SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

1198801 - Error: 'Application Error - Couldn't load the keydecoder.dll' when starting Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • Error when opening Crystal Reports.
  • When attempting to start Crystal Reports, it displays the error:
       
    "Crystal Reports: Application Error - Couldn't load the keydecoder.dll"

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2011
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2013
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016 

Reproducing the Issue

  1. Install Crystal Reports.
  2. When starting Crystal Reports, it fails with the error: "Application Error - Couldn't load the keydecoder.dll"

Cause

  • Crystal Reports cannot find the keydecoder.dll due to registry key pointing to wrong location.

Resolution

  • To be able to start Crystal Reports successfully, set the registry key CommonFiles, to point to where the keydecoder.dll is located.
      
    WARNING The following resolution involves editing the Microsoft Registry. Using the Microsoft Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems. Use the Microsoft Registry Editor at your own risk. For more information see the SAP Knowledge Base Article 1323322
       
    1. On your local computer, locate the file: keydecoder.dll, which by default will be located at:
           
           C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86
         
    2. Copy the path to where the keydecoder.dll is located.
          
    3. Open the Microsoft Registry Editor (regedit)
        
    4. In the Microsoft Registry Editor, navigate to the path corresponding to the version of MS Windows used:
          
      • 32bit version of MS Windows:
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SAP BusinessObjects\Suite XI 4.0\Crystal Reports
           
      • 64bit version of MS Windows:
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SAP BusinessObjects\Suite XI 4.0\Crystal Reports
             
    5. Double-click the string: CommonFiles  
          
    6. In the "Edit String" window, ensure that the path points to the location found in step 1, if not, copy the correct path.
        
      For example, the default location is the following:

      C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86
             
    7. Click OK, then close the Microsoft Registry Editor.
            
        
      Crystal Reports now starts successfully.

Keywords

keydecoder.dll, crytal reports, application error , 4013862 , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2011 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2013 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2016