Printing problem in Crystal Reports for VS2005 - SOLVED!

Crystal Reports (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

23-Nov-2014


A week or so ago, I had my old work desktop PC formatted and installed with Windows 7. I opted for that because I don't want any leftovers from previous users cluttering up my work. Say I'm fussy, but that is me. At least I can safely say, if ever the time comes that I leave the company, that they can format the hard disk drive, without ever worrying about 'others' having leftover files in the HDD of the PC that I used for X number of years.

Now, that new Windows 7 OS is sure better than XP Professional SP3, and while I am able to make use of the better hardware and better OS, in that the very reason why I had the Windows 7 installed after a format is that the hardware is better, even when it was running Windows XP. Yap, there was another desktop PC involved. I had a swap. I had the faster PC for a swap, and requested for a total clean sweep of the hard disk, which mandated the installation of Windows 7. I didn't know that, but it was a pleasant surprise - when I was told that due to the formatting of the hard disk, I will now be getting Windows 7 instead of Windows XP. I said, "Err... okay!"

When all applications have been reinstalled back, I discovered that the main software I use in my daily work is getting a problem: it wasn't able to run Crystal Reports, or to be precise, all sections work, except the Crystal Reports form.

When that problem was fixed, a new one came about: printing function. All else, like exporting, viewing pages, etc., work. I was stuck, as again, printing the generated report was a mandatory part of the process flow that I call work.

I asked for help, which didn't easily come. I figure, I had to do it on my own. And that was even harder because I don't have internet access at work. I should say it is hard, but I feel safer and more comfortable, with much ado about wasting time browsing while working, etc., etc. So I do my web seraching at home, then attempt all solutions and resolutions when I come back to the office.

To cut to the chase, here's what I did, and unfortunately, I am not quite sure on the exact item that fixed the problem. And yes, I am using Windows 7 64-bit OS. Sadly, some of the articles that I checked insisted that it has nothing to do with the bit-ness of the OS of the client, or the local PC, but the bit-ness of the server. That is contrary to my experience.

1. I turned on .NET Framework 3.5 through the Control Panel, Turning Windows features on or off.
2. I installed ReportViewer.exe
3. I installed cr_net_2005_x86.msi
4. I installed CRRedist2005_x86.msi
5. I installed CRRedist2005_X64.msi

Five items, and I didn't know which one did the fix. So I suggest that if you are following my method, help me out by doing one-by-one, and noting which one does the fix, so I can update my post.

Hope this helps somebody, as it did me.

Till then!

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Oracle XE, ODP.NET and Oracle 9i in the same Windows XP machine

English: The logo of Oracle Corporation de:Bild:Oracle-Logo.svg he:תמונה:Oracle Logo.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saturday night, 23-Aug-2014

For a couple of weeks now, I have been figuring out how to make Oracle 9i and Oracle XE work in the same machine. For a long time, I have been running Oracle 9i and ODP.NET, designing, developing and maintaining applications using the Oracle RDBMS. Only lately when I started working in a new company that I am having restricted access to databases that I had to resort to some local DB, even on my old XP machine. I have the disc space to begin with.

And having some access on some Oracle dB means I had to also create and maintain a local dB that is Oracle-based. In comes Oracle XE.

That is when I started experimenting with Oracle Express Edition, and with 11g as the latest, and with ODP.NET version of 10.x.x, did not think of having a compatibility issue, even then, since I was doing all these in a Windows XP-based unit.

Then I got the problem. I mean, I don’t know how it happened, but for a moment, after initially installing oracle XE, I was getting both local dB and data warehouse dB (using TNS) to work. I was very happy. And as in all installs, I did a reboot. And if in most cases, a reboot would rebuild and repair and renew settings and realign once again everything – as new – something now doesn’t work. I either would get the DW dB to be working, and Oracle XE dB to be broken, or vice-versa.

I did many things, like tweaking the Path variables, the 3 .ora files, even the TNS_ADMIN variable and value, pointing either to the Oracle 9i directory, or the Oracle XE, and like I said, I would either get one or the other, but not both. And in most cases, I get the DW dB which is using TNS, to be the one working. Doing a PING to XE would result in error, but TNSPING to XE would give a positive result. But both PING and TNSPING to 127.0.0.1 would give both a positive result.

