Business Benefits

• Quick to set up and simple to use.
• Minimize and eliminate repetitive tasks and manual processes.
• Reduce costs and cut labor by automating business processes and reports from one application.
• Improve customer satisfaction through mass personalized distribution.
• Reliable data, and compliance, through automated report generation.
• Time and cost savings through streamlined business process automation and Crystal Reports distribution.
• Leverages existing investments in hardware, software, email and other applications.
• Low training and implementation costs.
• Low Total Cost of Ownership.

Whether you're spending too much time running and distributing Crystal Reports output to line managers, or you need to provide corporate management with tailored reports on a regular schedule, CRD gives you the Crystal Reports scheduling tools that you need.

CRD Features

• Easy To Use - Simply set up a "schedule" stating how often you would like each report to run, whether you'd like the output in Word, Excel, HTML, RTF, Acrobat, RPT, text format etc and who it should be sent to. CRD will do the automated delivery for you, delivering reports to folder, email, printer, fax, DropBox, Sharepoint, FTP or SFTP.
• Date and Time Scheduling - It's easy to schedule Crystal Reports to run at a specific date and time, or to run them hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly or set up your own custom frequencies e.g. 4-4-3, every other day, third Monday of the month, and so on. And the same report can be scheduled to be run multiple times with different parameters, formats, frequencies, and destinations. It makes Crystal Reports scheduling simple, hassle-free and convenient for you.
• Event Triggers - Distribute Crystal Reports and respond to your business needs by setting schedules to run based on events and triggers rather than date. Add real-time monitoring to your Crystal Reports distribution process with CRD's Event Based Schedules, reports are fired off when events occur e.g. database value is present, file is modified, window is open, an email is received, etc. CRD makes sure the reports are created and distributed on time and error-free.
• Dynamic and Data Driven - Use CRD's Dynamic and Data-Driven Schedule processes to trawl through your database to find the parameter values to use and then generate and deliver a unique report for each value. Bring advanced Data-Driven functionality to your Crystal reports distribution infrastructure. And with Bursting Schedules you can quickly and easily burst out and deliver report groups to different recipients and destinations. Manage your Crystal Reports distribution needs with greater effectiveness, speed, and efficiency.
• Pre and Post Delivery Automation - Use CRD's Custom Actions to run another program, enter values in a database, modify a file and lots more. Or use Automation Schedules for general business process automation without scheduling any reports at all.
• Intuitive Interface - CRD's familiar Explorer-like interface makes it easy to define and schedule report packages. The context (right-click) menus and full copy-and-paste support make it easy to create complex distribution schedules.
• Windows Service Scheduler - The scheduling service runs as a desktop application, or as a windows service. It will integrate with Exchange Server, Office 365 or SMTP. Worried about Outlook security prompts? CRD deals with these expertly - ensuring complete uninterrupted automation.

Schedule Types

• Single Report Schedules - A single report is set to generate at specified intervals (Daily, Hourly, Weekly etc). It is exported to a specified format (PDF, Excel, XML etc). The exported file is delivered to one or more destinations (email, FTP, printer, etc). For example, email the daily sales report to the sales manager at 8am every weekday except on public holidays.
• Package Report Schedules - Set up a package of reports to be generated at defined intervals and delivered to one or more defined destinations - together. For example, a monthly report pack (consisting of a number of reports) can be sent to a client with all reports attached to the single email or compressed into a single zip file, or merged into a single Excel workbook, or PDF file before delivery.
• Automation Schedules - Write and execute simple or complex business process automation scripts or macros using CRD's Custom Tasks. Use this schedule on its own or as part of a more complex automation solution. Examples include Send an email, Update a database record, Upload to FTP, Update a file, Print files and lots more.
• Dynamic Schedules - Multiple instances of the same report are exported. For each instance, CRD will automatically enter the required parameter values, export the report and deliver the results to the corresponding email, folder, FTP, printer or fax. The parameters and destination are read from your own database. For example, run the same report for dozens of clients without writing a schedule for each client.
• Dynamic Package Schedules - Dynamically generate and deliver individualized export packages for multiple recipients using the same set of reports. Dynamic Schedules for Packages! For example, you can use the same set of reports to generate individual monthly report packages for all your clients.
• Event-Based Schedules - Instantly respond to business and client needs. Fire off reports or automation scripts when a defined system event occurs. For example, trigger a report or automation script when a value in a database has changed, or when a new email arrives You can even use values in the email body text to populate parameters, email addresses, database tables and more.
• Event-Based Packages - String a number of Event-Based schedules together as a batch to run in a specified order and/or at specified scheduled times. Use to ensure that required conditions are fulfilled before a report is exported. For example, run the report once a month, but only if the monthly total figure in the sales database matches that in the invoices database.
• Bursting Schedules - Burst individual report groups and deliver each group to a different destination. For example, burst a sales report into individual groups based on "Department" and to email each department's group report to the head to that department. Advanced Crystal Report bursting.
• Data-Driven Schedules - Bring Reporting Services functionality to Crystal Reports! Drive all variables of your reporting requirements (parameters, destinations, output format, etc) from database tables and queries.

