David, the best approach may be more indirect. This is another reason why I keep trying to discourage the more direct interfaces between MV-specific SQL tools.
Rather than trying to bind CR or any reporting tools to U2, create a Data Access Layer (DAL) that you're comfortable with using any tools you prefer. You can then use this with any future project and enhance it as you find the need. Then create classes for a Business Logic Layer (BLL) that represent the server-side data. These might include CUSTOMER, ORDER_HDR, INVENTORY, etc. Again, you will be able to use these for any future projects. Then you can create a final class, decorated with the .NET DataObjects attribute, that can be used as an ObjectDataSource with any tools that bind with such DataSources - including Crystal Reports. You will probably have a few of these for your various application needs. Not only is your effort on these classes portable to other projects, but you're abstracting matters of the UI (Crystal Reports and their API in this case) from any changes you make to accommodate DAL or DBMS changes. For example, you can now use your CR interface with jBASE, Cachi, SQL Server, or any other database - all you need to do is replace the DAL - and you can use the same DAL and BLL to provide data to MS Office, web services, or any number of other front-end application/interfaces. This also insulates you from support people at either IBM or CR blaming their faceless counterparts for some malfunction. Speaking of which, I'm surprised IBM says CR itself is so broken but I suspect that's motivated in part by their purchase of Cognos. As always, if you'd like assistance, you know where I am. :) HTH Tony Gravagno Nebula Research and Development Technical Editor, LINQ Programming: http://tinyurl.com/5lqroa [link goes to Amazon for book info] ... and other .NET books and publications TG@ remove.pleaseNebula-RnD.com Nebula R&D provides .NET-related development and training services > From: David Wolverton > We want to use UniData 7.1.20 OLE-DB and Crystal > Reports 2008 ... and IBM support tells me that CR > has 'not worked right since Version 9' (which in itself > is amazing, and unbelievable!) > > So I'm asking the masses -- are you using CR 2008 against > UniData 7.1.x? And if so, are there tricks you can share? ------- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/