SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

2993291 - Will report with Flash object work in Crystal Reports, and in SAP BI LaunchPad, after Flash Support End?

Symptom

  • Adobe Flash support end by the end of 2020.
  • Browser vendors are deprecating the use of Flash by the end of year 2020.
  • Since Flash will no longer be supported, will viewing a report with a Flash object work in Crystal Reports, and in SAP BI LaunchPad?
  • Is there any new functionality to replace Flash object in Crystal Reports?

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2013
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2020
      
  • SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.1
  • SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.2
  • SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.3

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports 2016 or below, create a report based on any data source.
  2. Add a Flash object on the report.
  3. Refresh the report, will Flash object display?
  4. Save the report to the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform.
  5. In SAP BI LaunchPad, when viewing the report, will Flash Object display?

Cause

  • Adobe announced that Flash will no longer be supported after 2020/12/31
  • Since Adobe end the support of Flash, all applications using Flash are removing this functionality.

Resolution

  • In Crystal Reports 2013, 2016:
    • Reports with Flash object can still be viewed in Crystal Reports designer, but the suggestion will be to remove the Flash Objects from the report.
             
        
  • In Crystal Reports 2020:
    • Flash object is not supported.
        
    • When opening a report containing a Flash object, it will display the message:

         "This report contains Flash objects, which is not supported in Crystal Reports"

      And in place of the Flash object, it will display a white rectangle.
        
    • The functionality of adding Flash object has been removed, and there is no other technology replacing this type of functionality.
         
        
  • In SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.1, 4.2:
    • When viewing a report in SAP BI LaunchPad, it will depend if the browser used ended supporting Flash or not, therefore you may, or may not be able to see Flash object on your report. The suggestion will be to remove the Flash Objects from the report.
         
         
  • In SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform 4.3:
    • Flash object is not supported.
           
    • When viewing a report in SAP BI LaunchPad, it will display a white rectangle where the Flash object was inserted on the report. 
      The tool tips will indicate that Flash is not supported.

Keywords

CR , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2013 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2016 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2020