As in previous issues and problems, I did a lot of searching. And this becomes complicated, because I have to wait until I get home then I will be able to look up ORA-12154, ORA-12514, ORA-12528, etc., etc., because internet access is also restricted! Bummer!

There were some suggestions that focused on setting up, if not already, TNS_ADMIN variable in the system variables, and assigning its value to the Oracle XE …\network\admin path, and I tried this one, adding, removing, changing, then putting it back to Oracle 9i …\network\admin path, and still, I would either get one or the other, but not both. And still the same, I would usually be having the DW dB working, but not the Oracle XE dB.

I should mention that for each trial, I am either uninstalling Oracle XE, at least, or I would uninstall all of Oracle XE, ODP.NET and Oracle 9i, in sequence. And in reinstalling, it is also in the same order: Oracle XE, then ODP.NET, and finally, Oracle 9i. I believe it is common knowledge for all who have tried it, that for ODP.NET to work with Oracle 9i, the installation should be in that sequence. This is more or less something to do with the final value of Path in the system variables, and even in the default Home selection for Oracle.

Also, after each uninstallation, I would run CCleaner to remove invalid registry items, after a reboot. And after running CCleaner, another reboot, to really be sure that I am starting clean.

After many trials and errors, I made it to work. I did a reboot, and I checked, and it is still working. Another reboot, and it is still working. I run CCleaner, to once again remove invalid registry items, then a reboot, and yes, I confirm that both data warehouse dB using TNS and Oracle XE dB are both working.

Monday morning, 25-Aug, when I came to work, I booted up my PC, tested the 2 dBs, and they are working. I did a reboot, just to be really sure that I am not dreaming, and yes, both are working.

What did I do to make it work?

1. I removed the TNS_ADMIN setting from the System Variables. So it is now the individual .ora files being looked up and evaluated when I do a connection to each dB. (I think).
2. After the installation, I did not touch the .ora files, which means that whatever value that was created by the installers, then that was it. No tweaking or whatever.
3. The ODP.NET …\network\admin folder does not contain any .ora file. That’s a fact. It is just the dll file anyway that is required by .NET applications. Nada mas.

The day is now closing, and I have done quite a number of reboots – I am just very, very curious if the working condition will be sustained throughout the day. And yes, even as the day is already closing, I still get both data warehouse dB using TNS, and the local dB, using Oracle XE. I guess some times, you just keep your hands off things, and they will work on their own. They don’t need our help. 

Sometimes.

Till then!

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Readyboost: sysmain.com

English: Screenshot of Microsoft's chkdsk.exe (NT version) in action. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

06-August-2014


I had to upgrade my old laptop from Windows Vista to Windows 7, as I find that Vista doesn't cut it. It was nice, if you are coming from Windows XP, but after a couple of Vista years, and having experienced Windows 7 at work, I decided to do an upgrade.

So I did.

It was a move I wouldn't regret, as Windows 7 is definitely better. And even more so, that it has Readyboost feature. I know, it is not a replacement for RAM, but as I understand, it is additional cache memory, one that prevents frequent reading from solid-state disc drives, so it helps!

Then came the problem.

As I have bought a new laptop, and one that is running Windows 8.1 OS, I have almost forgotten to do the occasional check and clean-up routines. And my girls aren't saying anything about the old laptop. They just turn it on, use it, and shut down. No word.

When I remembered to do the usual check, I found that Readyboost isn't working. I saw that the thumb drive size of 4.GB is free. I thought maybe Readyboost was just turned off. When I tried to activate it back, I got the error, saying something about 'sysmain.com' problem.

I searched for this on the web, and I found some that suggested running Super Prefetch, or something like that, and when I tried to follow on the instruction, I got lost. And there really was no clear direction, because it tells of doing some other things -- maybe that is how it got fixed -- for them.

A few days of searching and trying, and finally, I gave up on it. I just did the usual chkdsk /f /r thing on all the drives, and yes, I remember running sfc /scannow, which, unfortunately, found some problems, but also reported that it cannot fix the problem. It was supposed to, but the fixer itself ran into some problem that it failed to fix the problems it found. Wow! The doctor is sick...

