same problem, but the solution is actually pretty simple.
If you don't have access to the original data source, just create a new 'blank' datasource (such as an ODBC connection). As long as the connection to the datasource works (i.e. it is some kind of valid datasource this it works fine). When running the 'Show SQL' option point the report to this datasource. As long as you don't try to actually run the report (and only show the SQL) the operation wont fail. This worked for our situation anyway. (Crystal Reports 2008)
(I can give more details if it helps in any way.)

It should be possible to find out some details about the existing datasource, by selecting Database > Set Datasource Location... .
As well as enabling you to change the datasource location, this should show you some information about the current datasource, such as which type of datasource is being used, and possibly (dependant on the type of driver) the name of the database. It is likely to be less helpful if (as you surmise) the datasource is ODBC, but if it uses a native driver there may be something useful.

Without the password, I'm not sure how much you can do. It seems "Show SQL Query" requires to report to run first, then generate the SQL plan.
It's not ideal, but you could go to Database > Visual Linking Expert to at least see the tables and how they are joined, and the go to the Record Selection Formula Editor and see what the custom WHERE statements are.

Viewing the SQL of a Command in a Crystal Report File
There are times you have just the report file, but not the associated database structure that the report uses.
This is common when dealing with example reports of functionality you wish to mimic.
This is a workaround ONLY to allow you to see the SQL of a Command that a Crystal Report is based on, when you don't have the underlying database connection that the report is based on.
In essence, the dialog box has to be satisfied before it will show the SQL, so we fool it with a legitimate Data Source, just not one that would work with the SQL that is actually in the SQL Command.
Why does a report use a command? Doesn't Crystal Reports have the ability to link tables?
When a Crystal Report is based on a record set that is too complex for the table linking functionality within Crystal Reports, the report can instead be based on a SQL Query, usually developed/tested in another editor tool and pasted into the command. This allows advanced SQL functions to be utilized.
If you don't already have a Data Source on your computer set up that you can connect to, you will need to build one first.
A simple Microsoft Access .mdb file saved in a simple location will suffice.
I placed mine with the path C:\A_test\test.mdb to make it easy to find.
If you don't have one, google for a sample mdb file and download it, saving it with a name and location you can remember. (You won't ever actually open this file, but just connect to it.)
Once you have the file saved, open the ODBC Administrator and create a New Data Source.
(you can get to the ODBC Administrator quickly from Start > type ODBC in the Search)
On the User DSN tab, click the Add button.
Scroll down the driver list to Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb), select it and click the Finish button.
In the Data Source Name box, type a name (I used MyTest).
Click the Select Button and select the mdb file you saved from a previous step, click OK.
Click OK again. You will see your new Data Source listed by the name you gave it. Click OK.
You now have the data source you will need for the next steps.
Open the Crystal Report you want to see the SQL command for, and click on Database Expert button or Database>Database Expert Menu.
Under Selected Tables, right click on the Command and choose View Command
The Data Source Selection Box appears. Select the Data Source you created (or one you already use) and click the Finish button. The View Command box should open with the SQL in the left pane. Copy the SQL into your favorite text editor.

Whats happening is that the crystal reports needs a database to connect to regardless if its the original source DB or not.
Create a local database or use a database stored on a server, added it to your ODBC Datasources and use it when connecting. After a successful connection you should be able to view the SQL query without an error.