School IT Manager Needs CR7->CRXI VFP Help

[Former Member]

Hello - I have several old CR 7 reports for our school that use 4 linked VFP data files. Everything is stored in a folder on the local machine. How can I get these reports to run in CR XI? I am at a loss as to how to make an OLE DB (ADO) connection. I have installed the latest "MS VFP OLE DB Provider" file and I have admin rights on the local machine.

TIA,

Scott Schaffer

Heschel Day School

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Scott,

VFP is no longer one of the supported platforms so it isnt guarenteed to work in XI. Is it possible to migrate to a more recent data provider?

-Sean

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I suppose so if I want to rewrite the reports. The native data will probably always be in VFP DB files. I am open to suggestions about what I should use and how to convert the indexed VFP data files.

Thanks,

Scott

[Alex_S_sap1 · Accepted solution]

Hello Scott,

Within Crystal Reports XI, it should be possible to use either the OLE DB or ODBC connections to connect to a Visual FoxPro database.

1. Here are the steps to create a connection to OLE DB

- Open Crystal Reports XI.

- Choose the create a new connection.

- Choose the OLE DB (ADO) connection type.

- Select 'Microsoft Visual FoxPro OLE DB Provider' (as long as this driver has been installed onto the machine)

- Choose the location of the .DBf files or .DBC file

2. Here are the steps to create a connection to the Visual FoxPro ODBC driver.

- Create an ODBC Data Source within the ODBC administrator off of Microsoft FoxPro VFP ODBC driver(this is located in the Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative tools folder.)

- In the ODBC Data Source specify the location of the files and whether you are connecting to .DBF files or a .DBC file.

- Open Crystal Reports XI.

- Choose the create new Connection.

- Choose the ODBC (RDO) connection type.

- Select the ODBC Data Source that was previously created.

Once you have a working connection, you will just need to open the existing report and use the Database | Set Database Location option to point the tables in the report to use the new connection information and then verify that the report is working to return the desired data.

Regards,

Alex

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Alex-

After I do the following-

Open Crystal Reports XI.

Choose the create a new connection.

Choose the OLE DB (ADO) connection type.

Select 'Microsoft Visual FoxPro OLE DB Provider' (as long as this driver has been installed onto the machine)

After selecting 'Microsoft Visual FoxPro OLE DB Provider' I get a screen that asks for "Connection Information" and it wants Data Source, User ID, and Password. I am just trying to get to my 4 linked VFP DBF files in a folder located at c:\erb4.

What would I use for "Data Source" field. Would my admin logon and password work for the credentials?

Thanks for any advice,

Scott