Crystal Report to SSRS Converter

The Crystal Report to SSRS Converter is a standalone Bold Reports® utility that reads Crystal Reports (.rpt) files using the Crystal Reports engine and generates equivalent SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Report Definition Language (.rdl) files. It automates most of the manual work involved in moving reports off Crystal Reports and onto an SSRS-compatible reporting platform.

This page introduces the converter and links to the setup and usage guides you need to plan and run a migration, from checking system requirements through reviewing conversion limitations.

What is the Crystal Report to SSRS Converter?

Crystal Reports and SSRS RDL use different report object models, so a .rpt file cannot be opened directly in an RDL-based designer. The Crystal Report to SSRS Converter closes that gap. It parses the structure, data connections, and report items inside a .rpt file, then rebuilds them as an equivalent RDL report that opens in Bold Reports® Report Designer or any other RDL-compatible tool.

The converter is intended for one-time or batch migration work rather than ongoing report authoring. Teams typically run it once per report (or once for an entire report library) as part of a planned move away from Crystal Reports.

With the Crystal Report to SSRS Converter, you can

  • Convert a single Crystal Report file or an entire folder of .rpt files in one run.
  • Preserve report sections, page setup, data sources, datasets, and most report items during conversion.
  • Convert Crystal Reports charts, groupings, and parameters to their closest RDL equivalents.
  • Review a migration summary and log file after each conversion to see what succeeded and what needs manual attention.

Key features

Bulk and single-file conversion

Convert an entire directory of .rpt files in one operation, or target a single report when you only need to migrate one file at a time.

Broad report object coverage

Report sections, page setup, data sources, datasets, tablix, text and field objects, lines, boxes, images, charts, and document map grouping are all mapped to their RDL equivalents automatically.

Online and offline installation

Install the converter using an internet connection and your Bold Reports® account, or use an offline installer with a downloaded license key file for environments without direct internet access.

Migration summary and logging

Every conversion produces a migration summary and a log file that records errors, warnings, and any features that could not be converted, so you know exactly what to check before deploying a converted report.

Common use cases

Migrating off Crystal Reports

Organizations retiring Crystal Reports in favor of an RDL-based reporting platform use the converter to migrate their existing report library instead of rebuilding reports by hand.

Consolidating reporting platforms

Teams that standardize on Bold Reports® or another SSRS-compatible platform use the converter to bring Crystal Reports content into that platform alongside reports already authored in RDL.

Batch migration projects

Migration teams with large report libraries use bulk conversion to process an entire folder of .rpt files in a single run, then use the generated logs to prioritize manual review.

Report modernization

Teams that want to take advantage of RDL-based tooling, such as Bold Reports® Report Designer and Report Viewer, use the converter to bring older Crystal Reports content forward instead of leaving it on legacy infrastructure.

Who should use this guide?

This documentation is intended for:

  • Developers and BI engineers responsible for migrating a Crystal Reports library to SSRS RDL.
  • Report authors who need to understand what will and won’t carry over automatically during conversion.
  • Administrators who install and license the converter in a development or migration environment.
  • Migration project leads planning the scope and timeline of a Crystal Reports migration effort.

Prerequisites

Before you run the converter, confirm that your environment meets the system requirements, including the Crystal Reports Runtime and .NET SDK versions the converter depends on. No report-specific setup is required beyond installing the converter itself; the Download and Installation guide covers the rest.

Considerations and limitations

  • The converter automates the conversion of supported Crystal Reports features as closely as possible, but differences between the Crystal Reports and RDL object models mean some features have no direct equivalent. See the Migration Guide for the full list.
  • Only SQL and XML data sources are supported for conversion; XML datasets still require manual reconfiguration in the target report.
  • Manual validation of data, layout, formatting, and business logic is recommended before deploying any converted report to production.

FAQ

What file formats does the converter work with?

It reads Crystal Reports (.rpt) files and produces SSRS Report Definition Language (.rdl) files.

Do I need Crystal Reports installed to use the converter?

You need the Crystal Reports Runtime installed so the converter can read .rpt files. See Prerequisites for supported versions and download links.

Can I convert an entire folder of reports at once?

Yes. Bulk conversion accepts a source folder of .rpt files and an output folder for the converted .rdl files. See Getting Started for the steps.

Will every Crystal Reports feature convert automatically?

Most core report structure, data, and layout features convert automatically, but some advanced features, such as cross tabs and formula-based grouping, have no RDL equivalent and require manual recreation. See the Migration Guide for details.

Where can I find errors from a conversion?

Each run generates a migration summary and a log file in the Logs folder of the installation directory, listing errors, warnings, and any features that could not be converted.

Getting help

If you run into an issue during download, installation, or conversion, check the log file generated in the Logs folder first, since it usually identifies the specific report element that caused the problem. For account, licensing, or download issues, sign in to your Bold Reports® account. For product questions not covered in this guide, contact Bold Reports® Support.