is CR 9 alone compatible with Java?
or is CR 8.5 compatible with java?

what is CR enterprise server?

Crystal Reports 9 is compatible with Java .

It implies that the new Java SDK enables creating reports on the fly,manipulation of report parameters and forumulas and delivery inside Java/J2EE-based applications.The new Java SDK is comprised of Java classes (which are packaged in a JAR file) representing a Crystal Report.These class files can be used in Swing or AWT-based applications,as well as full J2EE-based web applications using popular Java application servers and Java Development environments.It also includes a "Java Beans" data source driver which supports receiving data from a custom-built Java class.

Previously,certain external vendors came up with products like I-Net Clear and Parallel Server ,which were Java compatible and,used to allow integration of CR with Java-based applications. So,though previous versions of CR directly did not support Java,certain other tools used to do the trick for us.

Crystal Enterprise is a cost-effective solution for integrating,reporting and analysis into intranet,extranet and corporate portal applications and,for scaling information to hundreds of thousands of people.

Crystal Enterprise Server provides Crystal Enterprise Services to enable processing,viewing and runtime modifications of CR files.It hosts a Crystal Enterprise report repository.

Some Additional Information :

To add a Crystal Enterprise report to a Web or Windows client project

1. Locate the Crystal Enterprise client (which is also a Web server).

   The Server Explorer displays under Servers all the servers your machine is connected to. If you are not yet connected to the appropriate Crystal Enterprise client, click to connect to it.

2. Connect to the Crystal Enterprise server.
   1. Under the Crystal Enterprise client, expand the Crystal Services node.
   2. If you are not yet connected to the Crystal Enterprise server, right-click Crystal Enterprise, select Login from the shortcut menu to invoke the Login dialog.
   3. In the Login dialog box, enter the following:

      Login Field	Enter
      Authentication	Select the authentication method the Crystal Enterprise server uses.
      User Name	User logging onto the Crystal Enterprise server.
      Password	Login password.
      APS	The name of the Automated Process Scheduler (APS) that is the Crystal Enterprise server referred to in this online help.
      WCS	The name of the Web Component Server (WCS) set up with the Crystal Enterprise server.

   4. Click OK.

      For more information on login requirements, please refer to the online help for the Crystal Enterprise server.

   5. Click the Refresh icon on the Server Explorer.
   6. Click + adjacent to Crystal Enterprise to display all Crystal Enterprise reports in the Report Samples folder.
3. Right-click the desired Crystal Enterprise report, and select Add to Designer to add the report to the Design view of the client project.

Pooja M.,
http://home.attbi.com/~pooja.mohan