How can I make use of the CSS feature?

Question

<p>Hi </p><p>I am using Cr4E to design a report that will be deployed over the web both as an html page and in PDF format. I now want to assign styles to the fields in the report so that the PDF and the HTML version look differently . </p><p>My questions:</p><p>1) Is there a short explanation on how to that properly?<br /></p><p>2) I assume that the CSS styles will only  be used in the HTML version and will be ignored in the PDF. Is that correct and - if not - is there another way to apply different styles to the PDF and HTML? </p><p> </p><p>As always any suggestions are highly appreciated!</p><p>Peter Buchmann from  a rainy Zurich, Switzerland </p><p> </p>

Answer 1

<p>Hi Peter, </p><p>Ok, I learned something new on this one as well. It appears that the JRC has not yet been updated to include CSS support. As you mentioned, the CSS feature will enable specific output when rendered in our HTML viewer. So to answer your question, yes, if this was indeed supported, it would provide a different output when viewed over the web as opposed to PDF format.</p><p>Now, I know the next question you have is "If it is not supported, then why is it exposed?". There are actually 2 reasons for this:</p><ol><li>This same Designer is also bundled with IBM Rational Application Developer. With the RAD integration we include an Enterprise Repository Explorer view which will allow users to publish reports to a BusinessObjects Enterprise or Crystal Reports Server system. On these systems the CSS field will work.<br /><br /></li><li> Backwards-compatibility - if you open an existing report designed by the external designer then you will need to ensure that all of the properties are re-saved when the report is saved in the CR4E designer. Users can still modify these values, it&#39;s just that they will not be honored by the runtime engine.</li></ol><p>The good news is that we should have support for this feature in the next full release of Crystal Reports for Eclipse. Unfortunately, I don&#39;t think I can officially comment on timelines until early next year, once I get some resource commitments. </p><p>Regards,<br />Sean Johnson (CR4E Product Manager) </p><p>P.S.</p><p>Did I mention I live in Vancouver? We have 2 seasons in Vancouver...the rainy season and August. </p><p> <strong><a href="http://www.eclipseplugincentral.com/Web_Links-index-req-ratelink-lid-639.html">Rate this plugin @ Eclipse Plugin Central</a></strong>          </p>