Scheduling Frequencies

• Every Day - Repeat every x days. For example, repeat ever 2 days will run the schedule every other day.
• Every Week Day -  Schedules will not run on Saturday and Sunday.
• Every Week - Repeat every x weeks. Choose the days too. For example run every 2 weeks on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Every Month - Repeat every x months. Specify only certain months. Also, choose special days of the month. For example, run on the last Friday of every month except March.
• Every Year - Schedules run annually on a given date.
• Custom Calendar - Create your own calendars for custom frequencies. For example. 4-4-3
• Exception Calendar - Schedules will not run on these dates. Use the built in public holidays or select your own custom "do not run" dates. For example, do not run on New Year's Day.
• Event/Trigger - Schedules will run when an event occurs. For example, Database record is modified, Database record is created, Unread email is present, File is modified, Process exists.
• Repeat Until - Repeat schedules at regular intervals. For example, Run every Tuesday at 8am and repeat the run every 30 minutes until 5pm.
• Start & End Dates - Automatically set the schedule to begin on a given date, repeat at the given interval, and end on a set date. For example, Start on 1 Jan 2016. Run every weekday until 31 March 2018.

Output Formats

• Acrobat (PDF)
  • Include watermarks & stamps.
  • Add bookmarks based on group header.
  • Set document properties (Title, Author, Producer, etc).
  • Add selective password protection (Can Print; Can Copy; Can Edit, Owner Password, User Password, etc).
  • Merge a package of multiple reports into a single PDF file.
  • Merge any existing PDF files into a single file.
• Character Separated (CSV)
  • Use any character separator, or use "tab".
  • Choose comma, or any delimiter (or not, if you do not require one).
• MS Excel (XLS)
  • Data Only.
  • Excel 7, 8, & 97-2000.
  • Customize the worksheet (tab) name.
  • Burst report groups into separate worksheets in the same workbook.
  • Merge a package of multiple reports as individual worksheets (tabs) in a single workbook.
  • Set password protection.
  • Set document properties (Title, Author, Company, etc).
• MS Word (DOC)
  • Set document properties (Title, Author, Company, etc).
• Raster Image (TIF)
  • Choose from Uncompressed, LZW, RLE and fax formats.
  • Select 24-bit color, 256 color or Black & White.
• Other available formats
  • Crystal Reports (RPT)
  • Data Interchange Format (DIF)
  • dBase II, dBase III & dBase IV (DBF)
  • HTML (HTM)
  • Lotus 1-2-3 (WK1, WK3 & WKS)
  • Record Style (REC)
  • Rich Text (RTF)
  • Tab Separated (TXT)
  • Text (TXT)
  • XML (XML)

