How to Deploy Crystal Report Viewer to Web Server?

Welcome to this tutorial on how to deploy Crystal Report Viewer to your web server. This process can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, it can be done smoothly. By following the instructions in this article, you will be able to successfully deploy Crystal Report Viewer and generate reports that can be accessed from your web application.

The process involves several steps, including understanding the requirements, downloading Crystal Reports, installing Crystal Reports Runtime, configuring IIS on the web server, deploying Crystal Report Viewer, and testing the deployment. We’ll go through each step in detail to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the entire process.

Whether you’re a developer or a system administrator, this tutorial is designed to guide you through the process of deploying Crystal Report Viewer to your web server. So let’s get started!

Get ready to dive in and learn how to deploy Crystal Report Viewer to your web server. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to complete the process in no time. Let’s get started and create a seamless reporting experience for your web application users.

Understand the requirements

Before deploying Crystal Report Viewer to a web server, there are certain requirements that need to be met. First and foremost, you need to have the Crystal Reports Runtime installed on the web server. This runtime is essential for deploying Crystal Reports on the web. Additionally, you need to make sure that the web server is running a supported operating system and has the necessary resources to support the report viewer.

Another important requirement is to ensure that the web server has Internet Information Services (IIS) installed and configured. This is because the Crystal Report Viewer is an ASP.NET application and requires IIS to function properly. If IIS is not installed or configured, the report viewer will not work as intended.

It’s also essential to have a basic understanding of Crystal Reports and how it works. This includes knowing how to create reports and how to design them for use on the web. A solid understanding of Crystal Reports will make it easier to deploy the report viewer and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Check System Requirements

1. Operating system: Crystal Reports Viewer supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and It also supports Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012, and 2008.

2. Processor: The system should have a 64-bit processor with a minimum speed of 1.2 GHz.

3. Memory: A minimum of 1 GB of RAM is required for the viewer to run smoothly. However, 2 GB or more is recommended for better performance.

4. Hard Disk: The system should have a minimum of 4.5 GB of free disk space available for installation.

Before installing the Crystal Reports Viewer on your web server, it is important to check if your system meets the minimum requirements to ensure that the software runs smoothly.

Verify Crystal Reports Version Compatibility

Before deploying Crystal Report Viewer to a web server, it’s important to verify that the version of Crystal Reports being used is compatible with the web server environment. This helps ensure a smooth deployment and prevents any potential issues that may arise due to compatibility problems.

Check the version of Crystal Reports: Ensure that the version of Crystal Reports being used is compatible with the version of the web server. To do this, check the Crystal Reports version number and compare it to the version of the web server.

Verify compatibility: Check the compatibility matrix to ensure that the version of Crystal Reports being used is compatible with the web server environment. This information can typically be found on the vendor’s website.

Update if necessary: If the version of Crystal Reports being used is not compatible with the web server environment, it may be necessary to update to a newer version that is compatible. Be sure to thoroughly test the updated version before deploying it to the web server.

Download Crystal Reports

Crystal Reports is a powerful reporting tool that can help businesses analyze data and make informed decisions. Here are the steps to download Crystal Reports:

Step 1: Go to the SAP Crystal Reports website and click on the “Download Now” button. You will be prompted to create an account or sign in if you already have one.

Step 2: Once you are logged in, you will be taken to the download page. Select the version of Crystal Reports that is compatible with your operating system and click on the download link.

Step 3: After the download is complete, run the installation program and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Create an SAP Account

If you do not already have an SAP account, you will need to create one to download Crystal Reports. Follow these steps to create an SAP account:

1. Go to the SAP website and click on “Sign up” in the top right corner of the page.
2. Enter your personal information and click on “Continue”.
3. Review and accept the terms and conditions.
4. Verify your email address by clicking on the link sent to you by SAP.

Once you have completed these steps, you will have access to the SAP software download center, where you can download Crystal Reports.

Locate the Crystal Reports Download

To deploy Crystal Reports to a web server, you need to download the installation files from the SAP website. You can either download the installation files for the full version of Crystal Reports or the runtime version. The runtime version is free and only includes the files necessary for running Crystal Reports on a web server.

• Step 1: Go to the SAP website and log in to your SAP account.
• Step 2: Click on the “Software Downloads” tab.
• Step 3: Select “Crystal Reports” from the list of products.
• Step 4: Select the version of Crystal Reports you want to download and click “Download”.

Make sure to download the version of Crystal Reports that is compatible with your web server and the version of the application that will be using it.

Select the Correct Version

When downloading Crystal Reports, it is important to ensure that you select the correct version that is compatible with your operating system and the version of the .NET framework that you are using.

