Crystal Reports: The Complete Reference Series

Crystal Reports 8: The Complete Reference

Table of Contents

Introduction				What's New in Version 8
Part I Crystal Reports 8 Introduced				1: Common Ground: Creating a Simple Report Introducing Crystal Reports 8 Crystal Reports Screen Elements Starting Out: Opening or Creating a Report Using Report Experts Using the Blank Report Option The Data Explorer The Field Explorer Report Sections Previewing the Report Moving and Sizing Objects Formatting Objects Customizing Crystal Reports' Behavior 2: Enhancing Appearance with Text Objects Combining Database Fields Combining Special Fields The Can Grow Formatting Option Formatting Individual Parts of Text Objects Importing Text from a File Performance Considerations 3: Sorting and Grouping Sorting Your Report Grouping Records Manipulating Existing Groups Adding Subtotals and Summaries Multiple Groups Specified Order Grouping Drilling Down on Data Grouping on Date Fields Customizing Group Name Fields Grouping on Formula Fields Top N Reporting Hierarchical Groups 4: Creating Geographic Maps Different Map Types Adding a Map The Data Tab The Type Tab The Text Tab Drilling Down on Maps The Data Analyzer The Map Navigator Resolving Data Mismatches Map Layers 5: Using Formulas The Formula Editor Data Types Creating a New Formula Editing, Renaming, or Deleting an Existing Formula Number Formula Order of Precedence String Formulas The ToText Function Date/Time Formulas Number of Days Between Dates Number of Hours and Minutes Between Times Month, Day, Year, Hour, Minute and Seconds Functions DateValue Function If-Then-Else Formulas Data Types in If-Then-Else Formulas Multiple Actions with One If-Then-Else Statement Helpful Built-In Functions for If-Then-Else Formulas New Crystal Reports 8 Logic Constructs Select Case Statement For Loop While Do Loop Boolean Formulas Variables in Formulas and Evaluation Times Declaring a Variable Variable Scope Assigning a Value to a Variable Displaying a Variable's Contents Evaluation Times and Report Passes When Not to Use Variables User Function Libraries Running Total Fields 6: Analyzing with Advanced Selection Criteria The Select Expert Refreshing the Report Versus Using Saved Data Record Selection with Date Fields Manipulating the Record-Selection Formula Directly Limiting Data with a Group-Selection Formula Performance Considerations with Record Selection 7: Making Your Reports Visually Appealing The Highlighting Expert Conditional Formatting Formulas Absolute Versus Conditional Formatting Creative Use of the Suppress Property Special Fonts, Graphics, and Line Drawing Using Special Fonts Using Bitmap Graphics Line and Box Drawing New Version 8 Paragraph Formatting Features New Paragraph Formatting Options 8: Using Sections and Areas Formatting Sections with the Section Expert The Section Expert Creating Summary and Drill-Down Reports Drill-Down Reports Multiple-Column Reports for Labels and Listings Using Multiple Sections Conditionally Suppressing Sections Underlaying Sections 9: Analyzing with Cross Tabs Creating a Cross-Tab Object Editing an Existing Cross-Tab Creative Use of Grouping and Formulas Multiple Rows, Columns, and Summarized Fields Reordering Fields in the Rows, Columns, or Summarized Field Boxes Customizing Cross-Tab Appearance The Style Tab The Customize Style Tab Adding Legends to Cross-Tabs Conditionally Formatting Cross-Tabs What is CurrentFieldValue? What Are GridRowColumnValue and the Alias for Formulas? 10: Creating Charts Types and Layouts of Charts Chart Type Chart Layout Creating Charts with the Chart Expert The Type Tab The Data Tab The Axes Tab The Options Tab The Text Tab Placing and Sizing Charts Modifying Existing Charts Zooming In and Out on Charts Drilling Down on Charts Using the Analyzer with Charts Customizing Charts with the Format Chart Option 11: Using Subreports Unlinked Subreports Drilling Down on Subreports Linked Subreports Linking Based on Formula Fields On-Demand Versus In-Place Subreports Making an On-Demand Subreport Look Like a Button or Graphic Passing Data Between Main Reports and Subreports Showing an Informational Message Instead of the Empty Subreport Performance Considerations 12: Viewer Interaction with Parameter Fields Creating a Parameter Field Setting Up a Pick List Responding to Parameter Field Prompts Value Type Considerations Using Parameter Fields in Record Selection Displaying Parameter Fields on the Report Special Parameter Field Features Multiple Values Range Values Controlling Parameter Field Data Entry Conditional Formatting with Parameter Fields Highlighting Data Based on Parameter Fields Conditionally Suppressing Based on Parameter Fields Using Parameter Fields with Formulas Using a Parameter Field for Partial Text Matches Using a Parameter Field to Change Sorting or Grouping 13: Exporting Reports Exporting Reports to Office Applications Exporting to Different File Formats Exporting and Launching an Application Exporting to an ODBC Data Source Sending Reports Electronically Compiling and Distributing Real-Time Reports Compiling the Report Using the Report Distribution Expert Using a Compiled Report 14: Reporting from SQL Databases Logging On to SQL Databases Direct Database Drivers ODBC OLE DB Choosing the Database Changing SQL Options Converting a PC-Style Database Report to a Client/Server Database Changing from One SQL Database to Another Linking Tables Visual Linking Expert Using Multiple Database Types in the Same Report Join Types Linking One PC-Style Table to Multiple Tables Working with the SQL Statement Viewing the SQL Query Modifying the SQL Query Using SQL Stored Procedures Choosing Stored Procedures Working with Stored Procedure Parameters Using SQL Expression Fields Creating SQL Expressions Grouping on the