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Supplementing Aleph Reports Using The Crystal Reports Web Component Server

Supplementing Aleph Reports Using The Crystal Reports Web Component Server. Presented by Bob Gerrity Head of Systems Boston College Libraries (617) 552-3155 gerrityr@bc.edu. Designed by Kevin Kidd Systems Librarian Boston College Libraries (617) 552-1359 kiddk@bc.edu.

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Supplementing Aleph Reports Using The Crystal Reports Web Component Server

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  1. Supplementing Aleph Reports Using The Crystal Reports Web Component Server Presented by Bob Gerrity Head of Systems Boston College Libraries (617) 552-3155 gerrityr@bc.edu Designed by Kevin Kidd Systems Librarian Boston College Libraries (617) 552-1359 kiddk@bc.edu Presentation URL:

  2. Supplementing Aleph Reports Using The Crystal Reports Web Component Server Easy questions? Ask: Bob Gerrity Head of Systems Boston College Libraries (617) 552-3155 gerrityr@bc.edu Hard questions? Contact: Kevin Kidd Systems Librarian Boston College Libraries (617) 552-1359 kiddk@bc.edu

  3. Topics Covered • Reasons for implementing 3rd-party reporting tool • Decision factors in selecting Crystal Reports • Benefits and drawbacks of Crystal Reports solution • Local implementation requirements: skills, hardware, software • Basics of implementation process • Example of report-development process • Quick demo of Crystal Reports in action

  4. Boston College ALEPH Implementation • In production on version 12.4 since June 2000 • Licensed for 360 OPAC users, 120 staff (GUI) users • Bib. Database of approximately 1.8 million records • ALEPH production server is IBM RS6000 running AIX • (SP Power3 SMP High Node, 6 processors, 8GB memory, 250GB disk) • Using version 8.0.5 of Oracle

  5. Reporting Issues Boston College Needed to Address • Existing ALEPH reports (via Web Services) did not meet all of our reporting requirements • Some reports have confusing options/parameters (e.g., Acquisitions General Retrieval Form) • Accessing and using ALEPH reports can be confusing • Multi-step process, using Web Services to submit report, GUI Task Manager to retrieve and print • Limited control over formatting of ALEPH reports • Not easy to extract Aleph report data and save it in other formats • Security concerns: Web Services includes database management jobs; restricting access to specific users is cumbersome.

  6. Desired Features of Library Reporting Solution • Goal was to have a Web-based, “self-service” reports center for library staff • Wanted to take advantage of existing Systems Dept. skills, resources • Parameterized reporting (based on dates, locations, statuses, etc.) • Ability to print, export, and manipulate report data • Flexible enough to meet differing reporting needs of • various library departments • Quick access to real-time data

  7. Benefits of Crystal Reports Web Component Server • Reports are requested using a standard HTML web form and viewed • using a browser plug-in • Reports can accept multiple parameters • ODBC connection provides real-time access to data • Configuration of Web Component server is quick and easy • All staff members can access reports • Database integrity: accidental updating of database is impossible • Reports and user requests are cached to minimize network and server load • Good documentation and support available • on-the-fly ad-hoc reporting is possible • a single report can be used by multiple departments • systems staff involvement in reporting is minimized

  8. CR Web Component Server: Things to think about • Aleph Oracle database design -- indirect and compound primary/foreign • key relationships -- often forces users to resort to costly full-table scans • and string functions when writing SQL queries. • Requires a strong understanding of the Aleph Oracle database design, • with staff workflows and with the overall operation of and relationships • among the various Aleph modules. • could potentially become a significant burden on both the • database and the network -- especially if the CR Web has a • large number of users

  9. Skills Required to Implement CR Web Components Programming Languages • Oracle SQL and basic PL/SQL • HTML • JavaScript (optional, for form validation) Software • Web Server Administration Tools • Crystal Reports 8 • Oracle Client Administration • - SQL*Plus • - ODBC Configuration • - Net8 Remote Database Access Configuration • HTML or Text Editor