The Crystal Reports version that you choose will also depend on your specific needs. For example, if you only need to view reports, you can download the Crystal Reports Viewer. However, if you need to create reports, you will need to download the appropriate version of Crystal Reports.

Be sure to check the system requirements for each version of Crystal Reports to ensure that it is compatible with your system. Additionally, make sure that you have the appropriate license to use the version of Crystal Reports that you have selected.

Install Crystal Reports Runtime

Once you have downloaded the appropriate version of Crystal Reports, the next step is to install the Crystal Reports runtime on your web server. This is necessary to enable your web application to display Crystal Reports.

The installation process varies depending on the version of Crystal Reports you have downloaded. Follow the instructions provided in the installation wizard to complete the installation process.

During the installation process, you will be prompted to choose the components you want to install. Be sure to select the appropriate components for your needs, as some components may not be necessary for your particular application.

After the installation is complete, you will need to register the Crystal Reports runtime on your web server. This step is necessary to make the Crystal Reports viewer control available in your web application.

Once the Crystal Reports runtime is installed and registered, you can begin using the Crystal Reports viewer control in your web application to display reports.

Run the Installation Wizard

After downloading the Crystal Reports runtime, locate the installation file and double-click to run the installation wizard.

The wizard will guide you through the installation process, which includes accepting the license agreement, selecting the installation location, and choosing the installation type.

Make sure to select the appropriate installation type based on your needs. The available options include a full installation, a custom installation, and a silent installation.

• Full Installation: This option installs all available components and features.
• Custom Installation: This option allows you to choose which components and features to install.
• Silent Installation: This option installs the software without any user interaction.

Once you have selected the installation type and completed the necessary steps, click “Finish” to complete the installation process.

Choose the Appropriate Settings

During the installation of Crystal Reports runtime, you will be prompted to choose various settings. These settings can impact the performance and functionality of the software. Here are some key settings to consider:

• Install Location: Choose the appropriate directory to install the software. Make sure there is enough space on the drive to accommodate the installation.
• Language: Select the language for the software. Make sure it matches your preferred language.
• License Agreement: Read and accept the license agreement to proceed with the installation.
• Installation Type: Choose the appropriate installation type based on your needs. Select “Typical” for a standard installation, or “Custom” for advanced options.

Once you have selected your settings, you can proceed with the installation process. It may take some time to complete depending on the installation type and the performance of your system.

After installation, it is recommended to test the software to ensure it is functioning correctly. You can test it by running a report or accessing Crystal Reports from an application.

Configure IIS on the Web Server

Step 1: Open the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager by typing “inetmgr” in the Windows search bar and selecting the IIS Manager from the list of results.

Step 2: Create a new website by right-clicking on the “Sites” folder in the left-hand menu and selecting “Add Website”. Fill out the required information such as the site name, physical path, and port number.

Step 3: Configure the site bindings by selecting the new website in the left-hand menu, clicking “Bindings” in the right-hand menu, and adding the appropriate bindings for your site, such as http or https.

Step 4: Test the site by browsing to the appropriate URL in your web browser. If the site is not working correctly, double-check your settings in IIS and ensure that any necessary ports are open in your firewall.

Install IIS on the Web Server

IIS (Internet Information Services) is a web server software used to host and manage websites and web applications on Windows servers. To install IIS on the web server:

Step	Description	Screenshot
Step 1	Open Server Manager and click on “Add Roles and Features”.
Step 2	Click “Next” until you get to the “Server Roles” screen.
Step 3	Select “Web Server (IIS)” and click “Next”.
Step 4	Select any additional features you want to install and click “Next”.
Step 5	Click “Install” to begin the installation process.
Step 6	Wait for the installation to complete and click “Close”.

After IIS is installed, you can configure it to host your website or application by creating sites, setting up bindings, and configuring application pools.

Create an Application Pool

Step 1: Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager on the web server.

Step 2: Expand the server name and select “Application Pools” from the left-hand pane.

Step 3: Right-click on the “Application Pools” node and select “Add Application Pool”.

Step 4: Give the application pool a name and select the appropriate .NET Framework version.

Configure IIS for 32-bit Applications

If you have 32-bit applications that you want to run on IIS, you need to enable support for 32-bit applications.

To enable support for 32-bit applications in IIS, follow these steps:

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
2. Click on the application pool that your application uses.
3. Click on the Advanced Settings link in the Actions pane.
4. In the Advanced Settings dialog box, set the Enable 32-Bit Applications option to True.
5. Click OK to save the changes.

After you have enabled support for 32-bit applications, your application should be able to run on IIS without any issues.

Deploy Crystal Report Viewer

Step 1: Download the Crystal Report Viewer from the SAP website and extract the files to a local folder on the web server.

