need help designing a reporting utility posibly with activeX

[666539]

I have to create a reporting utility that will be sent out to several customer sites. They will all be reporting off of the same database (same type of database, same tables, but entirely different data). I want to provide certain reports I know they will need but I also want to build the app in such a way so if they need additional reports they can get me the specs and I can program some add on and send it out to them and other customers that may need it. Since all customers won't need the same reports, what is the best way to design this.

What is the best way to create and package it separate from the executable. I was thinking that maybe I could create activeX componants for each report, but how can that be built into the program in such a way that they can choose from these reports.

I plan to use Crystal Reports 6.0 for Visual Basic.

On a side note, what do you all usually use for reporting with VB, and how do you integrate it into the application? I have experience with Crystal reports 4.6 and 6.0 for Visual Basic.

[monte96]

Buy Crystal Reports 8 Developer's Edition. V6 has many bugs that have been fixed in V8 (Not that V8 is without it's own).

You don't really need an activeX control. Assuming your using a DBMS you need to create a client application with selection screens that allow the EU to select their criteria for each report. Now, you could create each form as a com object and simply add new forms as new report families come online. (probably the best solution)

[666539]

monte96,

I have 2 questions.

1) How do you use crystal reports 8 from within VB? I know how to use CR 4.6 and 6.0 from within VB, but they were both designed for VB. Does CR 8 comes with visual basic controls?

2) In my original question about creating a reporting application, is there a way I could create the application so that the reports weren't hard coded into the application. I don't want there to be a hard coded menu that has "employee report" , "customer report", I want that to be customizable by customer. The application will be sent to several customers and they won't all be using the same reports, so I'm trying to create something where the application won't have to be maintainted for all the customers. Idealy I would be able to send a new dll for each new report.

If you could elaborate on your previous message that would be great. I'm new to activeX and com so the more detail the better. I just finished the book "Visual Basic Objects" by Wrox press so I'm familiar with activeX concepts, but I don't have any experience with design.

[monte96]

Crystal 8 has a designer that you add to your VB project. For an additional fee, you can include a runtime version of this designer in your apps. I never bothered to check out the price of the royalty (essentially what it is) for including it. Crystal 8's abilities to get you what you are looking for are far far FAR superior to 6 and 4.6.. well let's just say Crystal has disowned 4.6.. they gave it to Microsoft and no longer support it. NOBODY should still be using it because I believe they broke compatability with it's dlls.