Crystall Reports

Crystal Reports 8
Using Data Definition (TTX) files to pass an ADO recordset to a

Crystal Report.
Overview
This document provides information about using Data Definition (TTX) files
and Active Data with Crystal Reports. This document outlines how to create a
report that has a Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) recordset passed to it
at runtime.
This document is for use with Crystal Reports 8 and higher.
Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 2
CREATING THE DATA DEFINITION (TTX) FILE ............................................... 2
Data Definition Tool....................................................................................3
Using Active Data driver functions..............................................................5
CreateFieldDefFile() .......................................................................................... 5
CreateReportOnRuntimeDS()............................................................................ 6
CREATING THE REPORT............................................................................... 6
CREATING A DATA DEFINITION (TTX) FILE IN VB OFF AN ADO RECORDSET .. 7
PASSING AN ADO RECORDSET TO THE REPORT VIA THE CRYSTAL
AUTOMATION SERVER ................................................................................. 8
PASSING AN ADO RECORDSET TO THE REPORT VIA THE RDC ...................... 9
PASSING AN ADO RECORDSET TO A SUBREPORT VIA THE CRYSTAL
AUTOMATION SERVER ............................................................................... 11
PASSING AN ADO RECORDSET TO A SUBREPORT VIA THE RDC .................. 13
FINDING MORE INFORMATION .................................................................... 15
CONTACTING CRYSTAL DECISIONS FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT .................... 15
1/20/2003 8:42 AM Copyright  2001 Crystal Decisions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Page 1
Crystal Decisions Using Data Definition (TTX) files
Introduction
Traditionally, reports created in Crystal Reports have been created from physical
databases. The only limitation a report had with connecting to a database was
whether the database had a native driver (direct connection) or an ODBC driver.
With the 32-bit Active Data driver, P2smon.dll (Pdsmon.dll for 16-bit), Crystal
Reports has opened up to other types of data sources. Now, a report can be
created so that it can report from Active Data that exists in an application.
This document uses Visual Basic (VB) 6 and Crystal Reports 8 for its steps and
samples. The following sections demonstrate how to create a report that reads
Active Data using either the Crystal Report Engine Automation server or the
Crystal Report Designer Component (RDC).
Steps 1 and 2 demonstrate how to create a Data Definition (TTX) file as well as
using that TTX file to create a report. Steps 3 to 7 demonstrate passing a
Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) recordset to a Crystal Report.
1. Creating the Data Definition (TTX) file.
2. Creating the Report.
3. Creating a TTX file in VB off an ADO recordset.
4. Passing an ADO recordset to a report via the Automation Server.
5. Passing an ADO recordset to a report via the RDC.
6. Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the Automation Server.
7. Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the RDC.
Creating the Data Definition (TTX) file
A Data Definition file is a tab separated text file, with a TTX file extension.
Basically, it is an outline of a table structure. Each line in a TTX file contains a
field name, data type, length (if the data type is a string), and one piece of
sample data. The contents of the sample Data Definition file, Orders.ttx, are
shown below.
There are two ways to create a Data Definition (TTX) file:
• Data Definition Tool

• Using Active Data Driver Functions
Data Definition Tool

The Data Definition Tool is a component of the Crystal Reports designer. The
following steps create a TTX file using the Data Definition Tool.
1. Open the Crystal Reports designer. Click the File menu then click New.
2. The Seagate Crystal Report Gallery appears. Select Using the Report
Expert and highlight the Standard expert then click OK.
3. The Standard Report Expert dialog box appears. Under the Data tab,
click Database. The Database Explorer appears. Click More Data
Sources then click Active Data.
4. Double click Active Data (Field Definitions Only). The Select Data
Source dialog box appears. Click Data Definitions.
5. The Database Definition Tool dialog box appears. Enter a value for
the Field Name, Field Type, and Sample Data. Click Add to place
the values into the grid.
6. Repeat step 5 for each field you wish to include.
7. Click the File menu then click Save As… to save the TTX file.
The TTX file has now been created using the Data Definition Tool.
The next step is to create a report based on this TTX file.
Using Active Data driver functions

The Active Data driver P2smon.dll (Pdsmon.dll for 16-bit) has two functions
that create a TTX file based on a recordset that exists in the VB project. This is
the preferred method to create a Data Definition file, as the TTX file will always
match the recordset (or vice versa). The two functions available in the DLL are:
• CreateFieldDefFile()
Creates a TTX file at runtime based on a recordset.