And as I said, the last thing I did was run chkdsk /f /r on all the disks, which required the checking for some drives to be on restart.

The laptop was restarted, and chkdsk did its thing, and guess what happened? It fixed the Readyboost problem! I just went back to right-clicking the thumb drive and turning on Readyboost, and it did turn back on! How's that? I still don't understand how or why, but one thing I am sure of, Readyboost in my old laptop is back, so it got some speed gain.

If all else fails, why not try chkdsk /f /r? It might just work for you... also.

Till then!

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Day, Date and Time in Taskbar - Skinny Clock solves that!

Nearly forgot ;) - July 26, 07 (Photo credit: ThrasherDave)

14-July-2014


A couple of weeks ago, I started working (again). And the box that I was given was running Windows XP. Yes, XP, as in XP. And the consolation was, the HDD size was considerable. I mean, compared to my previous company, whose old XP  machines came with a measly 40GB, the old machines in my new company, as I also heard from fellow newcomers, was generous: 250GB.

We all know what XP is, at least compared to Windows 7 and Windows 8. And since I am so used to being 'free' when it comes to computing, I find myself suddenly choked and restricted by the limits set to a normal user.

Nonetheless, I still was able to do some workaround, at least with the date on the PC. I was already getting used to the Linux interface, which I also see in Mac computers, so I was looking for the Day-Date-Time display on the taskbar.

Now, I checked this small requirement of mine, actually, a personal requirement, and of course, there are some answers. And some answers I find quite st**id. As I read it, the one who asked the question already mentioned that his/her taskbar is in the normal one-line mode, and they still would say, "What day-date-time?" And they continue saying '"f you just make your taskbar two lines, then you will see the 'day-date-time' info that you are looking for." I'd like to strangle that person!

I guess if you don't know the answer, then just keep quiet. Please!

Now, some guys know the real answer, and here it is. Use Skinny Clock.

Make it replace the system clock, and you can easily format the Day-Date-Time display to your liking. And as I mentioned, for one like me who has limited access privilege, there is the binary version, which you can download and extract to a folder of your choice, then run it from there. No installation required. And, it works!

Try it. I'm sure you will like it.

Till then!

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The Free Emulator called KiTTY: Registry Setting

Image via Wikipedia29-Nov-2011

At this time of the year, majority in our team has already been given a laptop in exchange for the old desktops we have been using for years; it is a mixture of GX280s and GX520s.

For our group, who makes use of WRQ Reflection to access PROMIS running in VMS, we found some problem when doing remote access from home. The Reflection apps doesn’t run. Or if it does, it is only for one time – the first time – and then it is gone forever.

A supposedly workaround to this is installing a virtual machine where WRQ Reflection will run in.
That also is its own problem – very unstable and very dependent on network performance. And when at home, who can guarantee that?

We were all struggling with this, our team, and as for me, I was simply doing a remote access to the other desktops that we have in the office – through VNC. For that, I use both Real VNC and UltraVNC; these two are working nicely in Windows 7 and of course, in Windows XP.

Then one day, I thought of checking out PuTTY, which is the emulator being offered in our Citrix farm. Consequently, in my surfing and browsing, I stumbled upon KiTTY, the younger sister, and which is advertised to have some, wait, more offerings than it older brother PuTTY.

I tried it, and I liked it.

Then the agony.

For PuTTY, there are numerous help articles that can be found scattered all over the web. Not quite for KiTTY. Or at least, even if there isn’t much, at least we should have those that will take us up and running with this free emulator software.

A few more days after, and I kept on searching and browsing.

I finally found what I am looking for.

You see, PuTTY comes with a registry setting, so if you would want to migrate your own settings, or in my case, let my colleagues share with the discovery, I would just need to export my registry data for PuTTY, and that’s it!

It took me some time, but not very long, to discover that KiTTY also have a registry setting. And as it was leveraging from its older brother, whose registry path I already know, it was enough for me to get the path for KiTTY and can follow on from there:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\9bis.com\KiTTY

The pot of gold I found, and I immediately set to work on my other desktop that ‘s just waiting to receive KiTTY as its one and only terminal emulator.

