Enough Crystal Reports Education to Be Dangerous
The Crystal Reports database reporting application has powerful capabilities to access and analyze various sources of data, from desktop solutions like Microsoft Access to server-based data files such as Sage 100 and SQL or Oracle databases.
Crystal Reports can get highly complex. The software is a pro at using powerful analytical functions and mathematical expressions to create complex formulas by which to understand data.
Because the its richness, primary users of the software will benefit from training on the creation of formulas (in Crystal or Basic syntax) and formula fields, use of the 250-plus functions in Crystal Reports, formatting for fields and sections, summarizing of report data and use of drill-down features in summary reports.
The sheer magnitude of options available in the Crystal Reports tool can intimidate even the most eager ERP user. For instance, Crystal Reports provides a useful tool for creating charts from grouped and summarized data in reports, for instance.
The “Chart Expert” enables you to quickly and easily create graphs and other visual aids to supplement report data—beyond the choices available in Microsoft Excel. The 3D Charts may be viewed from nearly any angle, or you may customize the view and save it so others may have the same experience.
Advanced reporting tools allow you to create parameter fields and set parameters around record selection, then generate subreports embedded within main reports for particular business needs or views. In essence, subreports place information from unrelated reports into a single document or expand the views of report data in that document.
And this is just a taste of the power of Crystal Reports.