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Chapter 8
Getting Started with C/C++ Clients
In this chapter, we describe how to customize and generate reports using C or C++. On
Windows 95 and Windows/NT systems, you may use any C/C++ development
environment capable of loading 32-bit Windows DLLs. You should refer to Chapter 5 for
information on how to program a Parallel Crystal ActiveX automation client using
Microsoft Visual C++ ActiveX/COM extensions.
This chapter is divided into two major sections
•= In the first section entitled Using Parallel Crystal in a C++ Application, we describe
how to build a Parallel Crystal client that runs as a C++ application program. The
section contains example code fragments that show you how to use C++ classes to
connect to the Parallel Crystal Report Server, and how to generate reports formatted
as PostScript, PDF and HTML documents.
•= In the second section entitled Using Parallel Crystal in a C Application, we describe
how to build a Parallel Crystal client that runs as a C application program. The section
contains code fragments that show you how to use equivalent C API function calls to
connect to the Parallel Crystal Report Server, and how to generate reports formatted
as PostScript, PDF and HTML documents.
Both C and C++ applications are constructed using the Parallel Crystal C/C++ Client
Distribution Library and its accompanying header files. In C++ environments, the headers
provide a class-based interface to this library. In C environments, the headers provide a set
of API function prototypes that include the original Seagate Crystal Report Engine
functions. Both interfaces are accessed by including the single file, pcre.h into your
program.
Throughout the Chapter, we use a sample Crystal report file called Box.rpt that is
distributed with Parallel Crystal in the SampleReports directory of the product
installation. The file already incorporates its own data so the report may be produced
directly without the need to connect to a database.
Before looking at some example code, we need to clarify details of a Parallel Crystal
Report Server installation.
Parallel Crystal Developer's Manual
Version 2.4 - Revised 5/27/00
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