CRD 6.6.090511

CRD 6.6.090511 offers an effective tool which helps you to save time and money by making it easy to define single or packages of Crystal reports, schedule and run them automatically, and send the reports to print, fax, disk, or email in a number of standard formats.

Simply set up a schedule stating how often you would like each report to run, whether youd like the output in Word, Excel, HTML, RTF, Acrobat, RPT, text format, and more and who it should be sent to.

Its easy to schedule reports to run at a specific date and time, or to run them hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly - or when spcified events occur

The same report can be scheduled to be run multiple times with different parameters, formats, frequencies, and destinations.

By automating repetitive reporting tasks, CRD ensures that reports are created and distributed when needed, without error, and without costly support time.

CRDs familiar Explorer-like interface makes it easy to define and schedule report packages. The context (right-click) menus and full copy-and-paste support make it easy to create complex distribution schedules.

Features include the ability of Windows NT4/2000/XP users to run CRD as a service, a improved intuitive user interface, a comprehensive scheduler that lets you create reports at any frequency, and send them to print, fax, disk, or email (using SMTP, MAPI, and CRDMail), a wide range of export formats, dynamic database functionality, custom frequency calendars, a built in address book, bulk printing, ftp folder output, single and ranges of parameters, conditional scheduling, group bursting, multi-threading, clustering and lots more.

Whether you're spending too much time running and distributing Crystal Reports output to line managers, or you need to provide corporate management with tailored reports on a regular schedule, CRD gives you the tools that you need.

Major Features:

1. Schedule Types: CRD's comprehensive set of job (schedule) types gives you the power you need for any occasion.
   
   • Single Report ScheduleSingle Report Schedules
   • • A single report is set to generate at specified intervals (Daily, Hourly, Weekly etc). It is exported to a specified format (PDF, Excel, XML etc). The exported file is delivered to one or more destinations (email, FTP, printer, etc). For example, email the daily sales report to the sales manager at 8am every week day except on public holidays.
       
   • Package Report Schedule Package Report Schedules
   • • Set up a package of reports to be generated at defined intervals and delivered to one or more defined destinations - together. For example, a monthly report pack (consisting of a number of reports) can be sent to a client with all reports attached to the single email or compressed into a single zip file, or merged into a single Excel workbook, or PDF file before delivery.
       
   • Automation Schedule Automation Schedules
   • • Write and execute simple or complex business process automation scripts or macros using CRD's Custom Tasks. Use this schedule on its own, or as part of a more complete automation solution. Examples include Send an email, Update a database record, Upload to FTP, Update a file, Print files and lots more.
       
   • Dynamic Schedules Dynamic Schedules
   • • Multiple instances of the same report are exported. For each instance CRD will automatically enter the required parameter values, export the report and deliver the results to the corresponding email, folder, ftp, printer or fax. The parameters and destination are read from your own database. For example, run the same report for dozens of clients without writing a schedule for each client.
       
   • Dynamic Package Dynamic Package Schedules
   • • Dynamically generate and deliver individualized export packages for multiple recipients using the same set of reports. Dynamic Schedules for Packages! For example, you can use the same set of reports to generate individual monthly report packages for all your clients.
       
   • Event-Based Schedules Event-Based Schedules
   • • Instantly respond to business and client needs. Fire off reports or automation scripts when a defined system event occurs. For example, trigger a report or automation script when a value in a database has changed, or when a new email arrives You can even use values in the email body text to populate parameters, email addresses, database tables and more.
   • Evnet-Based Packages Event-Based Packages
   • • String a number of Event-Based schedules together as a batch to run in a specified order and/or at specified scheduled times. Use to ensure that required conditions are fulfilled before a report is exported. For example, run the report once a month, but only if the monthly total figure in the sales database matches that in the invoices database.
   • Bursting Schedules Bursting Schedules
   • • Burst individual report groups and deliver each group to a different destination. For example, burst a sales report into individual groups based on "Department" and to email each department's group report to the head to that department.
   • Data-Drived Schedules Data-Driven Schedules
   • • Bring Reporting Services functionality to Crystal Reports! Drive all variables of your reporting requirements (parameters, destinations, output format, etc) from database tables and queries..
2. Scheduling Frequencies: No other automation tool provides the huge array of frequencies that CRD makes available at your fingertips.
   
   • Every Day Every Day
   • • Repeat every x days. For example, repeat ever 2 days will run the schedule every other day.
   • Every Week Day Every Week Day
   • • Schedules will not run on Saturday and Sunday.
   • Every Week Every Week
   • • Repeat every x weeks. Choose the days too. For example run every 2 weeks on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
       
   • Every Month Every Month
   • • Repeat every x months. Specify only certain months. Also choose special days of the month. For example, run on the last Friday of every month except March.
   • Every Year Every Year
   • • Schedules run annually on a given date.
   • Start& End Dates Custom Calendar
   • • Create your own calendars for custom frequencies. For example. 4-4-3
       
   • Exception Calendar Exception Calendar
   • • Schedules will not run on these dates. Use the built in public holidays or select your own custom "do not run" dates. For example, do not run on New Year's Day.
       
