Client and server architecture for the reporting feature

This topic presents the client and server architectures that support the data-push reporting model for Crystal Reports and the data-pull model for Crystal Reports and BIRT reporting applications.

The ClearQuest® reporting components impact how you configure the ClearQuest Web server, the ClearQuest Client, and ClearQuest Web. Make sure that you understand the support available on each client to design and run reports before you plan your reporting deployment.

ClearQuest Client

Designing, running, and sharing data-pull reports

To design, manage, and share data-pull reports:

  • Use Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools (BIRT) or SAP Crystal Reports reporting system configured with the ClearQuest Reporting Driver to design data-pull reports.
  • Run and share data-pull reports created with BIRT with the Report Launcher for ClearQuest.
  • Run and share data-pull reports created with SAP Crystal Reports with the Report Launcher for ClearQuest web-interface that runs reports using the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports.

Running data-push reports

ClearQuest version 7.1 and earlier supported two methods for running Crystal Reports data-push reports when using the Rational® ClearQuest Client:

  • To continue to run data-push reports created in ClearQuest version 7.1 and earlier on the ClearQuest Client, install the required Crystal Reports Report Design Component (RDC). See Running data-push reports on the Rational ClearQuest Client.
    Note: This method is no longer supported in ClearQuest 8.0 and later because the RDC runtime has been deprecated. Users are encouraged to migrate these reports to the data-pull reporting model. (See Migrating Crystal data-push reports to data-pull.) However, you can continue using this method if you can obtain and install a supported version of the RDC runtime from SAP.
  • To run Crystal Reports data-push reports on the Rational ClearQuest Web server:
    • Install the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports, which is an optional subcomponent when you install ClearQuest. This component runs on a standard Web application server. The WebSphere® Application server is the default Web application server for Rational ClearQuest.
    • Configure the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports with the Crystal Reports Java™ Reporting Component (JRC).
    • Update the ClearQuest Client reporting preferences to use the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports:
      • On the ClearQuest Client in the ClearQuest perspective, click Window > Preferences.
      • On the Preferences dialog Reporting tab, select the Enable remote reporting option.
      • Specify the URL for the Report Server for Crystal Reports.

        Your ClearQuest system administrator can supply this URL.

The following figure shows the components available to design, run, and share reports when using the ClearQuest Client.



This figure illustrates the software components needed for the ClearQuest Client to run and view and run reports created with BIRT or Crystal Reports. In this diagram, the ClearQuest Client is installed on a client computer that interfaces with a WebSphere Application Server instance represented by a box. Inside the WebShpere Application Server instance, four boxes represent the reporting components for running and viewing ClearQuest reports created with BIRT or Crystal Reports. These components include the BIRT Report Viewer, ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports, Crystal Reports Java Reporting Component (JRC), and the Report Launcher for ClearQuest. The ClearQuest Client interfaces with the Report Launcher for ClearQuest hosted on the WebSphere Application Sserver to view and run reports. The report launcher interfaces with the BIRT or Crystal Reports runtime engine to run and display reports selected by users.

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ClearQuest Web client

Running and sharing data-pull reports

To run and share data-pull report stored on a shared file server:

  • Use the Report Launcher for ClearQuest to run and share data-pull reports that are created with BIRT.
  • Use the Report Launcher for ClearQuest web interface to run and share SAP Crystal Reports reports using the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports.

Running data-push reports

Attention: Running the data push reports with the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports is supported only on a subset of the platforms supported by Rational ClearQuest Web. See technical note http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=swg21216371.

To run data-push reports on the Rational ClearQuest Web server:

The next figure shows the components available to run and share reports from the ClearQuest Web client.



This figure illustrates the software components for running and viewing reports from the ClearQuest Web client. A box in the upper left represents the ClearQuest Web client. On the right, an outer box represents WebSphere Application Server. Within the WebSphere Application Server box, there are two boxes: an upper box that represents the Report Server for Crystal Reports, and a lower box that represents the Report Server for ClearQuest. A line connects the ClearQuest Web client to the ClearQuest Report Server for Crystal Reports. Another line connects the ClearQuest Web client to the Report Launcher for ClearQuest.

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ClearQuest for Windows client

ClearQuest version 7.1.x and earlier support the data-push model for creating and running reports on the ClearQuest for Windows client with the SAP Crystal Reports Report Design Component (RDC). In ClearQuest version 8.0 and later, this method is no longer supported because the RDC component has been deprecated. Customers are encouraged to migrate Crystal Reports data-push reports created with versions 7.1.x or earlier to the Crystal Reports data-pull model. See Migrating Crystal data-push reports to data-pull.

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