[cViewMANAGER]  [cViewMANAGER FAQ]
 

cViewMANAGER FAQ

Email Output

Question/Symptom:
Can I send one recipient an Excel Worksheet and another a PDF Acrobat document? Similarly can another user receive a Word document etc?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. Select the MultiRun feature and click 'Custom' for the output format. Each run can output a different format.

Question/Symptom:
My report is processed but the email message doesn't get sent

Answer/Solution:
There may be several reasons for this.

• Use Server/View STMP log and see if anything obvious is revealed in the discussion with the SMTP server.

• You may need to increase the timer value in the SMTP configuration form.

• Increase the timer value in steps of 10 to see what setting works on your site

Question/Symptom:
What mail server and clients do cViewMANAGER and cViewSERVER work with?
For instance, can I receive reports sent by cViewSERVER to my email? I am using Outlook.

Answer/Solution:
They will work in most environments.
The schedulers cViewMANAGER and cViewSERVER will work with any SMTP compliant mail server such as Exchange, Notes, MDaemon, etc. They send email using SMTP direct to the mail server.
The reason they work with most email systems is because they are not dependent on your environment:
- cViewMANAGER has its own SMTP spooler built into the software.
- cViewSERVER uses the SMTP service included with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
This means that any email client eg Outlook, Outlook, Outlook Express, Pegasus Mail, Lotus Notes, can view the reports sent from the scheduler.
 

Question/Symptom:
Error message 'Unable to relay' What do I do?

Answer/Solution:
'Unable to relay' is not a cViewMANAGER error message. The error message is being generated by your mail server.
Fix: Please ask you mail administrator to permit relay for that workstation
 

Question/Symptom:
I want to send a report to my manager and another party. I need to do this for many 15 reports. How do I send the report to two email addresses?

Answer/Solution:
The current version supports multiple email addresses separated by semi colons (;)

Older versions required a list file. Create a text file using a text editor or the list editor within cViewMANAGER. Invoke the list by surrounding the file name with angle brackets

If you do not include a drive or folder, cViewMANAGER expects to find the file in the cViewMANAGER program folder.
 

Question/Symptom:
Will cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER work with my MS Exchange Server?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. The Exchange server will need to be configured so that it will accept SMTP relay from the cViewMANAGER/cViewSERVER machine. If this isn't acceptable to your SMTP server administrator, then you will need to identify a SMTP server that you can access.
 

Question/Symptom:
I've created a list of email addresses so I can email a report to multiple people. Where do I put the name of the list file? When I put the path/name of the file into the field where its looking for the email address - I get an error as it's trying to use the path/filename AS the email address.

Answer/Solution:
The list file is used where you would enter the email address. Use the file name surrounded by angle brackets <>. If the lst file is in the same folder as cViewMANGER, no file or path is required. cViewSERVER has a \lists subfolder where it expects to find list files.
 

File Output

Question/Symptom:
Can my report create a unique file name each time it runs under cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER?

Answer/Solution:
Yes, you can do this by using the Date stamp feature.

• Use %d, %m, %s or %h in the output file name.

• This only works with Disk Output

• It does not apply to printed or emailed reports.
 

Question/Symptom:
Can I direct report output to an FTP folder?

Answer/Solution:
Not currently within cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER. Here are a few options:

Fix 1: You can save to a local or remote disk folder, and then use FTP inside a BAT file.
 

Printer Output

Question/Symptom:
Can I control the schedule so that some of my reports print landscape and some print portrait?

Answer/Solution:
Yes - The version (v 8.13/9.13 and above) of cViewMANAGER and cViewSERVER allow you to control page orientation and the number of copies.
 

Question/Symptom:
cViewMANAGER trial version only prints to the default printer. Is this true of the full product?

Answer/Solution:
No. The trial version of cViewMANAGER does not have the full functionality of the full product and one of the restrictions is that it will only print to the default printer.

When you purchase the full version, it will print to all printers, not just the default printers
 

Question/Symptom:
Why does cViewMANAGER print only to the default printer?

Answer/Solution:
It should print to any printer you designate.
There are two possible reasons if it does not:

• The trial version of cViewMANAGER has restricted functionality and will only print to the default printer. The full version will print to non-default printers

• There was an error on versions prior to 9.25 of cViewMANAGER. We can send you the latest version.

Database Connectivity

Question/Symptom:
I am having trouble connecting to the database

Answer/Solution:
cView, cViewMANAGER and cViewSERVER all require live connections to the database. If you are having problems with database access check the following:

• The Database client must be installed on the cView machine. This includes any SQL client, Oracle client etc.

• If you are using ODBC, the DSN must be configured the same as the report designer machine

• Password information is stored in the File/Settings/Connections form. Make sure you “Save” the settings here.

• Our report engine appears to work best with Server authentication rather than NT authentication

• If your database requires a reference to a mapped drive on a remote you will not be able to use cViewSERVER. You will need to revert to cViewMANAGER or use a UNC path if available. cViewSERVER, like all services cannot see mapped drives.

