Your Migration Roadmap: How CxReports Makes Leaving Crystal Reports Easy
Still hanging onto Crystal Reports? You’re not the only one. It’s been a reliable workhorse for years, but the cracks are showing. Support is fading. Workflows feel clunky. Even small changes take too much effort.
The good news? Moving on doesn’t have to be a giant leap. With CxReports, you get a clear path from legacy frustration to modern reporting that’s flexible, automated, and user-friendly. Here's how to make the move, step by step.
Step 1: Audit What You're Using (And What You’re Not)
Before touching anything, take a hard look at what reports you’re running:
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Which ones are still actively used?
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What’s duplicated or outdated?
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Who’s receiving each report, and how often?
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Where is the data coming from?
Most teams find they’re holding onto dozens of reports no one really needs. This is your chance to clean house and make smarter choices before migrating.
Step 2: Define What Better Looks Like
Instead of copying reports over one by one, think about how you want them to work going forward:
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Do you want branded templates?
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Need automated scheduling?
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Would it help to combine several reports into one?
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Are exports to Excel or PowerPoint needed?
With CxReports, you’re not just rebuilding. You’re improving the entire experience. You can apply corporate themes, control layout down to the pixel, and automate delivery based on your actual workflow.
Step 3: Connect Your Data
CxReports works with SQL databases, APIs, JSON, and other data formats. Whether you're hosting locally or using the cloud version, setup is straightforward:
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Use Docker for local installs
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When needed, use the built-in Data Agent to securely connect on-prem databases to cloud deployments, or run fully in the cloud without it.
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Map out your data connections in the visual builder
CxReports can run fully cloud-based without a Data Agent, but the option is available if you need to connect secure on-prem systems.
Step 4: Rebuild Reports with Full Control
This is where CxReports starts to shine.
Using a drag-and-drop visual editor, you can:
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Design reports using tables, charts, and rich text
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Apply themes that match your branding
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Customize every detail, including page breaks, headers, and table of contents
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Preview reports live, in your data context
You don’t need to be a developer. But if you are one, you can add custom logic, conditions, and CSS exactly where you want them.
Need multilingual versions? You’ve got that. Conditional page visibility? Built in.
Step 5: Train Your Team and Get Ready to Launch
Once your reports are built, it’s time to make sure your team is ready to work with them.
Here’s what to focus on:
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Use the onboarding hours included in your plan to train teams
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Make sure key users are available during setup
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Take advantage of free training sessions
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Share available materials like video tutorials and documentation
You can phase the switch gradually or flip the switch in one go. Either way, you’ll have a much easier system waiting on the other side.
Step 6: Automate Delivery and Permissions
With CxReports, you’re not exporting manually or emailing PDFs yourself. Instead, you set up the workflow once and let the system take over:
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Schedule report delivery daily, weekly, or monthly
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Send as PDF, Word
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Use workspaces to separate departments or clients
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Assign permissions by role, workspace, or report
Whether you're sending internal dashboards or regulatory documents, CxReports handles the formatting and delivery for you.
Why Teams Choose CxReports Over Crystal
Here's what you get with CxReports that you won't find in Crystal Reports anymore:
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Modern visual editor that feels familiar and intuitive
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Automated delivery with full export flexibility
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Secure cloud or on-prem deployment
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Unlimited users on every paid plan
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Dedicated templates for finance, insurance, logistics, labs, and more
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Support for embedding, API access, and role-based control
You can start small with a free self-hosted license, test against real data, and scale from there. Every paid plan comes with onboarding support, and if you want us to take the wheel, our team offers end-to-end implementation too.
Common Questions When Migrating from Crystal
Do I have to recreate every report manually?
No. Many reports can be rebuilt faster using CxReports templates and the visual editor. We can help with migration support if needed.
Will it support the complex formatting we’ve relied on in Crystal?
Yes. CxReports is built for pixel-perfect output. You can use parameters, conditions, subreports, and formatting logic just like you did before, with far less pain.
Can I run this behind our firewall?
Yes. You can deploy CxReports locally using Docker or use our cloud version and connect securely using the Data Agent.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Crystal Reports did its job, but it’s time for better. CxReports gives you modern tools without ripping out what works. Whether you're in finance, healthcare, logistics, or tech — the migration path is clear.
Want to see it in action?
Schedule a meet or try our free live demo to explore CxReports firsthand.