crw32.exe error

Clarifications

Go through this slowly and carefully, it should solve your issue.

Problem(Abstract)
This technote discusses some possible causes and solutions for the "Unable to run Crystal Reports Designer" error, when trying to run a report using IBM? Rational? ClearQuest?.

Symptom
When authoring report formats using Crystal Reports Professional or Developer Edition in ClearQuest, the following error is returned:

Unable to run Crystal Reports Designer (crw32.exe). Is Crystal Reports installed? If Crystal Reports is installed, you must manually run Crystal Reports Designer (crw32.exe) at least once before ClearQuest can recognize it.

After pressing the OK button, there is an additional error:

Error: Crystal Reports returned an undefined error.

Resolving the problem

To resolve this issue, check the following:

1. Is Crystal Reports installed, and is it a supported version?

2. If Crystal Reports is installed, you must manually run Crystal Reports Designer (crw32.exe) at least once before ClearQuest can recognize it.

3. Verify that fields where added to the Report Format.
To add the fields to the report format via the following steps.

1. Either create a new report format or edit an existing report by selecting 'Edit' from the drop-down list and the 'Edit Report Format' box will appear.

2. Under Fields Available for Report, select the fields to be added to the report by either double-clicking or single-clicking, and selecting the 'Add' button to make the field(s) appear under 'Fields' in Report.

3. Select 'Author Report' button and Crystal Reports session window will open. The field(s) already included in the report format will appear in the report.

4. Select 'Insert' from the menu bar and 'Database Field' from the drop-down list. The Field Explorer box will appear.

5. Within the Field Explorer box under Database Fields, select and open the database file, this will appear as something similar to ~CRPT_TMP0001_ttx. A list of the fields selected earlier in ClearQuest should appear. Drag and drop the new field(s) to the appropriate area in the report format. When done, close the Field Explorer box.

6. Select File > Save in the menu bar. Close Crystal Reports.

7. The Edit Report Format box should still be open in ClearQuest. Press the OK button at the bottom of the box and press the OK button within the alert box asking "Commit report format changes to database". The report format is now saved.

At this point a new report can be created which includes this report format and the report should now run as long as a valid query is used as well.

4. If you still get the error message, check The following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CrystalReports\shell\open\command

This key should contain a value, which is the name of the program that's invoked when starting Crystal Reports. For example, the value should be set to:

C:\PROGRA~1\SEAGAT~1\crw32.exe /dde

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
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