 

Question/Symptom:
What server authentication do I need to use?

Answer/Solution:
Our report engine appears to work best with Server authentication rather than NT authentication

 

Capabilities and Limits

Question/Symptom:
Is there a maximum number of parameters in cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER?

Answer/Solution:
• cViewMANAGER has a maximum of 3000 parameters in the schedule database. Older versions had a limit of 1000 parameters.

• cViewSERVER does not have a limit on the number of parameters

Question/Symptom:
Can cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER process On-Demand Subreports?

Answer/Solution:
No. This is because on-demand subreports are not run at the same time as the main report but are run when requested. So a scheduled report is not a request for an on-demand subreport. It doesn’t know when or if the on-demand subreport is required, so does not process it.


Fix 1: One solution is to make the on-demand subreport a separate external report and run that separately in the schedule.


Fix 2: Another solution is to use cView, our report viewer which can view the report with saved data. If the on-demand subreport is requested, then it will process the subreport with the correct values. This is not a solution for remote users because cView would need access to the database to refresh the data.
 

Question/Symptom:
Can the cViewMANAGER scheduler run as a service?

Answer/Solution:
No - cViewMANAGER runs as a process on your workstation. This is because it is designed as a personal report scheduler. Therefore you will need to start the machine and re-boot it if it stops for any reason.

Fix 1: Our product cViewSERVER includes all of the functionality of cViewMANAGER and runs as a Windows service.

• This means the process starts when the machine starts and will automatically restart if the machine is rebooted.

• Another advantage is that you do not need to be logged in as a user or as administrator – this is an important security consideration.


Fix 2: There are 3rd party products which can run cViewMANAGER as a service.
 

Question/Symptom:
Can cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER run under Windows Terminal Server?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. However for performance reasons we would not recommend you run either scheduler on a heavily used terminal server machine. When the scheduled report is processing the Crystal run time will use any spare resources. This may compromise the performance of your interactive users.

Please see the separate FAQ on pricing when using our products under Terminal Services.
 

Question/Symptom:
Can cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER only schedule a Crystal Report?

Answer/Solution:
Not only Crystal Reports.

Besides Crystal Reports, you can also schedule an EXE, BAT and cViewGLOBAL command file.
 

Question/Symptom:
Does cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER support multi value parameters?

Answer/Solution:
Yes - You can enter multi value parameters when setting up the schedule
 

Question/Symptom:
Do cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER support range parameters?

Answer/Solution:
No - range parameters are not currently supported in our schedulers. They are planned for a future release
(You can enter multi value parameters)
Range parameters are supported within cView
 

Question/Symptom:
Can the schedulers include a sub-list in a list?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. Include an entry in the list file of and it will be processed correctly. This enables you to create groups of lists and include each one where required. You can go down several levels, but circular references are not permitted
 

Question/Symptom:
Can I modify the Multirun or List file with a text file editor in cViewMANAGER?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. The reason we used a text file for the multirun was so that you could use another program to modify them. The original requirement was so that we could use a Crystal Report to generate the data needed for the multirun or list.
 

Question/Symptom:
Can I view the cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER schedule status from another machine?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. With the release of versions 8.20 and 9.20 and above we now include a web status page. If your machine is running web services, make the help folder a virtual web folder and point your browser to http://machine/cViewMANAGER/server.htm or just open the \Web subfolder to view the current log or status.
 

Question/Symptom:
cViewMANAGER trial version only allows two reports. What is the limit in the full version?

Answer/Solution:
The trial version of cViewMANAGER has restricted functionality and will only allow you to schedule two reports

The full version of cViewMANAGER has a limit of 2,000 reports.


• If you need more than 2000 reports you could either change to cViewSERVER which has an unlimited number of reports or we can offer an increase in a later version of cViewMANAGER.
 

Question/Symptom:
Is it possible to save sub report parameters, as well as parameters for the main report?

Answer/Solution:
Yes. The solution is to create a parameter in the main report and link it into the subreport parameter. Then cViewMANAGER will process it correctly.
 

General Troubleshooting

Question/Symptom:
I got an error message 'Invalid License File' when I tried to unlock the trial version.

Answer/Solution:
All the cView family of products use a 'License.XML' file to unlock the demo version. While these files have similar formats, they have different unlock codes for each product. You may have been sent a license file for the wrong product or the encryption may have got corrupted.

Fix : Email us or your distributor and we will send you a new license file.

 

Question/Symptom:
An error message displays when I double click on the License.XML file. Why does this happen?

Answer/Solution:
You do not need to double click on the license file. Simply place it in the same folder you created when you downloaded our trial version of the software. Our software reads the license file automatically when you run it.
 

Question/Symptom:
Error message “Invalid TLV record”. What does this mean?

