Part 1 - Introduction

Report Runner Batch is an automated report distribution tool for Crystal Reports. Report Runner Batch works with all versions of Crystal Reports. It makes it possible to automatically run multiple reports on a regularly scheduled basis, all without user interaction. These reports can be emailed, printed, FTP'd, posted on a server, faxed, and SMS'd. They can be exported in most any format that Crystal Reports supports such as PDF, XLS, and many more. 

Scheduling is done with our built-in scheduler (that "talks" with Windows Scheduler). This allows you to do time-based report automation on various days, dates, and times. More advanced event-based report processing is also possible integrating with Report Runner Event Server (SQL triggers, file triggers, and mail triggers).

For an added bit of automation, Report Runner Batch can do "Bursting" batches as well. Bursting allows for using one single report to output (burst) to file names or email addresses based on the group header (GH1) values ("GH1 Bursting"). For example, you could create an invoice report that bursts invoices to customers daily, for customers who purchased from you on that day. You would just group the invoice on the invoice number, then place the customers email address within that same group (it can even be hidden). The batch will separate each invoice and email it to the customer's email address. It's actually that simple to set up. RRB also does what we refer to as "Parameter Bursting". For example, you can write a simple SQL Select statement and RRB will feed each of the found values to a parameter in the report and run the report once per value.

Report Runner Batch can also automatically archive your Crystal Reports output. Simply set up your archive folder and easily tell Report Runner Batch to archive your report output for any batch jobs. Imagine being able to automatically email invoices and statements to your customers and automatically saving a copy in a customers folder. We've made Crystal Reports archiving easy! 

While the interface of Report Runner Batch is focused on doing all of the basics very easy, there's really nothing it can't do. We've hidden some of the more powerful features as to not overwhelm you with too many options. Most of these hidden features will be covered in the Advanced section.