Reverse Engineering Crystal Reports Definition Files

Question

We're creating a metamodel of our report definitions within our central metadata repository. We know how to "harvest" SSRS reports since they are XML. IS there any easy way to do the same for Crystal Reports. We're interested in getting to anything CR understands about the report (similar in concept to the SSRS RDL Model)

TIA, Paolo

Answer 1

AFAIK, there is no way to do this. CR files are in a closed and proprietary format. :-(

Answer 2

I used something like this once to debug a Crystal problems, it might help:

rpt Inspector

Answer 3

You can get a report definition text file if you export the crystal report as...you guessed it "Report Definition(TXT)" It has the crystal version and lots of info for each section such as datafields, formatting, etc...

Answer 4

Check http://www.reportminer.com/, it includes a diff tool (although after exporting to text you can use the diff'er of your choice).

Answer 5

see RptToXml

Answer 6

RptToRdl.Com (http://www.RptToRdl.com) will do this for you for $25. Check out their FAQ, and you can get one done for free.