Text file input to Crystal Reports

[Former Member]

I am evaluating Crystal Reports as a reporting tool for our company. One requirement is that it be able to take a delimited or fixed format text file as input (much like SAS) and create reports directly from the data in the text file. Is this possible? If so, how is it done?

Thanks in advance.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi

This is possible in Crystal Reports.Please follow the steps below.

1.Create a System DSN connecting to the desired text document(s).

While creating the DSN:

a) Select Microsoft Text Driver(.txt,.csv) driver

b)Then in the ODBC Text Setup select "Select Directory" and uncheck "Use Current Directory" checkbox if it is already checked.

c)Then select the desired folder/file

d)On selecting the desired file you will be navigated back to ODBC Text Setup dialogue box

e)In the "Options" tab you can select type of formats to be allowed(i.e. .csv,.txt) and also define the format(i.e. CSV delimited,Tab delimited,Custom Delimited etc)

2.This ODBC connection can then be used while creating a new reports

Let me know if you need more information

Thanks

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry, but I'm not an experienced CR user and need more details.

When I click the ODBC connection, the only data sources I have to choose from are dBase Files, Excel Files, and MS Access Database. There is no Microsoft Text Driver.

Thanks for your help.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

1)First you will need to create a System DSN to point to the text file(s).

2)Go to Start>>Administrative Tools>>Data Sources(ODBC).

3)Go to System DSN tab in the "ODBC Datasource Administartor" dialogue box.

4)Click on Add and then choose Microsoft Text Driver(.txt,.csv).

5)And then follow the rest of the steps as mentioned in previous thread

6) Once you are done with this DSN configuration,then you will be able to see this DSN under ODBC connection option in crystal reports.

Let me know if more explanation is required