I guess we can say goodbye to WRQ Reflection, which costs an arm and a leg for each user. I hope they’ll just give us that amount, now that we have an alternative, which costs nothing.

Hope this is a big help to all KiTTY users out there.

This is my source on the registry setting for KiTTY:
KiTTY: Automatic saving

The download site for the KiTTY is also from 9bis.com:
KiTTY: Download

Till then!

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Publishing a Web Site in Windows 7

Image via Wikipedia11-Nov-2011

I think I have finally figured out how to publish a web site in Windows 7. I mean, I managed from my limited knowledge years ago to create a very simple web site that performs just a number of functions, put it in one of the desktop PCs, and since it is working as expected, forgot all about it, how I created it from scratch, how I put the things altogether, and finally, how to make it run.

Now, with the series of migration being done for at least 4 PCs from Windows XP to Windows 7, what is keeping me back from migrating all to Winows 7 is the simple web apps that I can't figure out anymore how I put up.

I have already spent many days (and weeks) testing, recreating, compiling, publishing, copying, running - all to no avail. The web apps run fine when run in debug mode, but once deployed, one error after another comes up. And even with the help that I get from the web, the errors don't go away. I'm stuck.

Today, I may just be fortunate to have some time to read again and again the tutorial on Walkthrough: Deploying a Web Site Project by Using the Publish Web Site Tool, which is from MSDN. Now, this is by way of publishing a web site. The one that I have always been testing and testing is publishing by Copy method.

Then, in one of the links of the related topics, I chanced upon a very simple revelation: publishing a web site by copy method means you need to have FrontPage Server Extensions. That would have been alright, since I immediately found it by way of a quick Google search. Then, boom! It is not free...

Anyway, I have already made the other method working for me, so I will nwo stick to the new method of web site publishing: Compiled Site.

I guess, that is due to some security issues, that while it is allowed (so easily) in Windows XP, being described a more secure OS, Windows 7 has to be right and rigid. And I got hit with that mantra. But now I know.

I'm now preparing to migrate my simple web site for publication in a PC running Windows 7. And all my codes can now safely run in that OS.

Till then!

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File Manager other than Windows 7's Windows Explorer

Image via CrunchBase I thought I have posted an article about file manager in Windows 7, but as I checked today, there is none!

Well, what prompted this search for an alternative file manager is the poor performance of the same application that is provided by Windows 7. I mean, the Windows Explorer is working fine in Windows XP, but when it comes to Windows 7 (I can’t remember how this fared in Windows Vista), the thing just sucks!

When does it not perform well? The performance is already bad even with a single-instance copy session. The worst comes when while that single-instance copy session is still ongoing, and you initiate another copy (or delete) session, then the duration or countdown to file transfer/delete completion skyrockets from minutes to hours! If you really want to ‘play with it’, add more file copy/move/delete session, and the numbers don’t move anymore.

I wanted to stop this there and then, because I cannot stop thinking why it behaves this way, the Windows 7 file manager. I searched the web, and I found several solutions, and of course, not all are acceptable, and while many work, not many are quite promising.

FastCopy – I couldn’t say anything about this application, because I can’t figure out much of its menu or instructions. I’m not being racist or whatever, but it is like flying a jet plane with all the button and switches written in another language. One wrong button and your plane will just crash!

NiceCopier – This I am using at home. I find that it is most advantageous when used for localized file activities. That means from locally-linked external drives, HDD, USB drives, SD cards, etc., it is most efficient, not to mention that the interface is nice and quite easy to understand. It is useable right out of the box.

SuperCopier – For wireless connections, NiceCopier seems to slow down, or its performance degrades. Without any change at all of the infrastructure, using SuperCopier does a better job. I used NiceCopier at first, and I find that the countdown goes up and down, and while the file transfer is progressing, there is just no telling when the activity will finish. Thus I used SuperCopier instead, and I am satisfied with the better performance. This is an A-okay application.

Today, I went to search for other applications that may come in handy, or may have other functionalities not present in NiceCopier or SuperCopier, and I found one that I immediately downloaded and installed. When I have used it for some time, I will write a review of it. It is UltraCopier. Hope that it is as good as NiceCopier or SuperCopier, at the very least.

Till then!

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