Crystal Reports 2008 Training: Start to Finish

Delivery Options

• Customized Onsite Training (5 days): Request a Proposal

Class Description

Class Overview

Class Goals

• Explore the Crystal Reports interface.
• Learn to create a basic report and modify it.
• Learn to format reports..
• Learn to filter reports.
• Learn to group report data.
• Learn to create reports from data in multiple tables.
• Learn to use formulas..
• Learn to use conditional formatting.
• Learn to create summary reports and charts.
• Learn to export reports to Excel and PDF.
• Learn to use Report Wizards.
• Review the basics.
• Learn to use Sections to improve formatting.
• Learn to keep running totals.
• Learn to work with parameters.
• Learn features of advanced formulas.
• Learn to create Sub reports.
• Learn to create and work with custom Groups.
• Learn to work with Cross Tab Reports.
• Learn to create Report Alerts.
• Learn advanced database concepts.
• Learn more advanced formula features.
• Learn to create custom functions.
• Learn to make your reports run more efficiently.
• Learn advanced cross-tab design.

Class Outline

1. Creating a Report
   1. Starting the Crystal Reports Program
   2. Starting a New Report
   3. Choosing a Data Source
   4. The Main Components of the Design Window
   5. Exploring the Toolbars
   6. Managing Resources with Explorers
   7. Placing Fields on the Report
   8. Selecting and Sizing Objects
   9. Browsing Field Data
   10. Moving and Aligning Objects
   11. Using Guides and Guidelines to Move and Align Objects
   12. Creating Text Objects
   13. Saving the Report
   14. Auto-saving the Report
   15. Previewing the Report
   16. Refreshing the Data
   17. Using the Status Bar
   18. Getting Help
   19. Challenge Exercise - Creating a Basic Report
2. Formatting Features
   1. Quick Formatting with the Template Expert
   2. Using the Format Painter
   3. Formatting Objects
   4. Inserting Lines and Boxes
   5. Inserting Graphics
   6. Working with the Page Commands
   7. Changing Page Orientation
   8. Changing Margins
   9. Working with Text Objects
   10. Adding Fields into a Text Object
   11. Formatting Part or All of an Object
   12. Inserting Special Fields
   13. Challenge Exercise - Formatting Features
3. Database Filters
   1. Filtering Data with the Select Expert
   2. Selecting Records with Multiple Criteria
   3. Viewing and Editing the Select Formula
   4. Case Sensitive vs. Case Insensitive
   5. Record Selection Formula Templates
   6. Challenge Exercise - Selecting Specific Records
   7. Challenge Exercise - Selecting a Range of Values
4. Report Grouping
   1. When and Why to Group Records
   2. Creating a Group
   3. Group and Sort Direction
   4. Customize Group Name Field
   5. Modifying Groups
   6. Creating Multiple Groups in a Report
   7. Using the Group Tree to Navigate the Report
   8. Reordering Groups
   9. Using the Sort Control
   10. Summarizing Groups
   11. Additional Summary Options
   12. Grouping Data in Date/Time Intervals
   13. Calculating Percentages
   14. Ordering Groups Based on Their Subtotals Using the Group Sort Expert
   15. Challenge Exercise - Grouping, Sorting, Summarizing
   16. Challenge Exercise - Calculating Percentages
5. Multiple Table Joins
   1. Understanding Tables, Records, and Fields
   2. Learning About Linking
   3. Adding Multiple Tables to a Report
   4. Challenge Exercise - Using the Database Expert to Link Tables
6. Creating Formulas
   1. Understanding Crystal Formula Syntax without Being a Programmer
   2. About the Formula Workshop
   3. Using the Formula Workshop
   4. Using the Formula Editor
   5. The Formula Editor Toolbar
   6. Performing Simple Number Calculations
   7. Manipulating Dates with Formulas
   8. Creating Boolean (True/False) Formulas
   9. Creating String Formulas
   10. Using Bookmarks to Navigate Through Formulas
   11. Challenge Exercise - Creating String Formulas Challenge
   12. Exercise - Creating String Formulas
   13. Challenge Exercise - Doing Calculations
   14. Challenge Exercise - Subtracting Dates
