SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

1864461 - BLOB fields containing text in a database, returns blank data in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • BLOB field displays as blank.
  • Blob field containing text displays nothing in Crystal Reports.
  • A database field defined in a database as a BLOB fields that contain text, or an excel file, or a word document,... display nothing, when inserted onto a report in Crystal Reports.

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2011
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2013
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2020

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports, create a report off any data source that contains at least one table with a BLOB field that contain text.
  2. Insert the BLOB field that that contain text on the report. ( Actually the BLOB field may contain text, Excel file, Word document, etc... )
  3. When refreshing the report, notice the BLOB field displays nothing.

Cause

  • Crystal Reports associates BLOB fields with images. If something other than an image file is in the BLOB field, Crystal Reports shows the field as a blank.
  • This behavior is by design.

Keywords

BLOB field, Crystal report, blank data, CR , 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 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2020