Best approach for modifying html from CrystalReportInteractiveViewer

I'm looking for the best (and recommended) way to modify html returned by a call to CrystalInteractiveViewer.processHttpRequest().

Some specifics:

1. I have a servlet that makes that gets the html from processHttpRequest's StringWriter argument to be rendered in a jsp

2. This jsp is a filters page where the user inputs filter values, clicks OK, then finally views the report

3. The desired end-result is to still present the filter page but bypass the post action to Crystal when the OK button is clicked, allowing us to perform intermediate tasks in between

A couple of ideas I had in mind:

1. Render the filter page using getHtmlContent() instead and then get back from the response object whatever I need (and perform the intermediate processing I need)

2. Parse (yikes) and update the html content from the processHttpRequest() call

If you have other ideas or an infinitely better approach    I'm all ears.

Thanks in advance!