Now that we have version 11.5, I would like to migrate my existing reports (300 +) to the new version ( from 8.5 to 11.5). One of the issues I'm running into has to do with the SQL. In v8.5, I typically let the application create the intial SQL when I connect to the ODBC and link the tables. I then modify the SQL as necessary to get the desired results. I also have many parameter flds in these reports. In v11.5, I can not edit the previously mentioned SQL. Is there a way to convert these reports so I can edit the SQL?

Wow...sounds like I have a lot of work ahead of me if I want to do this. I'm connecting to a MS SQL Server database, and at present we prefer to connect via an ODBC. I guess I will try what you suggested for a report or two and see if it will let me use the Command SQL approach.

My experience has been that manually edited SQL from 8.5 does not "save as" cleanly to XI.  With our reports we would go to the Links tab in the Database Expert and we could see that the links between the tables were there, but when we looked at the SQL for the report, there were no joins between the tables and we saw too much data on the reports because there we ended up with cartesian joins (for every record in each table, get all possible combinations of records from the other tables.)

For the CMC, are you using Crystal Server or BOE and which version are you running?

Are you scheduling the report or running it interactively?  Have you checked in the CMC to see whether the connection for the report is set up correctly?  If it's not, you can change it in the CMC without having to update the report in Crystal.

Are the reports that are failing connected to the same database as the ones that run successfully?  If not, is the connection configured correctly on the report server?  For example, if you're using ODBC, is the correct DSN set up on the server?  Also if they're not the same, how is the logon for the BO services set up on the report server (look in the CCM)?  Does the network ID used for the logon have access to the network location where the database resides?

If you recreate the report using a command instead of the tables, you won't be able to copy anything over from the original report and you'll have to recreate the formulas.  Or, you could create the report using the tables, copy over the objects from the old report, and then create a new command under Set Location to point the objects to the new query.  You'd still have to manually edit formulas, though.

Here are some hints for copying the objects from the old report:

1.  Don't try to copy everything at the same time. Try to do maybe a section at a time at the most.

2.  Any lines will cause the paste to fail - don't include lines in what you're copying, just re-draw them on the new report.

3.  If any of your formulas or running totals call other formulas that are not visible on the report, you'll need to copy these "hidden" formulas first - drag it on to the old report, cut, paste to the new report, then delete the object off the new report.  It will still appear under formulas.

How long does the report run before you get the error?  This can also be an indication of a timeout on the Crystal Page Server (assuming you haven't upgraded to BOE XI 3.0 or 3.1.) or the Report Application Server (used when you have dynamic prompts.)