The report engine processes report requests from
the viewers and exposes a report object model that allows developers to
interact with a report through code. The engine loads the
Crystal Reports report (.rpt)
file and gathers data from the database to instantiate either a Report Object
Model or a Report Source.
The Report Object Model
If you need to interact with reports through
code, a report object model exposes an API that represents the
Crystal Reports report (.rpt)
file. You also use the report object model to retrieve a report source for your
report, and then pass this report source to the viewers.
The ReportClientDocument Object
Model
To interact with the report through code,
Crystal Reports Java provides a
ReportClientDocument object
model. This object model encapsulates the Crystal Reports report (.rpt) file
and provides a runtime instance of the report including its data. When you are
ready to view the report, the
ReportClientDocument object has
a report source property that you can pass to the viewer for display.
The Report Source
The viewers use a report source rather than a
report object model to interact with a report. A report source enables the
viewers and the engine to communicate more efficiently during high demands for
report processing.
The
ReportClientDocument object has
a report source property that you can pass to the viewer for display.