SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

2469456 - Incorrect characters in PDF export results, if the function urlDecode is used in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • Incorrect characters.
  • When exporting a report to PDF format, it shows wrong characters in the generated PDF document.
  • Two dots incorrectly added on the top of many characters like "o", "e", "x", when exporting a report to PDF format from Crystal Reports. 

Environment

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

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports, create a report off any data source.
  2. Add a formula using the function urlDecode, like:  urlDecode("o%CC%88")
  3. Export the report to PDF format.
  4. Notice some normal "o" characters in the text have two dots added on the top.

Cause

  • The output of the function: urlDecode("o%CC%88") is not supported when exporting to PDF format.

Resolution

  • To workaround this limitation, add the registry key: UseCustomEncoding, and set the value to zero (0)
          
      
    WARNING The following resolution involves editing the Microsoft Registry. Using the MS Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems. Use the MS Registry Editor at your own risk. For more information see the SAP Knowledge Base Article 1323322
        
               
    1. Open the Microsoft Registry Editor.
      ( In MS Windows, under the menu Start, select Run, and type: regedit )
            
    2. In the Microsoft Registry Editor, navigate to the path corresponding to the version of the product used:
                  
      • Crystal Reports 2008:
           
        • For 32bit version of MS Windows:
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 12.0\Crystal Reports\Export\PDF
                
        • For 64bit version of MS Windows:
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Business Objects\Suite 12.0\Crystal Reports\Export\PDF
                  
               
      • Crystal Reports 2011, 2013, 2016:
           
        • For 32bit version of MS Windows:
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SAP Business Objects\Suite XI 4.0\Crystal Reports\Export\PDF
              
        • For 64bit version of MS Windows:
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SAP BusinessObjects\Suite XI 4.0\Crystal Reports\Export\PDF 
                
              
      • SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.0, 4.1, 4.2:
                
        • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SAP BusinessObjects\Suite XI 4.0\Crystal Reports\Export\PDF 
           
            
      • Important Note: The last part of the path may not exist. If it is the case, simply add the missing keys.
             
              
    3. Right click on the PDF key, and select: "New - DWORD Value"
          
    4. Set the DWORD value to: UseCustomEncoding
         
    5. Set the value of UseCustomEncoding to: 0
             
    6. For the change to take effect, restart the application.
             
      • For Crystal Reports:
        • Close and re-open Crystal Reports.
               
      • For SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform:
        • Restart the Server Intelligent Agent (SIA)   

Keywords

dieresis, umlaut, Composite Fonts, glyphs,  Dieresis character , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

Crystal Reports 2008 V1 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2011 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2013 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2016