• CreateReportOnRuntimeDS()
Creates a TTX file at runtime based on a recordset. A report (RPT) file is

also created off the new TTX file, and there is an option to open the RPT
file in the Crystal Reports designer.
These functions are purely for development purposes (they are not required at
runtime).
NOTE CreateReportOnRuntimeDS( ) does not place any fields on the report. A blank report is
created instead.
The function declarations for CreateFieldDefFile() and

CreateReportOnRuntimeDS() are as follows:
CreateFieldDefFile()
Declare Function CreateFieldDefFile Lib "p2smon.dll"(lpUnk

As Object, ByVal fileName As String, ByVal
bOverWriteExistingFile As Long) As Long
Parameter Description
LpUnk The active data source used to create the field

definition file. In C or C++, this is a pointer to an
IUnknown derived COM interface relating to a
DAO or ADO Recordset. In Visual Basic, this is a
Recordset or Rowset object.
Filename The path and file name of the field definition file to
be created.
bOverWriteExistingFile If a field definition file already exists with the
specified path and file name, this flag indicates
whether or not to overwrite that file.
CreateReportOnRuntimeDS()
Declare Function CreateReportOnRuntimeDS Lib "p2smon.dll" (

lpUnk As Object, ByVal reportFile As String, ByVal
fieldDefFile As String, ByVal bOverWriteFile As Long, ByVal
bLaunchDesigner As Long) As Long
Parameter Description
LpUnk The active data source used to create the field definition
file. In C or C++, this is a pointer to an IUnknown
derived COM interface relating to a DAO or ADO
Recordset. In Visual Basic, this is a Recordset or Rowset
object.
ReportFile The path and file name of the report file to be created.
FieldDefFile The path and file name of the field definition file to be
created.
BoverWriteFile If a field definition file already exists with the specified
path and file name, this flag indicates whether or not to
overwrite that file.
BlaunchDesigner If True (1), Crystal Reports is launched with the newly
created report file opened. Crystal Reports must be
installed on the system.
NOTE Since a TTX file is a tab-separated text file, it can be manually created or edited using
Microsoft Notepad or any other text editor. This method is not recommended for creating
TTX files due to possible typing errors.
Refer to the section Creating a data definition (TTX) file in VB off an ADO
recordset for an example of using CreateFieldDefFile() and
CreateReportOnRuntimeDS() in VB.
Creating the Report
The following steps describe how to create a report from a Data Definition
(TTX) file.
1. Open the Crystal Reports designer. Click the File menu then click New.
2. The Seagate Crystal Report Gallery appears. Select Using the Report
Expert and highlight the Standard expert then click OK.
3. The Standard Report Expert dialog box appears. Under the Data tab,
click Database. The Database Explorer appears. Click More Data
Sources then click Active Data. .
4. Double click Active Data (Field Definitions Only). The Select Data
Source dialog box appears. Click the Browse button then browse to your
TTX file and click OK.
6. This will return you to the Data Explorer. Under the Active Data (Field
Definitions Only) tree is the path and filename of your TTX file. Highlight
your TTX file and click ADD then click Close.
7. You are brought back to the Standard Report Expert. Go to the Fields
tab and add some fields to display, then click Finish.
The report now displays in the Crystal Reports Designer with sample data.
Save this report.
CAUTION By default the report will be created with Saved Data.

