Crystal Reports XI Designer 3 Workshop

Course Length - 2 Days

Description

This two-day workshop is designed to expand your working knowledge of Crystal Reports and move you into creating more complex reports.  Time will be spent walking you through the tips and tricks of advanced report writing along with a good amount of hands on practice.  In addition, you will cover custom function, advanced formulas and report efficiencies techniques.  This course incorporates a number of hands on exercises that reinforce the learning process.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of the Crystal Reports Designer 1 and 2 Workshops is strongly recommended.  

Outline

Refresher Exercise

• Review of Planning a Report
• Creating the Report
• Placing Fields on the Report
• Advanced Grouping
• Selecting Certain Records
• Group Sorting
• Group Charting

Custom Functions

• What is a Custom Function
• Function Arguments
• When to use a Custom Function
• Using the Custom Function Editor
• Using Crystal Syntax
• Using Basic Syntax
• Custom Function Properties
• Using the Formula Expert and Custom Functions
• Using the Formula Extractor
• Custom Function Limitations

Using the Advanced Formula Features

• Advanced Formula Syntax
• Review If…Else…Then Expressions
• Select Case
• Immediate IF (IIF)
• For Loops
• Exit For
• Join Function
• Split Function
• Array Sizing Limitations

Crystal Reports, Data Access and SQL

• What is SQL
• Direct Database Drivers
• ODBC
• OLE DB
• Viewing the SQL
• SQL Commands
• Creating an SQL Command
• Adding Parameters to the SQL Command
• SQL Expressions
• Creating an SQL Command

Advanced Database Concepts

• Using the Database Expert for Linking
• Order Links Dialog
• Index Legend Dialog
• Link Options Dialog
• Adding and removing Databases/Tables
• Adding a table Multiple Times
• Changing Join Types
• Database Changes
• Database Verification
• Set Data Source Location
• Re-mapping Database Fields
• Views
• Stored Procedures
• Non-ODBC Connection Types

Running Reports Efficiently

• Understanding What Crystal Sends to the Database
• Strategies for Efficient Report Performance
• Using the SQL Statement
• Record Selection and Performance
• Performance Information
• Report Definition
• Saved Data
• Processing
• Latest Report Changes
• Performance Timing
• Server Based Grouping
• Select Distinct Command

Manual Cross-Tab Reports

• What is a Manual Cross-Tab
• Creating a Cross-Tab Object
• Creating a Cross-Tab without the Expert

Tips and Tricks

• Formatting Subreports
• Parameter Tricks
• Conditional Formatting
• Formatting Page Headers
• Using Unique Fonts in the Report
• String Fields and Dates
• Dates Activity

OLAP Reporting

• OLAP Explanation
• OLAP Servers
• Creating an OLAP Report
• Formatting and OLAP Report