Question Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports in Technology Q&A

Run external program from Crystal Reports

Former Member — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 00:14:27 GMT

is that possible to run external program from Crystal Reports?

I want to protect the reports with a dongle (hardware), I can create a small program in Java, CBuilder or Delphi to detect the dongle and send the return value. From the return value I can decide to proceed with the report.

Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports

ido_millet — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 01:08:00 GMT

It is possible using your own viewer application of a 3rd-party viewer app.

But your use case (given that you need not only to call but also receive a return value) is a better fit for creating a User Function Library (UFL). A function in the UFL can then call & return the result via a Crystal formula.
In general, I would advise you to rethink what you are doing. The direction you are taking doesn't sound like a good one.

Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports

Former Member — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 01:54:32 GMT

It will be a small module to get the return value (checking with the dongle is exist)

Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports

ido_millet — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 02:45:22 GMT

The complexity of the procedure call is irrelevant. The principle & architecture choices remain the same.

Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports

former_member11696 — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 15:55:07 GMT

The short story is CR will not allow you to run any kind of executable from within it. That would be a huge security issue.

Do as Ido suggests, he's been supporting CR for 20+ years.

A UFL will be able to call your UFL dll to pass what you need. Here's is a KBA on how to:

https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/1525014

Don

Re: Run external program from Crystal Reports

Former Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 17:57:01 GMT

but can it be done? if I ask a programmer to create a UFL using Java, to check if the dongle is exist on local port and get the return value.