The Report Application Server (RAS) is a set of components that enable developers to take advantage of the report-design capabilities of the Crystal Reports engine. These components enable developers to build applications that include report design, modification, and viewing functionality and can be accessed through a Web browser. RAS is the replacement and evolution of previous single threaded object models and Crystal Products such as the Report Designer Component (RDC) and the Crystal Reports Print Engine (CRPE).
In version 10 of the Crystal Suite of Business Objects products, the standalone RAS is called the Crystal Enterprise Embedded edition. RAS is built using client/server technology. The server components consist of the application logic that interfaces with the reporting print engine. The client components consist of the RAS Software Developers Kit (SDK) that communicates with the RAS via TCP/IP and the Viewers SDK that exposes a number of report viewers each suiting particular application needs. The RAS is a multithreaded server with both .NET/COM and Java object models.
The RAS and Viewers SDKs are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 32, "Crystal EnterpriseViewing Reports," and Chapter 33, "Crystal Enterprise EmbeddedReport Modification and Creation." This chapter introduces the sample applications provided around Crystal Enterprise Embedded and provides some configuration information.
Part I. Crystal Reports Design
Creating and Designing Basic Reports
Selecting and Grouping Data
Filtering, Sorting, and Summarizing Data
Understanding and Implementing Formulas
Implementing Parameters for Dynamic Reporting
Part II. Formatting Crystal Reports
Fundamentals of Report Formatting
Working with Report Sections
Visualizing Your Data with Charts and Maps
Custom Formatting Techniques
Part III. Advanced Crystal Reports Design
Using Cross-Tabs for Summarized Reporting
Using Record Selections and Alerts for Interactive Reporting
Using Subreports and Multi-Pass Reporting
Using Formulas and Custom Functions
Designing Effective Report Templates
Additional Data Sources for Crystal Reports
Multidimensional Reporting Against OLAP Data with Crystal Reports
Part IV. Enterprise Report Design Analytic, Web-based, and Excel Report Design
Introduction to Crystal Repository
Crystal Reports Semantic Layer Business Views
Creating Crystal Analysis Reports
Advanced Crystal Analysis Report Design
Ad-Hoc Application and Excel Plug-in for Ad-Hoc and Analytic Reporting
Part V. Web Report Distribution Using Crystal Enterprise
Introduction to Crystal Enterprise
Using Crystal Enterprise with Web Desktop
Crystal Enterprise Architecture
Planning Considerations When Deploying Crystal Enterprise
Deploying Crystal Enterprise in a Complex Network Environment
Administering and Configuring Crystal Enterprise
Part VI. Customized Report Distribution Using Crystal Reports Components
Java Reporting Components
Crystal Reports .NET Components
COM Reporting Components
Part VII. Customized Report Distribution Using Crystal Enterprise Embedded Edition
Introduction to Crystal Enterprise Embedded Edition
Crystal Enterprise Viewing Reports
Crystal Enterprise Embedded Report Modification and Creation
Part VIII. Customized Report Distribution Using Crystal Enterprise Professional
Introduction to the Crystal Enterprise Professional Object Model
Creating Enterprise Reports Applications with Crystal Enterprise Part I
Creating Enterprise Reporting Applications with Crystal Enterprise Part II
Appendix A. Using Sql Queries In Crystal Reports
Creating Enterprise Reporting Applications with Crystal Enterprise Part II