Please see below and advise on how Crystal Reports Runtime is used to display images stored on a separate server. Note that we are using Cityworks AMS, which is a web application that serves up Crystal reports via the runtime.
Environment:
DevApp Server: Crystal Reports 2013 support pack 4; version 12.1.4.1327
TestApp Server: Cityworks AMS, Crystal Reports Runtime Engine for .NET Framework (32-bit)
TestDatabase Server: Cityworks Database
On the DevApp Server, we have a crystal report that needs to consume images. The database contains a table with directory paths to the location of the images we are trying to show in Crystal Reports. These image files are stored on the TestDatabase Server. In the database, the location is stored in UNC path format as: \\<NameOfServer>\<AttachmentsFolder>\<Subfolder>\Nameofimage.JPG.
On the TestDatabase Server, the images are stored on a mounted drive: I:\<AttachmentsFolder>\<Subfolder>\Nameofimage.JPG.
The Crystal Report is looking at the UNC Path. When run in Crystal Reports the images show up properly. However, the image failed to display in Cityworks which used the CR Runtime. We tried a number of things to get this to work. We created a View in the database that replaced the name of the UNC path with the Drive Letter path. That also failed to display the image via CR Runtime. The only way we have gotten this to work is by putting the image locally on the TestAppServer. In this scenario, the image didn’t display in Crystal Desktop but it did display in Cityworks (because the image was saved locally to the TestApp (Cityworks) Server). We could theoretically move the images from one server to another, but this is not an option for the client given their amount of data.
Through our digging, we have found that Crystal dynamically replaces the path of the image via a Crystal Image Handler.
All Cityworks does with Crystal Reports is to pass the necessary parameters to extract the correct information out of the database to be displayed on the report. Cityworks doesn't do anything with the rest of the report, i.e. headers, images, etc. This is all managed by the crystal report runtime viewer.
The clients needs this functionality at the beginning of December, so any guidance would be appreciated!