Go to the File menu, and make sure Save Data with Report is unchecked, and then
resave your report. This will prevent sample data from being passed to your report when
you run your application.
Creating a Data Definition (TTX) file in VB off an ADO recordset

The following steps describe how to create a Data Definition (TTX) file at
runtime based on an ADO recordset. The first task is to create the ADO
recordset, and the second is to create the TTX file based on this ADO recordset.
To create the ADO Recordset:
1. Open a new project in Visual Basic (VB). Click the File menu and then
click New Project. Select Standard EXE and click OK.
2. Click the Project menu, and then click References. Select the Microsoft
ActiveX Data Object 2.x Library check box.
This adds a reference to the ADO object library to your project.

3. Open the code window for Form1 and under the General Declarations
section, type the following line of code:
Dim AdoRs as New ADODB.RecordSet
This declares an ADO recordset object in your project.
4. Under the Form_Load event of Form1, type the following lines of code:
Adors.Open "Select * from Customer","Xtreme Sample

Database", adOpenKeyset, adLockBatchOptimistic
This creates and populates the ADO recordset object using the Xtreme
Sample Database ODBC Data Source Name.
NOTE The Xtreme Sample Database ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) is automatically created
when you install Crystal Reports 8.
5. Click the Project menu and click Add Module. Click Open and type the
following lines of code:
Declare Function CreateFieldDefFile Lib
"p2smon.dll"(lpUnk As Object, ByVal fileName As String,
ByVal bOverWriteExistingFile As Long) As Long
This creates an Application Program Interface (API) declaration for the

CreateFieldDefFile() function contained within the P2smon.dll (Crystal
Active Data driver)
6. On a new line in the Form_Load event for Form1, type the following line
of code (Ensure that the folder C:\Temp exists. If it does not, modify the
FileName parameter to specify a valid path.):
HResult = CreateFieldDefFile(AdoRs,“C:\temp\AdoRs.ttx”,
True)
This creates the TTX file based off the ADO Recordset object.
Confirm that the CreateFieldDefFile function returns a value of 1

(successful) and that the TTX file is created in the specified folder.
Passing an ADO recordset to the report via the Crystal

Automation Server
Once the report is created using the TTX file, you need to pass your ADO
recordset to the report. This section shows you how to pass an ADO recordset
to a report using the Crystal Automation Server in VB 6.
The TTX file used to create the report in this project is created from the
Customer table in our sample database, Xtreme.mdb. The project connects to
the database using ADO and an ODBC connection to the Xtreme.mdb.
To pass a ADO recordset to a report via the Crystal Automation Server:
ActiveX Data Object 2.x Library and Crystal Report Engine 8 Object
Library check boxes.
This adds an ADO object library and a Crystal Automation Server reference
to your project.
section, type the following lines of code:
Dim CrAppl As New CRPEAuto.Application

Dim CrRep As CRPEAuto.Report
Dim CrDB As CRPEAuto.Database
Dim CrTables As CRPEAuto.DatabaseTables
Dim CrTable As CRPEAuto.DatabaseTable
Dim AdoRs As New ADODB.Recordset
NOTE When using the Crystal Automation Server it is important to DIM each object to avoid
errors in your code.
‘open the ADO recordset

AdoRs.Open "Select * from Customer", "Xtreme Sample
Database", adOpenDynamic, adLockBatchOptimistic
‘open the report

Set CrRep = CrAppl.OpenReport("C:\temp\adors.rpt")
‘set the database object to the reports database
Set CrDB = CrRep.Database
‘set the databaseTables object

Set CrTables = CrDB.Tables
‘set the databaseTable object to the first table in the
‘report
Set CrTable = CrTables.Item(1)
‘sets our ADO recordset as the data for the first table
CrTable.SetPrivateData 3, AdoRs
‘Preview the report with the ADO recordset as the data

CrRep.Preview
5. Run this project to preview the report using the ADO recordset as data.
Passing an ADO recordset to the report via the RDC