Destinations

• Printer
  • Output to a single printer.
  • Multiple copies to a single printer.
  • Output to multiple printers (bulk printing).
  • Multiple copies to multiple printers.
• Email
  • Set up & use one or multiple SMTP servers.
  • Use different SMTP servers/accounts for various schedules.
  • Nominate one or more SMTP servers as backup or failover servers.
  • Connect to Secure SMTP servers.
  • Connect and send via Groupwise.
  • Connect & send via MAPI.
  • Silent integration with MS Outlook & MS Exchange.
  • Use Outlook/Exchange address book.
  • Use CRD's built in address book.
  • CC & BCC
  • Insert additional files as attachments.
  • Read email addresses from a database.
  • Read email address from a mailing list (text file).
  • Insert personalized tags in email body. For example, Dear {tablename.firstname}.
  • Send emails in plain text or HTML.
  • Use raw HTML code to construct better-looking emails.
  • Embed report into email body.
  • Read Receipt Processing.
• Disk/Folder
  • Output to local drives. For example C:\MyReports\Today.
  • Output to network shares and UNC paths. For example \\MyServer\C\MyReports\Today.
  • Output to a remote system by Dial-Up Networking or VPN.
  • Choose to append to an existing file instead of overwriting it.
• FTP/FTPS
  • Upload reports to FTP server.
  • Supports Secure FTP - SSL 3 & SSL 3.1 (TLS).
  • Upload non-report files.
  • Download files from FTP server.
• FAX
  • Manual or automated output to fax driver.
  • Choose to include a cover sheet.
  • Single or multiple recipients per schedule.
• ODBC/Database
  • Export the report data directly to a database table via an ODBC DSN.
  • Choose to overwrite if target table already exists.
• SMS (Cell phone Text)
  • Send a text alert or simply embed a text report body into an SMS message.
  • Use a local GSM Phone or device.
  • Use a service provider (SMSC) via standard modem.
• Microsoft Sharepoint
  • Export reports directly to Microsoft Sharepoint Libraries, Folders and Lists.
• Other Destination Options
  • Upload to DropBox
  • Compress (ZIP) file before delivery.
  • Password protect ZIP file using zip encryption level 128, 192 or 256.
  • Customize the output file name
  • Customize the output file extension. For example, a CSV file normally named myfile.csv can be exported as myfile.abc.
  • Append a date/time stamp to the output file.
  • Deferred delivery allows you to take environmental issues into account. For example, export the reports at 1am, but do not email them until 7am as the email server is unavailable during those hours.
  • Use PGP Encryption to secure file before delivery.
  • Select multiple destinations. For example, the same report can be emailed to one recipient and a copy saved to a folder on your server.
  • Group Bursting
  • Section Bursting
  • Sub-report bursting

Custom Tasks and Workflow Automation

• Additional Report Schedules Task Actions
  • Run Custom Tasks before report delivery.
  • Run Custom Task after report production.
  • Run Custom Task after report delivery.
  • Run Custom Task before and after a report has exported.
  • Use custom tasks to create Automation Schedules.
• Available Custom Tasks
  • Run Program (bat, exe, com)
  • Open, Print Document
  • Wait/Pause
  • Send SMS
  • Execute Schedule
  • Set, Delete Create Registry Key
  • Copy, Rename, Move, Delete File
  • Write to Text File
  • Zip, Unzip Files
  • Create, Rename, Move Folder
  • Merge PDF Files.
  • Send an Email
  • Open a Web Address
  • Upload to FTP
  • Download, Delete from FTP
  • Create, Delete FTP Directory
  • Execute SQL Script
  • Run Stored Procedure
  • Insert, Update, Delete Database Record
  • Create, Delete Database Table
  • Create, Delete Table Column

Event Triggers

• Database Record Exists
  • Apply to new database records only, or to any matching database records.
• Database Record Has Been Modified
  • Choose to include New (Inserted) records and Deleted records. Use this for follow-ups by selecting to only match the condition if the record has been (or not been modified) in x minutes. Repeat the action every x minutes until the condition is no longer true, or run just once.
• Unread Mail Is Present
  • Monitor a POP or IMAP mailbox for new emails. Forward or Redirect. Delete mail after processing. Read the body text and other mail sections (sender email, subject, etc. ) and use the values to populate report parameters, email addresses, etc. For example, send the report to the sender of the email.
• File Exists
  • Use this trigger to respond to the existence of a new file in a local or network folder.
• File Has Been Modified
  • Great for monitoring log files, but works equally well for all other types of local or network files.
• Other Event Triggers
  • Process Exists
  • Window is Present

Scalability and Administration Functionality

• System Monitor
• Multi-Threading
• Clustering
• Remote Administration
• Store CRD database in any ODBC-compliant database format
• Report History Snapshots
• CRD Constants
• Crystal Constants
• User Constants
• Data Items
• Hours of Operation
• Folder Housekeeping
• Scheduled System backups
• Command-Line Options
• Desktop Application Scheduler
• Windows Service Scheduler
• Secure User Logon Profiles
• Integration with Windows Authentication