Hi craig,

>>A minor correction/addition: A report could be programmaticly modified if using the same API that was available from version 7 (maybe 8). Trough the RDC, you can move and format reports trough various properties and methods. Because Seagate could not change their policy toward CR 7 users who did use the RDC to format their report, you can still use those methods in CR 8 and up.
>
>The bottom line is, License.HLP that ships with Crystal Reports, lists what you can and cannot use in a royalty free situation. It is broken down to list each property and method.

I'll look into that one.

>>Another thing about the developer licence for distributing the runtime requirements. I looks like that you don't need any licence to distribute the CR 8.5 runtimes as they are avaliable as MSM from the www.installshield.com. I've asked seagate what the legal state was about using this MSM for your own distributions. Some support guy returned a mail he could not answer my question, but he'd ask some other authority to anwer my question. To date, i've not seen any further reply.
>>
>>So it seems that it is perfectly legal to make your reports in the proffessional version and distribute them with the MSM provided by installshield.

>That's not true. You still need a license to distribute the components. The merge modules are available to make that distribution easier. Otherwise, there would be no difference between the Professional and Developer editions.

I'd like to hear that from seagate directly. The MSM files are provided through a third party which only says that you can use them in installshield express. No mention of any limitation because of licences. Second, I've asked seagate to explain their policy with regards to this MSM. Until date, no answer, nothing on the seagate site, Nothing in the EULA of the professional edition about this one. So I can't see any issues that should stop me from legally using the MSM to distribute my reports. However, I'll make one more attempt to contact seagate.

FYI, There still are differences between the professional and developers edition. At least the professional edition comes with zero developers help info, provides less developer examples and libraries, Does not offer you answers by email from seagate about developers issues, Does offer less developper RAD convenience.

Walter,