Once the report is created using the TTX file, you need to pass your ADO
recordset to the report. This section shows you how to pass an ADO recordset
to a report using the Crystal Report Designer Component (RDC) in VB 6.
The TTX file used to create the report in this project is created from the
Customer table in our sample database, Xtreme.mdb. The project connects to
the database using ADO and an ODBC connection to the Xtreme.mdb.
To pass a ADO recordset to a report via the RDC:
ActiveX Data Object 2.x Library and the Crystal Reports 8 ActiveX
Designer Run Time Library check boxes.
This adds an ADO object library and the Crystal Report Designer
Component reference to your project.
3. Click the Project menu and then click Components. Select the Crystal
Report Viewer Control.
Dim CrAppl As CRAXDRT.Application

Dim CrRep As CRAXDRT.Report
Dim AdoRs As ADODB.Recordset
‘Open the ADO recordset

‘Open the report

Set CrRep = CrAppl.OpenReport("C:\temp\adors.rpt")
‘This sets our ADO recordset to the first table in the

‘report
CrRep.Database.Tables(1).SetDataSource AdoRs, 3
6. Insert the Crystal Reports Viewer Control on Form1.

7. To view the report using the Viewer, under the Form_Load event of
Form1, type the following lines of code:
‘Set the report source of the Crviewer control to our

‘report object.
CrViewer1.ReportSource = CrRep
‘Tell viewer control to process and preview the report

CrViewer1.ViewReport
8. Under the Resize event of Form1, type the following lines of code:
‘Resize the Crystal Viewer if Form1 is resized
CrViewer1.Top = 0
CrViewer1.Left = 0
CrViewer1.Width = Form1.Width – 200
Crviewer1.Height = Form1.Height – 400
9. Run this project and the report will preview with the ADO recordset as the
data.
Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the Crystal

Automation Server
This section shows you how to pass an ADO recordset to a main report and
subreport using the Crystal Automation Server in VB 6.
Once the main report and subreport are created using the TTX file, you need
to pass your Active Data recordset to the main report and subreport.
Since you have a subreport, you need to use the SetPrivateData method for
the subreport. You can do this by using the OpenSubreport method of the
Report object.
To pass an ADO recordset to a subreport and main report via the Crystal
Automation Server:
1. Open a new project in Visual Basic (VB). Click the File menu and
then click New Project. Select Standard EXE and click OK.
2. Click the Project menu, and then click References. Select the
Microsoft ActiveX Data Object 2.x Library and the Crystal Report
Engine 8 Object Library.
This adds a reference to the ADO object library and the Crystal
Automation Server to your project.
3. Open the code window for Form1 and under the General
Declarations section, type the following line of code:
Dim CrAppl as New CRPEAUTO.Application

Dim CrRep as CRPEAUTO.Report
Dim CrDatabase as CRPEAUTO.Database
Dim CrDatabaseTables as CRPEAUTO.DatabaseTables
Dim CrDatabaseTable as CRPEAUTO.DatabaseTable
Dim CrSections as CRPEAUTO.Sections
Dim CrSection as CRPEAUTO.Section
Dim CrReportObjs as CRPEAUTO.ReportObjects
Dim CrSubreportObj as CRPEAUTO.SubreportObject
Dim CrSubreport as CRPEAUTO.Report
‘ Recordset object for main report

Dim AdoRs as New ADODB.Recordset
‘ Recordset object for subreport
Dim AdoRs1 as New ADODB.Recordset
4. Under the Form_Load event of Form1, type the following lines of

code:
Dim x As Integer
Dim y As Integer
‘open the ADO recordset for the main report
‘open the ADO recordset for the subreport
AdoRs1.Open "Select * from Customer", "Xtreme Sample
‘Opens the report
Set CrRep = CrAppl.OpenReport(“C:\temp\temp.rpt”)
‘set the database, database tables and database table
for ‘the main report by using the SetDataSource method
Set CrDatabase = CrRep.Database
Set CrDatabaseTables = CrDatabase.Tables
Set CrDatabaseTable = CrDatabaseTables.Item(1)
CrDatabaseTable.SetPrivateData 3, ADOrs
‘Loop through each section and report object. When a
‘subreport object is found, set the subreport object to
‘a report object.
Set CrSections = CrRep.Sections

