Very Slow Initialization of Crystal Reports .NET Run time SP1

Reply to mlmcc

We follow the following method

a) Make rpt file with Crystal Reports development version 8.0 with ttx file i.e active data definition file

b) In VB.NET windows dll project -> We add reference of CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine ,CrystalDecisions.Shared

c) In the Windows Form for Report ->We give generally following declarations
Dim kcrep As CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine.ReportDocument
Dim tmpdataset As New DataSet

d) Reports Form (made in VB.NET)  is shown to the user with the desired selection criteria for the report. It has Retrieve Button

e) After user gives desired Report Selections ->Clicks Retrieve Button ->Dataset is fetched from the server -> report is opened ->dataset is assigned as under

        kcrep = New CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine.ReportDocument
        kcrep.load("\\??\invrep6s1.rpt")
        KcCdo(PrintProp1, kcrep, tmpdataset)

here invrep6s1.rpt is the complete path of the rpt file as created in step a) above. KcCdo is our own routene where tmpdataset is assigned to kcrep report object which calls standard 5-7 code lines etc.

e) Individual Report Form is compiled as dll file which is loaded by reflection at the runtime from the calling exe file. Same method is followed for other data entry forms as well as reports.

Problem
i) Slowness is felt only in case of report forms which shows there is no problem with the creation of dll files and/or reflection load method being used. Data entry forms opens instant whereas 1st Report form will take approx 10-20 seconds. On some machines it takes 1-3 minutes till the time user sees Report Form asking for report selection as mentioned in d) above. Once the user clicks Retrieve button on the Report selection form after giving the desired selection step e) runs which takes approx 10 seconds on all machines 1st time.

Once 1st report is shown, later on all the report forms will open instant and
reports would also get retrieved instant say in 1-2 seconds.

Kindly suggest some remedy to overcome this initial Report Form showing to the user as explained in i). We are also thinking to launch some background process at the start of exe file  , but that will not solve the problem for those users who have only report forms access as they will immediately like to access some of the report at the start of exe file.


Suresh Bansal

Complete Visual Studio 2005 Professional Legal version is installed.

Further CR8 is used for development purpuses as that provides better design /development environment and that is also legal copy.

>>You might be better using the version of Crystal that comes with Visual Studio -> does not really effect this initial slow response which has been tested. This initial slow response is felt for 1st report only and later all other reports open instant as desired.


Suresh Bansal

Reports are not converted. They are opened ->Pushed dataset into it using CDO methods ->Set values for various formullae fields ->Sown to user

Bansal

Yes it is slow in the 1st time. That slowness is felt to 10-20 seconds on some machines. On few machines it takes 1-2 minutes.

But once the Forms shows 1st time, after that opens instant 2nd time and every time till it is rebooted.

Bansal

Comments are received but getting any help


Bansal