Crystal Reports 2020 64 BIT Runtime only

[JeffKing]

We are a long-time customer using Crystal Reports, and we're in the process of upgrading servers to Windows 2022.  When I attempted to install the 64-bit runtime, I received an error stating Visual Studio was not present and is required for this installation.  

This is a production server so VS will not be installed.  How can I locate and install the appropriate runtime files only?

The CrystalDecisions references in my application point to the win32_x86 directory, (which doesn't yet exist on my new server) and my research (including ChatGPT) claims that this is the correct location, and to disregard the naming.  This seems outrageous, so I'm just looking to confirm.

[DonWilliams · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeff,

The error is due to you installing the EXE which integrates into Visual Studio which of course it looks for VS install location etc.

To redistribute the runtime go here:

https://origin.softwaredownloads.sap.com/public/site/index.html

Select CR for VS and download the matching MSI packages

https://origin-az.softwaredownloads.sap.com/public/file/0020000001375542024

And you may need the 32 bit MSI also:

https://origin-az.softwaredownloads.sap.com/public/file/0020000001375512024

PS - don't use the MSI packages on your DEV PC, the EXE will install them both.

Don

[JeffKing · Accepted solution]

Thank you, Don. I was able to figure out that if I download the appropriate ZIP file in the "Crystal Reports, for Visual Studio", the runtime file I needed was there and I've installed it. This has allowed me to open the page that instantiates the CrystalDecisions objects, but yet to confirm the reports run. I had to disable 32 bit applications in the applicaiton pool to get it to work, which I do not in the original server. I accpeted it as part of CR 2020 being 64 bit only. Are you saying I SHOULD install the 32 bit, as well?

[DonWilliams · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeff,

Ah, it's a WEB app, not sure why you did not have to disable the 32 bit AppPool in the previous version, that means your App was running in x86 mode. But there are a few ways to create WEB app's....

CR runtime is not specific to the version of Crystal Reports you are using. You can use a CR 2020 report in 32 bit runtime.

Sometimes App''s have a 32 bit dependencies so both are required, in your case it appears everything is working so all is good.

Don

[JeffKing · Accepted solution]

I appreciate the insight. Now, I'm experiencing a "Database logon" failure and I presume it's related to some permissions or lack of the SQL Native Client, as it's yet to be installed. However, do you believe it's possible this error is occurring because I don't have the 32-bit runtime installed?

[DonWilliams · Accepted solution]

I don't think so, Microsoft installs both 32 and 64 bit clients. If using 64 bit ODBC create the same 64 bit DSN as your 32 bit DSN, CR will find both. Without more debugging hard to say what the issue is, Go into SQL Profilerr and enable logging, it should show you if your app is connecting and any other issues it may have....

[JeffKing · Accepted solution]

After installing the SQL Native Client, I was able to open the reports. But that won't work long-term as we are upgrading our server to Windows 2022 and SQL Server 2022 and it doesn't support the Native Client. Our codebase will need to be updated to work with the new methods (MSOLEDBSQL or ODBC Driver 18). It's going to be a long hill to climb.