  10. Hardware / Software Requirements for Boston College Crystal Reports Configuration Hardware • Client Computer (Running IE5 or Netscape4 Web Browser) • Web Server Running Microsoft IIS4 • Database Server Running Oracle8 Software • Crystal Reports 8 - Developer Edition Installed on Web Server • Oracle Client installed on Web Server (ODBC and SQL*Plus) • HTML / Text Editor

  11. Crystal Web Component Server Architecture Browser 1. URL containing .RPT file IIS Server with CR Web Component Server installed 3. Formatted report in Report Viewer 1. Web browser sends URL with .RPT file 2. Crystal Reports Web Component Server extension recognizes .RPT file type and runs report against database 3. Web server sends formatted report back to browser in Report Viewer 2. Web server queries database and runs report Oracle Database

  12. Implementing Crystal Reports Web Components I. Software Installation / Configuration A. In Oracle database, create a “reports” user who has permission to execute stored procedures for both XXX01, XXX50 libraries B. If one does not already exist, install and configure a web server (IIS4) C. Install full version of Crystal Reports 8 (recommended) and Crystal Reports Web Component Server on your web server D. Install and configure Personal Oracle (SQL*Plus and ODBC connection) on your web server. Make sure that you can access the Aleph database through SQL*Plus.

  13. Implementing Crystal Reports Web Components II. Report Creation A. For each parameterized report you wish to make available on the Web: a. write and test an SQL query b. create an Oracle package and procedure to accept parameters, execute the SQL query and return data to the reports server B. Using Crystal Reports, design a report which executes the stored procedure you just created C. Save the Crystal Report file (filename.rpt) to your web server D. Create an HTML form which accepts the parameters you defined in the stored procedure and executes the Crystal Report

  14. Example of an Oracle Package for Crystal Reports Unpaid Invoices Listed by Vendor & Invoice Creation Date CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE unpaidinvoices_package AS TYPE unpaidinvoices_rec IS RECORD (vendor char(20), invoice char(15), createdate char, status char(1)); TYPE unpaidinvoices_type IS REF CURSOR RETURN unpaidinvoices_rec; END unpaidinvoices_package; /

  15. Example of an Oracle Procedure for Crystal Reports Unpaid Invoices Listed by Vendor & Invoice Creation Date CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE unpaidinvoices ( unpaidinvoices_cur IN OUT unpaidinvoices_package.unpaidinvoices_type, startdate IN number, enddate IN number ) AS BEGIN OPEN unpaidinvoices_cur FOR SELECT rtrim(substr(z77_rec_key,1,20)), rtrim(substr(z77_rec_key,21,15)), to_date(z77_i_date,'YYYY-MM-DD')), z77_p_status FROM bcl50.z77 WHERE z77_i_date BETWEEN startdate AND enddate AND z77_p_status != 'P' ORDER BY rtrim(substr(z77_rec_key,1,20)),rtrim(substr(z77_rec_key,21,15)); END unpaidinvoices; /

  16. Crystal Reports HTML Submit Form Example <form method="post" name="rpt" action="Acq/Unpaid_Invoices.rpt" onSubmit="return false"> <input type="hidden" name="prompt0" value=""> From Date: <input type="text" name="prompt1" size="9" maxlength="8" value=""> To Date: <input type="text" name="prompt2" size="9" maxlength="8" value=""> <p> Important: The date format you must enter is YYYYMMDD <p> <b>Step 2:</b> <p> Please select the Web Browser you will use to view the report:<br> <select name="init"> <option value="actx" selected>Internet Explorer </select> <p> <b>Step 3:</b> <p> <input type="hidden" name="user0" value=”XXXXX"> <input type="hidden" name="password0" value=”XXXXX"> <input type="submit" value="Get Report" onClick="check_form(this.form);"> <input type="reset" value="Reset Form"> </form>

  17. More Help and Information Download the Oracle ODBC Client (part of Personal Oracle 8) http://otn.oracle.com/software/products/8i_personal/content.html*** ***Download is free; however, you may be required to register as a member of the Oracle Technology Network Download Help on Creating Oracle Packages and Procedures http://support.crystaldecisions.com /communityCS/TechnicalPapers/scr_oracle_stored_procedures.pdf Contact Kevin! kiddk@bc.edu

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