Report Server

The Report Server is an optional add-on module to Preceda Report Manager which processes and distributes reports that have been created using the Crystal Reports. It's role is to process Crystal reports in the background and to deliver the printed output as a pdf file to the report recipient.

By default reports will be submitted to run as a background job, it will not run interactively. The Job Queue on which the extract will run can be controlled within the Prevar setting *PP_RPTSVR_OPTIONS

 

This option allows for extracts to be created as Crystal Report and to be distributed in .pdf format. These reports can then be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader allowing users to view reports in Crystal format without having Crystal Reports installed on their PC.

  1. Create the extract by using Extractor with the output option set to Crystal Report, by selecting the Crystal Reports option from the Option tab.
  2. Create and test the Crystal Report
  3. Save the Report in .pdf format
  4. Copy the report to the Report Server

 

 

  1. Open Extractor
  2. Select the Crystal Report to be uploaded
  3. Select the Option tab
  4. Set the Report Format option to PDF and select the Browse button, where the display will list all reports that are currently available on the Report Server.
  5. Select Upload
  6. Navigate to the location where the Crystal Report definition file .rpt is stored. Highlight the file and select Open
  7. If the file has been successfully transferred to the server, the message File has been successfully uploaded is displayed.
  8. The selected report will be added to the list of available reports.
  9. Highlight the report that was uploaded and select OK.
  10. Save the Extract Definition
  • You may need to modify the Extract and/or Crystal Report so that the report runs without prompting the user for values. If the Crystal Report uses Parameters to prompt for values, these parameters must be removed.
  • If running the extract from Report Manager, the Prompt Value When Running option on any Extract selection criteria must not be selected.
  • If running the report manually from Extractor or Favourites the Prompt Value When Running Option on the Extract selection criteria must be selected.

 

Once an exiting Crystal Report has been converted accessing a Report Server report is similar to running a report from Extractor.

  1. Open Extractor
  2. Select Open
  3. Select the Report Server report to run, select OK
  4. Select Run
  5. Complete any selection criteria options, if necessary
  6. Select Console
  7. Highlight the job relating to the report and select View Output Files for this Job
  8. The report opens as a .pdf file, which can be saved, emailed or printed.

 

  1. Open Extractor
  2. Select Open
  3. Select the Report Server report to run, select OK
  4. Select the Options tab, then Browse
  5. Highlight the report to be downloaded, then select Download Selected Files to your PC
  6. Select Save, then follow the prompts to select where to save the downloaded report definition file

 

  1. Open Extractor
  2. Select Open
  3. Select the Report Server report to run, select OK
  4. Select Option
  5. Highlight the report to be deleted
  6. Select Delete