Need pre-built report administration application

microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.vb

28 Nov 2006 10:45 PM

Hexman

Hello All,

I'm nearing the end of my current project and the users came up with 2 more requests. I'll talk about the first one in this message.

I've developed (with much help from this group) a vb.net app and is being put into the users hands this week. I am using Crystal Report X to
produce reports. The users now, rather than printing, want them emailed and produced in .pdf format also. So rather than me re-inventing
the wheel, I'm asking if anyone knows of a "Report Administration" class that I can with little work integrate into my vb.net 2005
application. Perferably free with source code. I'm sure someone has done this before.

The way I'm thinking about it is:

The CR report files would be placed in one folder. The app would then have the ability to add the report to a DB (used loosely - could be
xml, txt file, etc.) with all the default parameters to schedule and run the app. Doesn't really have to have scheduling function, but it
would be nice.

The DB would contain info and parameters including:

Report Number
Report Title
Report Description
Checkbox Output Options: Print, PDF, Email
PDF Filename Template
Email Message Subject
Email Message Body
Email To list (linked to Outlook Address Book?)
Last Run Date
Param1
Param2
Param3
etc.
Scheduling method

If anyone has developed something like this or knows where to find one please let me know.

Thanks,

Hexman

29 Nov 2006 1:47 AM

tomb

Let me see if I have this clear:
The application, which the user will be using, generates a report.

The user then wants to be able to email it in pdf format to someone else?
If that's the case, Crystal will save a report in pdf format, and the
user can then send it as an attachment in an email. And this is free.

Or is it, the application will generate a report to send to the user?
If that's the case, Crystal Info Server does a great job. Of course,
it's not free.

Tom

Hexman wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

>Hello All,
>
>I'm nearing the end of my current project and the users came up with 2 more requests. I'll talk about the first one in this message.
>
>I've developed (with much help from this group) a vb.net app and is being put into the users hands this week. I am using Crystal Report X to
>produce reports. The users now, rather than printing, want them emailed and produced in .pdf format also. So rather than me re-inventing
>the wheel, I'm asking if anyone knows of a "Report Administration" class that I can with little work integrate into my vb.net 2005
>application. Perferably free with source code. I'm sure someone has done this before.
>
>The way I'm thinking about it is:
>
>The CR report files would be placed in one folder. The app would then have the ability to add the report to a DB (used loosely - could be
>xml, txt file, etc.) with all the default parameters to schedule and run the app. Doesn't really have to have scheduling function, but it
>would be nice.
>
>The DB would contain info and parameters including:
>
>Report Number
>Report Title
>Report Description
>Checkbox Output Options: Print, PDF, Email
>PDF Filename Template
>Email Message Subject
>Email Message Body
>Email To list (linked to Outlook Address Book?)
>Last Run Date
>Param1
>Param2
>Param3
>etc.
>Scheduling method
>
>
>If anyone has developed something like this or knows where to find one please let me know.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Hexman
>
>

29 Nov 2006 8:03 AM

Hexman

Hello Tom,

I haven't been clear. I'll try and explain better. The app that I developed runs (prints to local printer) CR report files which until now was
fine. Now the requirement is to create .PDF files and/or email to a list of users and/or print locally. There are several different reports to be
output from my app, and each report has its own distribution lists and media type (print, pdf, emailed pdf).

Lets say a certain report is run daily to the printer. On each Friday (or whenever they deem necessary) though, they want to not only print, but
email to others. By having a report admin module, the user could check the "email" checkbox in addition to the "print" checkbox and the program
would create a .pdf file and send it to a predetermined list of users.

I am aware that CR does email, create .pdf, and prints. I want to control, for each report if it is to be printed, emailed, .pdf'd, to whom it is to
be sent, etc. and eliminate that decision from the operator (user). They would only have to override the default options on certain days.

I did create a report administration module a few years back on a mainframe (print, fax, archive reports, etc.) but thats a far different animal than
what I'm working with now.

I don't know if I cleared up the confusion or just made it worse.

Hexman

On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:47:09 -0500, tomb <t***@technetcenter.com> wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

>Let me see if I have this clear:
>The application, which the user will be using, generates a report.
>
>The user then wants to be able to email it in pdf format to someone else?
>If that's the case, Crystal will save a report in pdf format, and the
>user can then send it as an attachment in an email. And this is free.
>
>Or is it, the application will generate a report to send to the user?
>If that's the case, Crystal Info Server does a great job. Of course,
>it's not free.
>
>Tom
>
>
>Hexman wrote:
>
>>Hello All,
>>
>>I'm nearing the end of my current project and the users came up with 2 more requests. I'll talk about the first one in this message.
>>
>>I've developed (with much help from this group) a vb.net app and is being put into the users hands this week. I am using Crystal Report X to
>>produce reports. The users now, rather than printing, want them emailed and produced in .pdf format also. So rather than me re-inventing
>>the wheel, I'm asking if anyone knows of a "Report Administration" class that I can with little work integrate into my vb.net 2005
>>application. Perferably free with source code. I'm sure someone has done this before.
>>
>>The way I'm thinking about it is:
>>
>>The CR report files would be placed in one folder. The app would then have the ability to add the report to a DB (used loosely - could be
>>xml, txt file, etc.) with all the default parameters to schedule and run the app. Doesn't really have to have scheduling function, but it
>>would be nice.
>>
>>The DB would contain info and parameters including:
>>
>>Report Number
>>Report Title
>>Report Description
>>Checkbox Output Options: Print, PDF, Email
>>PDF Filename Template
>>Email Message Subject
>>Email Message Body
>>Email To list (linked to Outlook Address Book?)
>>Last Run Date
>>Param1
>>Param2
>>Param3
>>etc.
>>Scheduling method
>>
>>
>>If anyone has developed something like this or knows where to find one please let me know.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Hexman
>>
>>