Please note that the actual details of creating a report using Crystal Reports are well beyond the scope of this help file. For a full explanation of how to create reports using Crystal Reports, please refer to the Crystal Reports documentation. The following is merely a guideline that indicates a few important steps necessary for the integration with HelpMaster.
In order to achieve a successful integration with HelpMaster, it is vital that all reports are created using the OLE DB database connection method as shown below. This is the same database connection method that is used when logging onto HelpMaster via the logon screen. The reason for this is that when HelpMaster runs the report, it will actually replace any database connection details that the report was originally created with, with the database connection details that the actual HelpMaster application is using at execution time. This allows the Crystal Reports developer to develop the report against a copy of the HelpMaster database, or similar, and then when it is run, HelpMaster will automatically update the connection details to "point" to the "live" helpdesk database. Using OLD DB as the both the database and reports connection method is a vital step to this integration.
You may wish to set the Data Link Properties to the same as if connecting to the database from HelpMaster, or you may wish to develop the report against a backup of the HelpMaster database (see above). See steps 2 to 10 of Connecting to a HelpMaster database.
Once the database has been selected, the report can be developed by the Crystal Reports developer as required. For comprehensive details about how to create Crystal Reports, please refer to the Crystal Reports on-line help.
All custom reports must be saved in the location that has been specified by the HelpMaster system administrator as per the File Paths administration screen.
See also