   • Event Event
   • • Schedules will run when an event occurs. For example, Database record is modified, Database record is created, Unread email is present, File is modified, Process exists.
       
   • Repeat Until Repeat Until
   • • Repeat schedules at regular intervals. For example, Run every Tuesday at 8am and repeat the run every 30 minutes until 5pm.
   • Custom Calendar Start & End Dates
   • • Automatically set the schedule to begin on a given date, repeat at the given interval, and end on a set date. For example, Start on 1 Jan 2008. Run every week day until 31 March 2008
3. Output Formats: With more output formats, and enhanced formatting & manipulation options than any other Crystal Reports scheduling tool, CRD gives you the flexibility to satisfy your formatting requirements with ease.
   
   • Acrobat Acrobat (PDF)
   • • Include watermarks & stamps.
     • Add bookmarks based on group header.
     • Set document properties (Title, Author, Producer, etc).
     • Add selective password protection (Can Print; Can Copy; Can Edit, Owner Password, User Password, etc).
     • Merge a package of multiple reports into a single PDF file.
     • Merge any existing PDF files into a single file.
       
   • CSV Character Separated (CSV)
   • • Use any character separator, or use "tab".
     • Choose any delimiter (or not, if you do not require one).
       
   • Excel MS Excel (XLS)
   • • Data Only.
     • Excel 7, 8, & 97-2000.
     • Customize the worksheet (tab) name.
     • Burst report groups into separate worksheets in the same workbook.
     • Merge a package of multiple reports as individual worksheets (tabs) in a single workbook..
     • • Set password protection.
     • Set document properties (Title, Author, Company, etc).
       
   • Word MS Word (DOC)
   • • Set document properties (Title, Author, Company, etc)..
       
   • TIF Tiff (TIF)
   • • Choose from Uncompressed, LZW, RLE and fax formats.
     • Select 24-bit color, 256 color or Black & White.
   • Other formats Other available formats
   • • Crystal Reports (RPT)
     • Data Interchange Format (DIF)
     • dBase II, dBase III & dBase IV (DBF)
     • HTML (HTM)
     • Lotus 1-2-3 (WK1, WK3 & WKS)
     • Record Style (REC)
     • Rich Text (RTF)
     • Tab Separated (TXT)
     • Text (TXT)
   • XML (XML)
4. Destinations: Flexible, highly customizable and function-rich destination functionality..
   
   • Printer
     
   • • Output to a single printer.
     • Multiple copies to a single printer.
     • Output to multiple printers (bulk printing).
     • Multiple copies to multiple printers.
       
   • Email
     
   • • Set up & use one or multiple SMTP servers.
     • Use different SMTP servers/accounts for different schedules.
     • Nominate one or more SMTP servers as backup or fail over servers.
     • Connect to Secure SMTP servers.
     • Connect and send via Groupwise.
     • Connect & send via MAPI.
     • Silent integration with MS Outlook & MS Exchange.
     • Use Outlook/Exchange address book.
     • Use CRD's built in address book.
     • CC & BCC
     • Insert additional files as attachments.
     • Read email addresses from a database.
     • Read email address from a mailing list (text file).
     • Insert personalized tags in email body. For example, Dear {tablename.firstname}.
     • Send emails in plain text or HTML.
     • Use raw HTML code to construct better looking emails
     • Embed report into email body.
     • Read Receipt Processing.
       
   • Disk
     
   • • Output to local drives. For example C:MyReportsToday.
     • Output to network shares and UNC paths. For example \MyServerCMyReportsToday.
     • Output to a remote system by Dial-Up Networking or VPN.
     • Choose to append to an existing file instead of overwriting it.
       
   • FTP FTP
   • • Upload reports to FTP server.
     • Supports Secure FTP - SSL 3 & SSL 3.1 (TLS).
     • Upload non-report files.
     • Download files from FTP server.
       
   • Fax FAX
   • • Manual or automated output to fax driver.
     • Choose to include a cover sheet.
     • Single or multiple recipients per schedule.
       
   • ODBC ODBC
   • • Export the report data directly to a database table via an ODBC DSN.
     • Choose to overwrite if target table already exists.
       
   • SMS SMS (Cell phone Text)
   • • Send a text alert or simply embed a text report body into an SMS message.
     • Use a local GSM Phone or device.
     • Use a service provider (SMSC) via standard modem.
   • Sharepoint Microsoft Sharepoint
   • • Export reports directly to Microsoft Sharepoint Libraries, Folders and Lists.
       