For x = 1 To CrSections.Count
Set CrSection = CrSections.Item(x)
Set CrReportObjs = CrSection.ReportObjects
For y = 1 To CrReportObjs.Count
If CrReportObjs.Item(y).Kind = crSubreportObject
Then
Set CrSubreportObj = CrReportObjs.Item(y)
Set CrSubReport =
CrRep.OpenSubreport(CrReportObjs(y).Name)
‘Set the database, database tables and database table
‘for the subreport by using the SetDataSource method
Set CrDatabase = crSubReport.Database

CrDatabaseTable.SetPrivateData 3, ADOrs1
End If
Next
Next
CrRep.Preview
End Sub
5. Run this project to preview the main and subreport with the ADO
recordset as the data.
Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the RDC

This section shows you how to pass an ADO recordset to a main report and
subreport using RDC in VB 6.
Once the main report and subreport are created using the TTX file, you need to
pass your ADO Recordset to the main report and subreport.
Since you have a subreport, you need to use the SetDataSource method for the
subreport. You can do this by using the OpenSubreport method of the
Subreport object.
To pass an ADO recordset to a subreport and main report via the RDC:
ActiveX Data Object 2.x Library and the Crystal Reports 8 ActiveX
Designer Run Time Library.
This adds a reference to the ADO object library and the Crystal Report
Designer Component reference to your project.
3. Click the Project menu and then click Components. Select the Crystal
Report Viewer Control.
4. Insert the Crystal Reports Viewer Control on Form1.
Dim CrAppl as New CRAXDRT.Application

Dim CrRep as CRAXDRT.Report
Dim CrDatabase as CRAXDRT.Database
Dim CrDatabaseTables as CRAXDRT.DatabaseTables
Dim CrDatabaseTable as CRAXDRT.DatabaseTable
Dim CrSections as CRAXDRT.Sections
Dim CrSection as CRAXDRT.Section
Dim CrReportObjs as CRAXDRT.ReportObjects
Dim CrSubreportObj as CRAXDRT.SubreportObject
Dim CrSubreport as CRAXDRT.Report
‘ADO Recordset object for main report

Dim AdoRs as New ADODB.Recordset
‘ADO Recordset object for subreport

Dim AdoRs1 as New ADODB.Recordset
Dim x As Integer
Dim y As Integer
‘open the ADO recordset for the main report
‘open the ADO recordset for the subreport
AdoRs1.Open "Select * from Customer", "Xtreme Sample
‘Open the report.
Set CrRep = CrAppl.OpenReport(“C:\temp\temp.rpt”)
‘Set the database, database tables and database table for
‘the main report by using the SetDataSource method.
Set CrDatabase = CrRep.Database
CrDatabaseTable.SetDataSource AdoRs, 3
‘Loop through each section and report object. When a

‘subreport object is found, set the subreport object to a
‘report object.
Set CrSections = CrRep.Sections

For x = 1 To CrSections.Count
Set CrSection = CrSections.Item(x)
Set CrReportObjs = CrSection.ReportObjects
For y = 1 To CrReportObjs.Count
If CrReportObjs.Item(y).Kind = crSubreportObject Then
Set CrSubreportObj = CrReportObjs.Item(y)
Set CrSubReport = CrSubreportObj.OpenSubreport
‘Set the database, database tables and database table for
‘the subreport by using the SetDataSource method
Set CrDatabase = crSubReport.Database

CrDatabaseTable.SetDataSource AdoRs1, 3
End If
Next
Next
CRViewer1.ReportSource = CrRep
CRViewer1.ViewReport
End Sub
7. Run this project to preview the main and subreport with the ADO recordset
as the data.
Finding More Information

The following documents can be found on our website at
http://support.crystaldecisions.com/docs.
• Scr_ttxado.pdf – A tutorial on using Data Definition (TTX) files and

