NOTE: If you are not using a Microsoft or other ISAPI compliant web server, the Automation Server and Active Server Pages are not available as a means of distributing reports from a web site.

As a web site administrator, you must decide when to use the Web Reports Server, and when to use the Automation Server in Active Server Pages. A simple means of deciding is to determine if you are a web developer, or a web administrator.

If you are doing web development, writing scripts and applications to customize the functionality of your site, you may want to consider using the Automation Server and Active Server Pages. The Automation Server provides complete control over how reports are presented and delivered to a client. Powerful features are available at runtime such as changing the source of data used or manipulating existing report formulas. However, the Automation Server requires extensive programming inside the Active Server Page environment. Familiarity with a scripting language such as VBScript or JScript is required. For complete information on using the Automation Server for web sites, see Building Active Web Sites, Page 43.

The Web Reports Server, on the other hand, can be set up quickly and easily. You simply store reports inside a directory accessible by your web server, then create standard HTML style links to the reports in your web pages. The Web Reports Server does allow some runtime changes to reports, such as record selection and the ability to change stored parameters. However, these options are limited in both scope and functionality. If your reports require little manipulation at runtime, and you need to produce a site quickly, use the Web Reports Server (see Web Reports Server Commands, Page 28).

Sample Web Sites

The default installation of the Crystal Web Reports Server also installs several web samples on your Internet or intranet server system. These samples provide live demonstrations of reports being distributed over the web. To access these samples:

Select "Web samples and Utilities Page" from the Seagate Crystal Reports Program group menu

or

Enter the following URL at your web browser:

http://localhost/scrsamples/

«localhost is the name of your web server domain.»

This address will open the Seagate Crystal Reports Web Samples/Utilities Page.

Web Reports Server Samples

The Web Reports Server samples are available by clicking the Reports Server Samples link on the Web Samples page, or by using the following URL:

http://localhost/scrreports/

The Reports Server Samples page appears. Here you can choose one of the Web Reports Server extensions and which Smart Viewer is used to display the reports.

After selecting a Web Reports Server extension and viewer, you can view any of five sample reports. This site demonstrates each of the Reports Server extensions and the Smart Viewers in a live environment. If you are unsure about which server extension or viewer you want to use on your own site, this page allows you to try each one and determine the best choice for your own needs.