Crystal Reports for Visual Studio Licensing

Reporting for Thick-Client Windows Applications

The Crystal Reports Basic runtime engine can be integrated into thick-client Windows applications to add reporting capabilities.

A thick-client Windows application is any application in which the Crystal Reports Basic runtime engine is installed and run from the end user's client machine.

You are free to deploy thick-client Windows applications that embed the runtime engine. These applications can be freely deployed both within your own organization and redistributed outside your organization to third parties at no additional charge.

Distribution of the runtime engine is subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET License Agreement (PDF 112KB)

Reporting for Server Applications

A server application allows more than one user to access the reporting engine either directly or indirectly through any middle tier application.

You are free to deploy server applications that embed the runtime engine internally within your organization at no additional charge.

To deploy server applications to third parties, written authorization from Business Objects is required. You can get authorization by registering your application online at no extra cost.

Scaling Server Applications

The Crystal Reports runtime engine included with Visual Studio .NET is designed to support small applications. Each version of Visual Studio has slight differences on how it handles multiple requests.

Visual Studio 2003

If you exceed the throughput limitations, the runtime engine will generate an exception. To add queueing and many other functional features to your Visual Studio 2003 application, upgrade to Crystal Reports 2008.

Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008

Requests to the runtime engine that exceed the throughput limitations will queue until a thread becomes available to process it.

Supporting Larger Applications

Depending on your requirements, several options are available for increased scalability and functionality. Regardless of your choice, upgrading is straightforward and requires minimal code changes.

Upgrade

Upgrade to Crystal Reports 2008. When Crystal Reports 2008 runtime engine is at maximum throughput, additional user requests will queue.

Upgrade to Crystal Reports Server XI. Designed to easily secure, schedule, manage, and distribute reports for up to 250 users.