Hi Jonathan and Henry,
Thanks for your clarification. So now we conclude that Aspose is not allowed to manipulate any RPT file either with or without using Crystal Reports or its runtime libraries. This is quite clear for us but honestly it is a shame both for SAP and Aspose.
Nowadays more and more contents are stored in electronic files so file formats have become more and more concerning and pressing topics. That's why Microsoft must pursue OOXML as their Office file formats since Microsoft Office 2007. Unlikely older Office formats available in Microsoft Office 2003 or earlier, OOXML is seriously open and its file format specifications are fully disclosed, which means you know how an Office document is organized and you can manipulate an Office document freely.
On the contrary, from the clauses of no manipulation of RPT file format in the Crsystal Reports EULA, we feel SAP is a last century giant which keeps everything proprietary and closed: It neither discloses RPT file format specification nor allows any one else to manipulate any RPT file generated by Crystal Reports. Put simply, once you generate a RPT file with Crystal Reports, you're locked in Crystal Reports forever because you're not allowed to use any other tools to manipulate it.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in]
So generally speaking this business model is called Vendor Lock-in, which is a shame for SAP and should be generating huge negative impact on the developer community.
http://www.aspose.com/community/forums/thread/187197/crystal-report-to-power-point.aspx
So the vendor lock-in business model is also a shame for Aspose because we can not satisfy customer requests like the above.
Anyway, although you have said NO to Aspose, we are still keen to talk to SAP to find out if SAP can review and then revise the EULA so we can make something to satisfy our customers. I believe we will get more and more RPT requests so we're hoping to work together with SAP to sort this out ultimately. If you are not in the best position to address this issue, please kindly forward our discussions to the right one and then contact Aspose for further discussions. I thank you for your cooperation in advance.
Ben
Message was edited by: Scott Lawley