Can crystal report access MySQL database

Anon

Hi, good day.
I looking at reporting tools to use to access to Mysql database, and I have some experience with that. Can crystal report access to mysql database?

Have a nice day.

Thanks,
Becky

Anon

Hello Sir,
I am looking for excatly same problem.
If you come across solution please let me
also know.
thanks!

with regards
Amit Sinha

Becky wrote:

Hi, good day.
I looking at reporting tools to use to access to Mysql database, and I have some experience with that. Can crystal report access to mysql database?

Have a nice day.

Thanks,
Becky

Anon

Hi!

Yes, you can do that by using MyODBC which is an ODBC wrapper of mysqllib and can be used both when the server is installed locally and remotely.
MyODBC can be downloaded from www.mysql.com. Check in the Downloads section under APIs.

You can also use libMySQL.dll and use the functions provided by the DLL directly. This will require usage of WinAPI declares (in VB, Public Declare Function ... lib "" ..., etc)

I assume you use Crystal Reports from VB?

Hope it's helped,
Best regards,
Stas

Anon

Hi Stas,

Thanks! for reply.
You guessed right I am using Crystal Reports
with VB.
My proposed architecture is MySql on Linux
Server, client VB Application on NT-workstaions & Crystal Reports as reporting tool.
I was I wondering If I could get an Open Source substitute for Crytal Reports. Can you
suggest something.

with regards
Amit Sinha

Stanislav Okhvat wrote:

Hi!

You can also use libMySQL.dll and use the functions provided by the DLL directly. This will require usage of WinAPI declares (in VB, Public Declare Function ... lib "" ..., etc)

I assume you use Crystal Reports from VB?

Hope it's helped,
Best regards,
Stas

Anon

Hi, Amit!

I guess if you really need to stick with VB, you'd have to use either Crystal Reports or the equally excellent ActiveX called ActiveReports. The second version came out not long ago and provides excellent capabilities. Even the first version is a dream.
You can also use the intrinsic Report designer found in VB, but it's usable only for simple reports.

As to open source components, I don't know of any. I kow of several open source ActiveX components, but they are for other purposes.

Do you have Crystal Reports? If yes, I guess the best way to go is use it. I doubt you will be able to find open source report designing components. Open source rarely comes across Microsoft :-)

Best regards,
Stas

Anon

Is it possible for me to connect MySQL database to crystal report through VB code without using any of ODBC and ADO ? I am not sure whether I can use MySQL driver directly or not and how to use it?

eg:
Report.Database.LogOnServer "WhatIsTheDriverName_ForMYSQL?", ServerName, Database, username, password

Then how i can declare the libMySQL.Lib in VB ? In what case i need to do it?

Thanks.

...Hing

Anon

Hi!

How do you connect to any databases?
Through DataEnvironment or directly through code?

Generally, when you install MyODBC, you then configure a DSN via which you will be able to communicate to the database. In MyODBC, you set up your password, username, etc and then you can either use the DSN in VB code or link to the DSN via the DataEnvironment which makes things a little bit easier.

If you want to use libMySQL.dll directly, you need to install it in Windows\System and call its methods as you call other Windows DLLs - via Declare's - if you used WinAPI, you know what I mean. It's something like

Public Declare Function SetTextAlign Lib "gdi32" Alias "SetTextAlign" (ByVal hdc As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long

libMySQL.dll 'exports' functions, however it is not a normal ActiveX DLL so you will not be able to set a reference to it as you normally would in VB. Thus you have to use the syntax above.

Then, check MySQL docs under "API" - I remember they have the syntax of all methods that can be used. Keep in mind you will have to get into some serious API coding here, convert C++ header files to VB, etc.

So, I suggest to use the first approach - MyODBC. You will be able to install it easily either on your machine or future clients.

I hope this has helped,
Stas

Anon

Stas, thanks 🙂

I connect through code.
Actually currently i connect MySQL to Crystal Report through MyODBC :
Report.Database.LogOnServer "pdsodbc.dll", DSNName, Database, username, password
(where i configure a DSN via control panel)

but if can that is not what i want. Because I didn't use any DataEnvironment or ADO in my coding, since i use MySQL directly, so i hope i can pass the recordset (MYSQL_RS)directly to crystal report, is it possible?

as far as i know, in ADO what we can do is :
Report.Database.Tables.Add "", , adoRS, , "p2smon.dll"

(where adoRS is ADO Recordset)

but what we can do for MySQL Recordset (MYSQL_RS) ?

...hing

Anon

Hi!

I don't know whether you can pass the MySQL recordset directly to the report instance. Anyway, you have to open the database first, then open a recordset, etc. Did you look into UDLs? You create a UDL file which is basically a portable ODBC link file so you won't have to worry about installing DSNs on your clients manually.

I get your point, but I don't think it's possible to communicate to MySQL directly. You can, but it will require low-level APIs which I described. I suggest one of these solutions:

1) Explore libMySQL APIs using the MySQL docs. Start a new VB project, choose Dynamic Link Library and choose Db Provider. It should create all methods you need like MoveFirst, MoveNext. Create a module and put all APIs and header types and messages into it. Then, in the class file for the DLL, put necessary code into all procedures. Then link the new DLL with your application and use it like you would a regular ADO library.

2) Create a custom data provider library in language such as C++ using the headers provided by libMySQL and then link this provider to your VB project using the References dialog and then communicate with the provider just as you would with ADO DB.
I once met a library called MySQL OLE Db, if my memory doesn't fail me, but then I could not get it to work. Try to search for it, it provides similar capabilities (at least on paper).

I hope this helps,
Stas