Welcome

This section briefly describes the Java viewer, and outlines the contents and intended audience of this online help. Product registration and technical support information is also included, along with a brief description of the document conventions used within this online help.

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What is the Java Crystal report web viewer?

The Java viewer is a collection of Java classes that are used primarily for generating HTML and Dynamic HTML (DHTML) pages that display Crystal reports.

As a web application developer, you can include these classes in your Java Server Pages (JSP), and programmatically manipulate them to send customized reports to your users' web browsers. The viewer is entirely thin-client technology—users of your web application don't need to install any additional software on their computers in order to view the reports.

Besides providing the web-based report viewer, the Viewer Java SDK also provides you with the ability to programmatically export Crystal reports to a variety of other formats. See Export formats.

The Java viewer included with Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop is complemented by other Java viewers available with other Crystal products. These viewers fit into the same framework and rely on the same classes, but support additional features such as boolean searches, report parts, and mapping.

The viewer has been specifically designed to work with the Java Reporting Component included with Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop, as well as Crystal Enterprise and the Report Application Server.

Who should use this online help?

This online help is intended to help you develop web applications that use Java Server Pages (JSP) to access and display Crystal reports. It is, therefore, assumed that you have knowledge of the fundamentals of JSP, HTML, and DHTML.

About this online help

This online help provides the information necessary to help you to get started with the Viewers Java SDK. It includes code samples and a number of step-by-step examples that you can follow in order to help you integrate the Java viewer in your own web applications.

Section contents

The following is a short description of each of the remaining sections in this online help.

Architecture

This section introduces the Viewer Java SDK, and describes the components it interacts with in order to create HTML and DHTML report views. An overview of how the complete system fits together is followed by details of the Viewer Java SDK itself.

Viewer Functionality

This section first provides a brief description of the individual features available to the viewer. The section then provides information about the various formats to which the SDK can programmatically export Crystal reports.

Setting up the Development Environment

This section contains information that helps you set up your computer so that you can start using the Viewer Java SDK. It provides an overview of the software that must be installed before you can use the SDK, as well as which Java components are part of the SDK and where you can find them.

Getting Started

This section is designed to help you get started using the Viewer Java SDK to develop web-based applications. It provides a series of tutorials that guide you through the initial steps of creating the code to obtain a report source, then moves on to show you how to incorporate the viewer and the export control into your Java Server Pages (JSP).

SDK Reference

This section contains reference material for the viewer. This material supplements the API documentation provided by the Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop Java API Reference. It contains essential sample code for ensuring the best performance from the viewer and some simple troubleshooting tips.

Viewer Tag Library

This section first provides a brief overview of the Viewer Tag Library, including how to set up your JSP pages to use the tag library. The section then provides a list of all the tags available, their specific uses, and relevant examples.

Product registration

Product registration can be accessed at any time by following the on-screen registration prompts that appear when using Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop components.

Product registration allows you to keep up to date with product advancements and gives you access to:

Once you have completed the online registration process, an email is sent to you. This email provides you with:

Your product registration number and the keycode information provided by the registration process are needed in order to install and activate your copy of the Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop Designer. Completing the activation process finalizes your product registration.

Crystal Care technical support

Your copy of Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop entitles you to two free technical support incidents. In order to receive this support, your copy of Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop must be registered. For more information about product registration, refer to Product registration.

To find out about the technical support programs available for Crystal Reports for BEA WebLogic Workshop:

Crystal Training

Whether you're a developer, information technology professional, or business user, we offer a wide range of Java Crystal report web viewers training courses designed to build or enhance your existing skills. Courses are available online, at certified training centers, or at your own site:

Crystal Consulting

Our global team of certified consultants and consulting partners can guide you through a corporate-wide solution—including strategy, design, integration and deployment—for the fastest results, maximum performance, and increased productivity.

Document conventions

This online help uses the following conventions:

Trademark acknowledgements

Crystal Decisions, Crystal Reports, Crystal Enterprise, Crystal Analysis, Crystal Services, Crystal Care, Crystal Assist, Crystal Applications, Info and Holos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Crystal Decisions, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

All BEA brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of BEA Systems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.


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