   15. Challenge Exercise - Using Nested If Statements
7. Conditional Formatting
   1. Formatting Sections
   2. Formatting Sections Conditionally
   3. Conditionally Formatting Fields
   4. Challenge Exercise - Section Formatting and Conditional Formatting
8. Summary Reports and Charts
   1. Creating a Summary Report
   2. Applying the Drill Down Feature
   3. Applying the DrillDownGroupLevel
   4. Producing Charts
   5. Editing Charts
   6. Formatting Charts
   7. Using the Chart Options
   8. Modifying Individual Objects in the Chart
   9. Applying Chart Templates
   10. Challenge Exercise - Creating a Summary Report
   11. Challenge Exercise - Charting
9. Exporting Reports
   1. Understanding Export Formats and Destinations
   2. Using a PDF Format for Crystal Reports
   3. Exporting to Windows Applications
   4. Exporting to a Report Definition Format
10. Report Wizards
    1. What are the Report Wizards?
    2. Create a Report Using the Standard Report Creation Wizard
    3. The Data Dialog Box
    4. The Fields Dialog Box
    5. The Grouping Dialog Box
    6. The Summaries Dialog Box
    7. The Group Sorting Dialog Box
    8. The Chart Dialog Box
    9. The Record Selection Dialog Box The Template Dialog Box
    10. Challenge Exercise - Create a Report Using a Report Wizard
11. Refresher Exercise
    1. Review of Planning a Report
    2. Creating the Report
    3. Placing Fields on the Report
    4. Creating the Formulas
    5. Advanced Grouping
    6. Selecting Certain Records
    7. Helpful Hints for Formatting the Report
    8. Adding and Working with Text Objects
    9. Hiding and Suppressing Sections
    10. Guidelines
12. Power Formatting with Multiple Sections
    1. Using Multiple Sections in Reports
    2. Using the Section Expert to Work with Sections
    3. Conditionally Formatting Multiple Sections
    4. Challenge Exercise - Formatting with Multiple Sections
    5. Challenge Exercise - Conditionally Formatting Using DrillDownGroupLevel
13. Using the Running Totals Feature
    1. Understanding Running Totals
    2. Creating Running Totals for a List of Numbers
    3. Conditional Running Totals
    4. Challenge Exercise - Creating a Conditional Running Total
14. Prompting with Parameters
    1. Parameter Field Considerations
    2. Creating a Parameter Field
    3. Using a Parameter to Select Records
    4. Using a Parameter Field
    5. Using the Parameter Panel
    6. Creating a Dynamic Value List for Parameter Values
    7. Importing a Pick List
    8. Adding Parameter Values to Text Objects
    9. Allowing Multiple Values in Parameters
    10. Using Multiple Parameter Fields in Reports
    11. Specifying and Limiting a Range
    12. Using Parameters in Conditional Formatting
    13. Using an Edit Mask to Limit String Parameters
    14. Sorting with a Parameter
    15. Using a parameter to set N in a Top N Report
    16. Cascading Parameters
    17. Challenge Exercise - Using and Displaying Parameters
15. Using Advanced Formula Features
    1. Understanding How Crystal Reports Processes the Data
    2. What Is a Pass?
    3. Using Evaluation Time Functions
    4. Working with Variables
    5. Declaring a Variable
    6. Assigning a Value to a Variable
    7. Using a Variable in a Formula
    8. Variable Scope
    9. Separating Statements in Complex Formulas
    10. Working with Arrays
    11. Understanding the Evaluation Time Debugger
    12. Challenge Exercise - Understand and Set Up the YTD Comparison Report
16. Using Sub reporting as a Workaround Solution
    1. Understanding Sub reports
    2. Unlinked versus Linked Subreports
    3. Creating an Unlinked Sub report
    4. Linking a Subreport
    5. Database Links versus Subreports in One-to-Many Situations
    6. Formatting the Subreport
    7. Passing Data from the Main Report into a Subreport
    8. Creating On-Demand Subreports
    9. Creating Hyperlinks
    10. Using Subreports to Link "Unlinkable" Data
    11. Challenge Exercise - Creating Reports with Linked Subreports
17. Creating Powerful Groups
    1. Creating Custom Groups