Active Data with Crystal Reports 6 and 7.
• Adobasic.pdf – Tutorial on passing an ADO recordset to a report using the
Crystal Automation Server.
• Adosubrep.pdf - Tutorial on passing an ADO recordset to a main and
subreport using the Crystal Automation Server.
• Ado_rdc.pdf - Tutorial on passing an ADO recordset to a report using the
Crystal Report Designer Component (RDC).
• Ado_rdcsubrep.pdf - Tutorial on passing an ADO recordset to a main and
subreport using the Crystal Report Designer Component (RDC).
• Rdc8_browser.exe – A Utility to navigate through the object hierarchy of
the RDC using an "Explorer tree" type interface
• Scr8_techrefguide.exe – A Technical Reference Guide that provides an
overview of development tools available with Seagate Crystal Reports 8.
• Scr8_devgde.exe - Seagate Crystal Reports 8 features for developers who
want to integrate reporting into web and Microsoft Windows applications
Contacting Crystal Decisions for Technical Support

We recommend that you refer to the product documentation and that you visit
our Technical Support web site for more resources.
Self-serve Support:
http://support.crystaldecisions.com/
Email Support:
http://support.crystaldecisions.com/support/answers.asp
Telephone Support:
http://www.crystaldecisions.com/contact/support.asp

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Crystal Reports 8

Using Data Definition (TTX) files to pass an ADO recordset to a

This document is for use with Crystal Reports 8 and higher.

1. Creating the Data Definition (TTX) file.

2. Creating the Report.

3. Creating a TTX file in VB off an ADO recordset.

4. Passing an ADO recordset to a report via the Automation Server.

5. Passing an ADO recordset to a report via the RDC.

6. Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the Automation Server.

7. Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the RDC.

Creating the Data Definition (TTX) file

There are two ways to create a Data Definition (TTX) file:

• Data Definition Tool

Data Definition Tool

6. Repeat step 5 for each field you wish to include.

Using Active Data driver functions

Creates a TTX file at runtime based on a recordset.

Creates a TTX file at runtime based on a recordset. A report (RPT) file is

The function declarations for CreateFieldDefFile() and

Declare Function CreateFieldDefFile Lib "p2smon.dll"(lpUnk

LpUnk The active data source used to create the field

Declare Function CreateReportOnRuntimeDS Lib "p2smon.dll" (

Creating the Report

CAUTION By default the report will be created with Saved Data.

Creating a Data Definition (TTX) file in VB off an ADO recordset

To create the ADO Recordset:

This adds a reference to the ADO object library to your project.

Adors.Open "Select * from Customer","Xtreme Sample

This creates an Application Program Interface (API) declaration for the

Confirm that the CreateFieldDefFile function returns a value of 1

Passing an ADO recordset to the report via the Crystal

To pass a ADO recordset to a report via the Crystal Automation Server:

Dim CrAppl As New CRPEAuto.Application

errors in your code.

‘open the ADO recordset

‘open the report

‘set the databaseTables object

‘Preview the report with the ADO recordset as the data

Passing an ADO recordset to the report via the RDC

To pass a ADO recordset to a report via the RDC:

Dim CrAppl As CRAXDRT.Application

‘Open the ADO recordset

‘Open the report

‘This sets our ADO recordset to the first table in the

6. Insert the Crystal Reports Viewer Control on Form1.

‘Set the report source of the Crviewer control to our

‘Tell viewer control to process and preview the report

Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the Crystal

Dim CrAppl as New CRPEAUTO.Application

‘ Recordset object for main report

4. Under the Form_Load event of Form1, type the following lines of

Set CrSections = CrRep.Sections

Set CrDatabase = crSubReport.Database

Passing an ADO recordset to a subreport via the RDC

Dim CrAppl as New CRAXDRT.Application

‘ADO Recordset object for main report

‘ADO Recordset object for subreport

‘Loop through each section and report object. When a

Set CrSections = CrRep.Sections

Set CrDatabase = crSubReport.Database