   • Other formats Other Destination Options
   • • Compress (ZIP) file before delivery.
     • Password protect ZIP file using zip encryption level 128, 192 or 256.
     • Customize the output file name
     • Customize the output file extension. For example, a CSV file normally named myfile.csv can be exported as myfile.abc.
     • Append a date/time stamp to the output file.
     • Deferred delivery allows you to take environmental issues into account. For example, export the reports at 1am, but do not email them until 7am as the email server is unavailable during those hours.
     • Use PGP Encryption to secure file before delivery.
     • Select multiple destinations. For example, the same report can be emailed to one recipient and a copy saved to a folder on your server.
     • Group Bursting
     • Section Bursting
   • Sub-report bursting
5. Custom Tasks: Give yourself greater control by using CRD's Custom Tasks to create automation scripts. Use them as a complete automation process in automation schedules, or to provide additional enhancement as part of report export schedules.
   • Additional Report Schedules Task Actions
   • • Run Custom Tasks before report delivery.
     • Run Custom Task after report production.
     • Run Custom Task after report delivery.
     • Run Custom Task before and after a report has exported.
     • Use custom tasks to create Automation Schedules.
   • Available Custom Tasks
   • • Run Program (bat, exe, com)
     • Open, Print Document
     • Wait/Pause
     • Send SMS
     • Execute Schedule
     • Set, Delete Create Registry Key
     • Copy, Rename, Move, Delete File
     • Write to Text File
     • Zip, Unzip Files
     • Create, Rename, Move Folder
     • Merge PDF Files.
     • Send an Email
     • Open a Web Address
     • Upload to FTP
     • Download, Delete from FTP
     • Create, Delete FTP Directory
     • Execute SQL Script
     • Run Stored Procedure
     • Insert, Update, Delete Database Record
     • Create, Delete Database Table
     • Create, Delete Table Column
6. Event-Based Triggers: Respond instantly to business and client needs by firing off reports and automation scripts when an event occurs. CRD gives you a list of triggers to suit any occasion. All the triggers below can run if the condition is True or if the condition is False.
   
   • Database Record exists Database Record Exists
   • • Apply to new database records only, or to any matching database records.
       
   • Database Record Has Been Modified Database Record Has Been Modified
   • • Choose to include New (Inserted) records and Deleted records. Use this for follow-ups by selecting to only match the condition if the record has been (or not been modified) in x minutes. Repeat the action every x minutes until the condition is no longer true, or run just once.
       
   • Unread Mail Is Present Unread Mail Is Present
   • • Monitor a POP or IMAP mailbox for new emails. Forward or Redirect. Delete mail after processing. Read the body text and other mail sections (sender email, subject, etc) and use the values to populate report parameters, email addresses etc. For example, send the report to the sender of the email.
       
   • File Exists File Exists
   • • Use this trigger to respond to the existence of a new file in a local or network folder.
   • File Has Been Modified File Has Been Modified
   • • Great for monitoring log files, but works equally well for all other types of local or network files.
       
   • Other formatsOther Event Triggers
   • • Process Exists
     • Window is Present
7. Scalability & Administration: Beyond its basic functionality, you want to know that CRD can extend its capabilities to satisfy your needs as your business demands grow. Below is a brief list of some of the functionalities which put CRD (and you) years ahead of the market.
   • System Monitor
   • Multi-Threading
     
   • Clustering
   • Remote Administration
   • Store CRD database in any ODBC-compliant database format
   • Report History Snapshots
   • CRD Constants
   • Crystal Constants
   • User Constants
   • Data Items
   • Hours of Operation
   • Folder Housekeeping
   • Scheduled System backups
   • Command-Line Options
   • Desktop Application Scheduler
   • Windows Service Scheduler
   • Secure User Logon Profiles
   • Integration with Windows Authentication

Enhancements: Added: Ability to export to SharePoint Folders.

Requirements:

1. Hardware Pre-Requisites
   • Minimum recommended: P4 750MHz/ 500MB disk space/ 1G memory.
   • PC Type: Desktop, Server, Virtual Machine
   • Operating System: Windows NT4 SP6a, Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008
     
2. Software Software Pre-Requisites
   • Crystal Reports: CRD is supported for the following Crystal Reports Versions and Editions.
   • CRD does not come with Crystal runtime components included. It will interface with these components if they exist on your PC. The components are required by CRD in order to read your Crystal Reports, run them and export them. You must obtain the components yourself by buying and installing a copy of Crystal Reports Developer or Developer Advanced Edition from your regular software reseller, or from Business Objects. Your Crystal Reports developer, or your Crystal Reports account manager should be able to help you with this.
   • Make sure you visit the Crystal web site and update your installation of Crystal with ALL the service packs and Hot fixes that have been released for your version of Crystal Reports.
   • CRD may not be able to schedule some reports that were written in versions of Crystal earlier than 8.5.
   • If you are using Crystal 8.5, 9 or 10 Developer you will need to install a copy of Crystal Developer Edition for each installation of CRD.
   • If you are using Crystal 8.5, 9 or 10 Advanced you do not need to install a copy of Crystal on the CRD PC.
     
   • If you are using Crystal 11 (XI) Developer Edition (there is no Advanced) then you do not need to install a copy of Crystal on the CRD PC.
     
   • If you are using Crystal 2008 you can download and install the Crystal Reports 2008 Runtime Package for the .NET Framework Business Objects or from ChristianSteven's Download Server.
   • In all instances, it remains your responsibility when installing Crystal Reports editions and components to ensure that you are licensed to use these components within your organization, and that you do not exceed the number of licenses you have bought from Business Objects or use them outside the licensing limitations. 

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