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Visual dBASE 5.7 uses a special version of Crystal Reports 3.0., which does not understand the dBASE IV, or dBASE 5.0 for DOS, report and label files. However, the Component Builder installed with Visual dBASE 5.7 can convert these files to Crystal Reports.

  1. Using the Visual dBASE 5.7 Navigator, change your current directory to the UTILs folder containing the Component Builder.

  2. Run the program CB.PRG

  3. When the Component Builder screen comes up, select the File menu, and "FRM to RPT ...". The .RPT extension is the Crystal Reports report filename extension.

  4. Select the folder, and then the report you wish to convert

  5. Select the table needed for the report. If you are using multiple tables in a .VUE, select that file and the designer will attempt to create a .QBE file.

  6. Select the folder in which to place the report.

  7. When done, click "OK". You can convert another, or close the Component Builder.

Fine tuning

When you open the report in Crystal Reports you may need to modify it somewhat (change the fonts, etc.).

To do this:

  1. After closing the Component BuilderChange, use the Navigator to change the folder you are working in to the folder that will contain the Windows version of your application.

  2. In the Navigator, select the "Reports" icon.

  3. Click on your new report

  4. Right click and select the option, "Design Report".

You can change the font for all items, or change each one individually. To change the font for all of items, use the Ctrl key along with the mouse. While holding down the Ctrl key, click each text control you want to change. Then Right click, and select "Change Font ...". You can select a font, a font size, and attributes.

You may need to change the widths of some controls once you've changed the font, especially if you use a Windows "True-Type" style font.

With two execptions, you can use the same steps for Label files as were used for Reports

When you select the "File" menu in the Component Builder, select "LBL to RPL ..."

Use the "Labels" icon when you return to Visual dBASE to modify the label file.