Question

Crystal Reports 2008 - Dynamic Image (URL)

Asked by: JigsawTech

Hi folks,

I'm using Visual Studio 2008 with the inbuilt Crystal Basic for VS 2008.

I need to add an image to the report with its source being a URL, based on data from the dataset.

For example; a column called "image" might have a value of "2.jpg" and therefore I wish to display http://server/images/2.jpg as the picture in the report.

Funny thing is, I have this working in Crystal Reports XI2 .. but this is not supported by VS2008 yet. I'm happy to work with Crystal basic for VS2008 (Crystal 10.5) - yet I can't figure out how to do dynamic images.

Cheers folks.

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Asked On
2009-08-10 at 17:54:53ID24641884
Tags

crystal reports

,

visual studio 2008

,

dynamic images

Topics

Crystal Reports Software

,

Business Objects

,

Programming for ASP.NET

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Answers

 

by: drypzPosted on 2009-08-10 at 19:03:10ID: 25065671

Hi! I don't think you can create dynamic image in crystal report base in url, at least in my own experience. Not long time ago, I've been in that situation but I didn't find any solution. But if you did it, I'm glad you will share.

To proceed with your problem, you may want to create a byte array field (blob) in your dataset. After that, just drag and drop in your report.

Below is my solution. You may also want some example, here is a link which is applicable also in VS2008.

http://aspalliance.com/1097_Importing_Dynamic_Images_to_the_Crystal_Report_without_Database_Overhead_using_Visual_Studio_2005.all

How to fill dataset table
 
            DataTable dtImage = new MyDataset.ImageTableDataTable(); //initialize your created dataset table
 
            DataRow imgRow = dtImage.NewRow();
 
            string imgFilePath = Server.MapPath(@"~/images/");
 
            string imgFileName = string.Empty;
 
            switch (yourCriteriaHere)
            {
                case 1:
                    imgFileName = "1.jpg";
                    break;
                case 2:
                    imgFileName = "2.jpg";
                    break;
                case 3:
                    imgFileName = "3.jpg";
                    break;
                default:
                    imgFileName = "4.jpg";
                    break;
            }
 
            imgRow["imgField"] = new ImageConverttoByte(imgFilePath + imgFileName); //fill the blob field created
 
            dtImage.Rows.Add(imgRow);
            Dataset myDataset = new Dataset; //initialize dataset you created for your report
            
            myDataset.Tables.Add(dtImage);
 
 
Convert image into byte array:
 
   public byte[] ImageConverttoByte(string ImageFileName)
    {
        byte[] returnByte = null;
        if(File.Exists(ImageFileName))
        {
            FileStream fs = new FileStream(ImageFileName, FileMode.OpenOrCreate, FileAccess.Read);
            returnByte = new byte[fs.Length];
            fs.Read(returnByte, 0, System.Convert.ToInt32((fs.Length)));
            fs.Close();
        }
        return returnByte;
    }

                                              
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by: mlmccPosted on 2009-08-11 at 17:44:00ID: 25074886

Agree. The dynamic image capability based on a database file path was added in CR XI.  Earlier versions can't use it.  The version with VS2008 though newer is still based on CR10 so it doesn't include that feature.

mlmcc

 

by: JigsawTechPosted on 2009-08-16 at 17:33:10ID: 25111037

mlmcc, is it best to use the dataset byte image example as shown by the first poster; or is there a way to use CR XI dlls with VS 2008 so that the report can pull images from a database file path?

 

by: mlmccPosted on 2009-08-17 at 00:22:29ID: 25112143

There is no way to use the CR XI dlls with VS 2008 Crystal,  The VS 2008 Crystal is actually CR 10.5 soo even if you could figure out which dlls were involved the basic engine wouldn't have the correct calling or entry points to use.

If the first method works then use it.

mlmcc

 

by: JigsawTechPosted on 2009-08-24 at 19:08:41ID: 31614010

Cheers.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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