Step 2: Create a new virtual directory in IIS for the Crystal Report Viewer files. Assign appropriate permissions to the folder.

Step 3: Modify the web.config file of the virtual directory to add the appropriate settings for the Crystal Report Viewer.

Step 4: Add a reference to the Crystal Report Viewer in your web application project and deploy it to the web server.

Step 5: Verify the deployment by navigating to the Crystal Report Viewer URL in a web browser and testing it with sample reports.

Choose the Right Deployment Method

There are several ways to deploy Crystal Report Viewer to your users. The right deployment method will depend on your specific requirements and environment. Here are three deployment methods to consider:

Install the Viewer on Each User’s Computer: This deployment method is the simplest but can be time-consuming if you have many users. You’ll need to install the viewer on each user’s computer manually.

Deploy the Viewer as a Web Application: You can deploy Crystal Report Viewer as a web application on your web server. Users can then access the viewer through a web browser. This method is convenient and allows users to access the viewer from anywhere with an internet connection.

Use a Third-Party Deployment Tool: There are several third-party deployment tools available that can help you deploy Crystal Report Viewer to your users. These tools can automate the deployment process and save time.

Deploy the Report Viewer Control

Step 1: Copy the CrystalReportWebFormViewer4 folder to the root directory of your web application.

Step 2: Register the control in the web.config file by adding the following code:

 <add tagPrefix="CR" assembly="CrystalDecisions.Web, Version=13.0.3500.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=692fbea5521e1304" namespace="CrystalDecisions.Web" /> 

Step 3: Add the CrystalReportViewer control to your web form and configure it to display the report.

Modify the Web.Config File

Locate the Web.Config file in the root directory of your application.

Add the necessary settings to the Web.Config file to configure the Crystal Report Viewer.

Save the Web.Config file after making the necessary changes.

Test the Deployment

Verify the Crystal Report Viewer Control installation: After the deployment, navigate to the page where you have added the report viewer control and verify that it loads without any errors. If you encounter errors, ensure that all the required files are present in the correct locations.

Test with sample reports: Create a sample report with Crystal Reports and deploy it to the web server. Then, create a web page that uses the report viewer control to display the report. Verify that the report loads correctly and displays the required data.

Check cross-browser compatibility: Test the report viewer control on different web browsers to ensure that it is compatible with all the browsers that you intend to support. If there are any issues, make the necessary changes to ensure cross-browser compatibility.

Test with different data sources: Test the report viewer control with different data sources to ensure that it can handle various types of data. Ensure that the reports display the required data accurately and efficiently.

Perform load testing: Finally, perform load testing to ensure that the web application can handle a high volume of requests. Test the report viewer control under different load conditions to ensure that it is reliable and efficient.

Test the Connection to the Database

Verify Database Credentials: Before testing the connection, make sure that the database credentials used by the application are correct. Check the username, password, server name, and database name specified in the web.config file.

Test the Connection String: To test the connection string, navigate to the website in a browser and load a page that uses the Crystal Report Viewer. If the connection is successful, the page should load without any errors.

Check the Server Logs: If the page fails to load or displays an error message, check the server logs for more information about the issue. Look for any error messages related to the database connection or Crystal Report Viewer.

Test the Report Viewer

Step 1: Open the webpage where the Crystal Report Viewer is deployed.

Step 2: Check if the viewer is displayed correctly without any errors. You should see the report parameters and the report viewer control.

Step 3: Enter the required parameter values and click on the “View Report” button. The report should be displayed with the data that matches the selected parameter values.

If you encounter any issues or errors, check the event viewer or the IIS logs to see if there are any error messages related to the report viewer. Also, make sure that the database server is accessible and the database connection string is correctly configured in the Web.Config file.

By following these steps, you can ensure that the Crystal Report Viewer is working as expected and that the reports are being displayed correctly with the data from the database.

Resolve Any Issues

After testing the report viewer, you may encounter some issues that need to be resolved. One common issue is the “HTTP 404 Not Found” error, which may occur if the viewer control files are not installed correctly. To fix this issue, make sure that the control files are installed in the correct directory on the web server.

Another issue that you may encounter is the “HTTP 500 Internal Server Error”. This error may occur if there are issues with the web.config file or if there are missing dependencies. To fix this issue, check the web.config file for any errors and make sure that all dependencies are installed.

If you are still experiencing issues with the report viewer, you can try to troubleshoot the issue by checking the server logs for any error messages. You can also check the Crystal Reports support forums for any solutions to common issues.

It is important to resolve any issues with the report viewer as soon as possible, as they can affect the functionality of the reports and cause frustration for users. By taking the time to troubleshoot and fix any issues, you can ensure that the report viewer is working smoothly and providing accurate data to users.

Frequently Asked Questions