Hello,
I am new to crystal reports. I want to design reports through crystal reports in visual basic. Can anybody help me how to go about it. What all do I require to have crystal reports in visual basic and where can I get it.
I have one more question.
Do I have to install anything before using the application developed in visual basic which is having the crystal reports or the exe created through package and deployment wizard will hold the exe.
Please reply.  
It is urgent.
Thanking you.

If you will work wih crystal report that was shipped with Visual Studio (version 4.6), then all you do is:

1) open Crystal Report designer (external application), connect it to some datasource (for example access database), design report in it - its interface,  insert database fields that should be displayed in crystal reports, and finally after you have finished all, as result you will have test.rpt file.
2) Go to Components (CTRL+T) and import Crystal report 4.6 control. Add it to form, and this is the minimum code required to show report

' needed to update location to new location of the database, since application can be installed in any dir, so you cant know in advance where the databse will reside Me.CR.DataFiles(0) = App.Path & "\dbName.mdb" ' needed to point to report location Me.CR1.ReportFileName = App.Path & "\test.rpt" ' Show report frmMain.CR1.Action = 1

Also often is used SelectionFormula property to filter data that will be displayed.

If you decide to use newer versions of crystal report, then you have a sticky topic in this section that explains how to use it.

As for the deploying application, if using Cr 4.6, then as far as I remember you only need to distribute crystl32.ocx with your application

To deply newer versions of CR, you would need to pack much more files in installation package, cause crystal report has evolved into much serious component, with many more options available to end user. they have created merge modules that need to be deployed with application, and can be downloaded from their site.

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Thankyou,
But I am not using visual basic 4.6. I am using  visual basic 6 and there is no crystal reports available in that. What should I do in that case?

I never meant Visual Basic 4.6, I was talking about Crystal reports version 4.6. If you dont have crystal reports, then you should buy crystal reports from

http://www.businessobjects.com/

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Hai
I am just adding a comment to GORAN.
When u install Crystal report just try this sample program.It will give u an idea.
And have u decided the version of CR u r goign to use.I am using CR8 and i amsatisfied with it rather i even tried with CR9
So all the best
If u have any queries then feel free to post here
The attached sample is with CR9 VB6 and Mysql

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Attached:
cr9vbmysql.zip 11 KB (Downloads: 35)

Thankyou guys,
I had no idea aboiut crystal reports but now I am working on it.
thanks a lot.