The first way that Crystal Reports allowed runtime distribution was with a Windows DLL. It did not exposed many capabilities. Over they years, Crystal added both an ActiveX control (OCX) and an Automation server (the CRPE) that are wrappers around the Windows DLL. In other words, they still did not expose many capabilities.

The RDC exposes just about every feature to you. Crystal Decisions has stated that in they future, they will only update the RDC with new capabilities. See the article on my web site to get you started with the RDC.


>Hi,
>
>As I am new to CR8.5 and want flexibility with my application so that I can distribute my rpt to my customer. Since Seagate refer us to use it RDC, so what is it different from it ActiveX and API method of programming ?
>I will be using CR in VB6, but I think it should be similar to VFP.
>
>When I had create all those rpt file which need access to different dbf file at different location, how do my only simple form display those report that my user select and change the location of the dbf automatically for each rpt file where the report file will need. Please kindly help me with example.
>
>Actually, I want to had a general form with all my rpt files and a system table to record those rpt file names. On selection by my customer, it will activate that rpt file and automatically pull those dbf file data for my customer.
>
>Thank you very much.