    2. Customizing Group Sort Order
    3. Using Group Selection to Filter the Records in the Report
    4. Grouping on a Formula Field
    5. Grouping Hierarchically
    6. Challenge Exercise - Create Customized Grouping
    7. Challenge Exercise - Using Group Selection
    8. Challenge Exercise - Creating a Group Using a Formula
18. Working with Cross-Tab Reports
    1. Understanding How Cross-Tabs Affect Your Data
    2. Creating a Cross-Tab Report
    3. Creating a Cross- Tab with Multiple Rows or Columns
    4. Applying a Formatting Style to the Cross-Tab
    5. Customizing the Cross-Tab Format
    6. Changing Background Colors
    7. Formatting Individual Cells
    8. Changing the Summary Operation
    9. Suppressing Rows, Columns or Totals
    10. Repeating Row Heading for Multi-Page Cross-Tabs
    11. Using Alias Names for Column and Row Headings
    12. Charting Cross-Tabs
    13. Customizing Cross-Tab Group Names
    14. Using the CurrentFieldValue Function
    15. Challenge Exercise - Cross-Tab Reports
19. Report Alerts
    1. What are Report Alerts
    2. Creating Report Alerts
    3. Basing Report Formulas or Conditional Formatting on Report Alerts
    4. Creative Usage for Report Alerts
    5. Challenge Exercise - Using Report Alerts with Parameter
20. Refresher Exercise
    1. Review of Planning a Report
    2. Creating the Report
    3. Placing Fields on the Report
    4. Advanced Grouping
    5. Selecting Certain Records
    6. Group Sorting
    7. Group Charting
21. Advanced Database Concepts
    1. What is SQL?
    2. Native Database Driver
    3. ODBC
    4. OLE DB
    5. ODBC, OLE DB or Native
    6. Using the Database Expert for Linking
    7. Adding a table Multiple Times
    8. Changing Join Types
    9. Database Changes
    10. Database Verification
    11. Set Data Source Location
    12. Re-mapping Database Fields
    13. Views
    14. Stored Procedures
    15. SQL Commands
    16. Creating an SQL Command
22. Using the Advanced Formula Features
    1. Select Case Statement
    2. For Loop Control Structure
    3. While... Do Loops
    4. Do... While Loops
    5. Building Arrays
    6. The Split Function
    7. Array Sizing Limitations
23. Custom Functions
    1. What is a Custom Function
    2. Function Arguments
    3. When to use a Custom Function
    4. Using the Custom Function Editor
    5. Using Crystal Syntax
    6. Using Basic Syntax
    7. Custom Function Properties
    8. Using the Formula Expert and Custom Functions
    9. Using the Formula Extractor
    10. Custom Function Limitations
24. Running Reports Efficiently
    1. Understanding What Crystal Sends to the Database
    2. Strategies for Efficient Report Performance
    3. Using the SQL Statement
    4. Record Selection and Performance
    5. Performance Information
    6. Report Definition
    7. Saved Data
    8. Processing
    9. Latest Report Changes
    10. Performance Timing
    11. Server Based Grouping
    12. Select Distinct Command
25. Advanced Cross-Tab Design
    1. Dissecting a Cross-Tab Grid
    2. Cross-Tab Parts Listing
    3. Row and Column Indexes
    4. Summary Indexes
    5. Grid Value Functions
    6. Embedded Summaries
    7. Conditionally Formatting Embedded Summaries
    8. Calculated Members
26. Additional Tips and Tricks
    1. Manual Cross-Tabs
    2. Formatting Subreports
    3. Parameter Tricks
    4. Using Unique Fonts in the Report

Class Materials

Each student in our Live Online and our Onsite classes receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all the class examples.

Class Prerequisites

Experience in the following areas is required:

• Basic Computer Skills

Experience in the following areas would be beneficial:

• Familiarity with relational database concepts (tables, fields and records)

Technical Requirements

Our computer technical requirements and setup process is easy, with support just a click away.

• Onsite and Instructor-led Online course technical requirements and setup instructions.
• WebEx system requirements for Instructor-led Online delivery option.