Some of the features of the Crystal Report Engine API are not directly available to Visual Basic programmers, due to restrictions in the Visual Basic language, while others present technological issues that are better handled differently from what was originally designed in the Report Engine API. To avoid problems calling functions in the API, you may want to consider using the Crystal ActiveX Controls, or the Crystal Report Engine Automation Server. However, if you prefer to work with the API, Crystal Reports includes the Visual Basic Wrapper DLL, CRWRAP32.DLL.
The Visual Basic Wrapper DLL has been designed specifically for programming in the Visual Basic environment and can be used to build Crystal Report Engine applications in Visual Basic 4.0 or later. The CRWRAP.BAS module, installed by default in the \Seagate Software\Crystal Reports directory, redefines many of the functions and structures defined in GLOBAL.BAS. When working with the Crystal Report Engine API, add both modules to your Visual Basic project.
The functions and structures defined in the Visual Basic Wrapper DLL provide an interface for handling export formats, parameter fields, SQL server and ODBC logon information, graphs, printing, and more. For complete information on each of the structures and functions included, search for Visual Basic Wrapper for the Crystal Report Engine. In most cases, each function or structure has a corresponding function or structure in the original Crystal Report Engine API with a similar name. When working in Visual Basic though, you must use the functions and structures provided by the Visual Basic Wrapper DLL.
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