Answer/Solution:
This message usually occurs if you are trying to view a version 9 or 10 Crystal report with version 8.xx of cView, cViewSERVER or cViewMANAGER.

Fix: Use the 9.xx version to process the report.
 

Question/Symptom:
Reports will not run as scheduled in cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER

Answer/Solution:
The cViewMANAGER schedule is a list of reports and when they need to run.

• The Schedule needs to 'Start' before this will happen. Use the Server/Start menu item.

• To have a report run, your must set it to “Scheduled” and specify when it is to next run.

• Any reports with a run date prior to now, will run immediately.
 

Question/Symptom:
When I enter values for a multi-value parameter, I get this message at run-time: “The value / range you are adding already exists”

Answer/Solution:
This is caused by the Crystal Reports runtime module rejecting any duplicates.
So the parameter values can’t be for example: CA, OR, TN, CA

Inputting the duplicate parameter CA will cause this error.
Fix: Remove the duplicate value to fix the error.

 

General Questions

Question/Symptom:
What happens if a scheduled report time is missed?

Answer/Solution:
Once a report has completed processing, the schedule is incremented until a future date is found. It will not rerun an overdue report.
 

Question/Symptom:
Do I get free upgrades?

Answer/Solution:
Yes – for the first 12 months we offer free upgrades.

This includes

1. Any product enhancements

2. Where we have developed a new version of our product to support a new version of Crystal Reports, we can offer this to you as part of the maintenance agreement


You can continue receiving these two benefits after 12 months from purchase date by either

3. Paying 15% of the product price at the time of purchase

4. Paying 15% of the current price of the product.

If you do not have a maintenance agreement or if the maintenance agreement has lapsed, please contact contact your reseller or us for the cost of a new maintenance agreement or for the cost of an upgrade
 

Question/Symptom:
Do I need to install Crystal Reports on the machine running cViewMANAGER?

Answer/Solution:
No. cViewMANAGER includes the required Crystal run time files.
Depending on what version of Crystal Reports you use to design your reports, we currently have versions of cViewMANAGER that support
• Crystal Reports version 8.5 run time files
• Crystal Reports version 9 run time files.
 

Question/Symptom:
How many licenses will I need of cViewMANAGER and cView?

Answer/Solution:
You can automatically schedule and distribute your reports and enable users to view and refresh reports from the database using a combination of cViewMANAGER and cView

cViewMANAGER is the scheduler and only needs to be installed on the PC scheduling the reports (and not on the PCs of the people receiving the reports).

cView is the viewer and is installed on the PCs of the people receiving the reports

A license is required for each server cViewMANAGER is installed on:

• cViewMANAGER is usually installed by someone who has administrator rights to see the data and process the reports.

• If someone has a different set of security permissions to see a different set of data or reports, a separate license is needed to cover that set of data and reports.

• If someone is on a separate physical network (or even different city) with their own reports and data, a separate license is needed to cover that set of data and reports.

• If you have a backup server which is simply used in the case of failure of your main server, we will not charge you for a second license of cViewMANAGER for the backup server

• Volume discounts are available

cViewMANAGER only needs to be installed on the PC scheduling the reports (and not on the PCs of the people receiving the reports). If just a report viewer is needed on those PCs, our report viewer cView is a more appropriate and less expensive option.

cView is licensed per user:

• If a user has multiple machines then a single license is fine.

• If several users share one machine for report viewing then a license needs to be purchased for each report viewer.

• On a terminal server machine, a cView license is required for each user who views reports.


The prices include support and email maintenance for 12 months from purchase date.

This includes all new upgrades to cViewMANAGER that are released during that time. After then, there is an optional maintenance and support option for an extra 15% which would also entitle you to upgrades.
 

Question/Symptom:
What happens if I schedule two reports for the same time?

Answer/Solution:
cViewMANAGER is a single threaded report processor, so the first report will process, and then the second report will start as soon as the first is completed. Which comes first is based on the report numbers within the schedule.

If several reports are overdue, then the most overdue report is run first.
 

Question/Symptom:
How will a list file in my schedule help me?

Answer/Solution:
It will save you time.

A list file can be used in the place of an email list or a parameter value. If you have several reports being sent to the same group of people, then use a list file in the cViewMANAGER or cViewSERVER schedule. Then when the membership of the list file changes, you only need to make one change for a series of reports.

A list file can contain a reference to other list files.
 

Question/Symptom:
I am looking for the schedule file.
Where is it stored?

Answer/Solution:
All the files are stored in the folder where you installed the product - eg cViewSERVER configuration files might be in C:\Program Files\cViewSERVER.

The individual details are:
The schedule is stored in the cView.xml file.
The Database connection is in Connect.xml.
The log file is in cViewLOG.xml.
Your license is in license.xml.
If you are using List files, they are stored in the same folder as the cViewSERVER or cViewMANAGER.
Multirun control files are usually in the
same folder as the report.