Database Server Enabling Server-Based Grouping What's Required to Use Server-Based Grouping Effects of Drill-Down Performance Considerations Let the Server Do the Work Use Indexed Fields 15: Accommodating Database Changes and Field Mapping erifying or Changing the Database Location Verifying a Database Changing the Database Driver Using Set Location Using Set Alias Mapping Old Fields to New Names 16: Reporting from OLAP Cubes What is OLAP? Crystal Reports OLAP Capabilities Supported OLAP Systems Types of OLAP Reports Using the OLAP Report Expert Using the Blank Report Option Adding an OLAP Grid Option Changing the OLAP Database Location Controlling OLAP Grid Appearance Interacting with OLAP Grids 17: Using Seagate Analysis What is Seagate Analysis? Getting Started with Seagate Analysis Opening an Existing Query, Report or Cube Parts of the Query Tab Design Section Panel Viewing the Result Set Searching for Specific Data Creating New Queries Choosing a Data Source with the Analysis Explorer Choosing and Linking Tables Adding Fields to Panels Creating Groups and Drilling Down Creating Formulas and SQL Expressions Using Parameter Fields Saving The Query Creating Simple Reports The Report Tab Report Styles Using the Group Tree and Drilling Down Changing the Appearance of Individual Objects Formatting Sections Output Choices Creating and Analyzing Cubes What is OLAP? Creating the Cube Analyzing the Cube Viewing Microsoft OLAP Services Cubes Exporting the Cube to Excel 18: Querying SQL Databases with Crystal SQL Designer SQL Designer Defining Crystal SQL Designer Crystal SQL Designer Versus Seagate Analysis Crystal SQL Designer Versus Crystal Reports Creating SQL Queries Entering SQL Directly Using the Expert Using Parameter Fields in Queries Saving the Query Using Existing SQL Queries Opening Existing Queries Using Queries with Crystal Reports 19: Simplifying Databases with Crystal Dictionaries What Exactly is a Crystal Dictionary? Creating a Crystal Dictionary The Tables Tab The Links Tab The View Tab The Graphic Tab The Sample Data Tab Saving the Dictionary Setting Crystal Dictionaries Options Opening an Existing Dictionary Updating the Database Location Basing a Report or Query on a Dictionary 20: Reporting from Proprietary Data Types Reporting from Microsoft Outlook Reporting from the Local File System Reporting from the Windows NT/2000 Event Log Reporting from Web Server Logs
Part II Developing Custom Window Applications				21: Creating Your First Visual Basic/Crystal Reports Application Development-Language Options Which Development Language Should I Use? Different VB Reporting Options Crystal Reports Versus the Microsoft Data Report Designer Bundled Crystal Reports Versus the Stand-Alone Version Visual Basic Developer Interfaces Sample Application Overview The Xtreme Mountain Bike Orders Report 22: The ActiveX Control Adding the ActiveX Control Customizing the Preview Window Passing Parameter-Field Values Controlling Record Selection Record-Selection Formula Tips Setting Formulas Manipulating Report Groups Changing Section Formatting Choosing Output Destinations Displaying Print Options Error Handling Other ActiveX Properties and Methods The Reset Method SQL Database Control Subreport Control 23: The Report Designer Component The RDC Explained The ActiveX Designer The Runtime Automation Server The Report Viewer Adding the RDC to Your Project Importing an Existing Report Creating a New Report The RDC Object Model Using an External .RPT File An Introduction to the RDC Object Model Controlling Record Selection Record-Selection Formula Tips Setting Formulas Changing Text Objects at Run Time Passing Parameter-Field Values Manipulating Report Groups Conditional Formatting and Formatting Sections The Format Event Choosing Output Destinations Changing the Data Source at Run Time Unbound Fields Customizing the Report Viewer Trapping Report Viewer Events Error Handling Other RDC Properties and Methods The DiscardSavedData Method SQL Database Control RDC Subreports Creating New Reports at Run Time The Report Creation Wizard 24: The Report Engine Automation Server Overview of the Automation Server Adding the Automation Server to Your Project Declaring the Application and Report Objects Controlling the Preview Window Controlling Record Selection Record-Selection Formula Tips Setting Formulas Passing Parameter Field Values Manipulating Report Groups Conditional Formatting and Formatting Sections Choosing Output Destinations Changing the Data Source at Run Time Handling Preview Window and Report Events Report Object Event Handling Preview Window Event Handling Enabling or Disabling Events with EventInfo Error Handling Other Automation Server Properties and Methods The DiscardSavedData Method SQL Database Control Automation Server Subreports 25: The Report Engine API Adding the Report Engine API to Your Project Creating a Simple Application with the REAPI Controlling the Preview Window Controlling Record Selection Setting Formulas Passing Parameter Field Values Manipulating Report Groups Conditional Formatting and Formatting Sections Choosing Output Destinations Error Handling Other REAPI Calls Discarding Saved Data SQL Database Control Report Engine API Subreports 26: Distributing Visual Basic/Crystal Reports Applications Distribution Overview ActiveX Control Report Designer Component Automation Server Report Engine API Database Consideration Direct Access Database ODBC Data Sources File Export Considerations User Function Libraries 27: Creating User Function Libraries with Visual Basic User Function Library Overview UFLs in C and Delphi UFLs in Visual Basic Creating the ActiveX DLL Adding Functions to the Class Model Naming and Saving the DLL Error Handling Function-Name Prefixing Distributing the UFL
Part III Crystal Reports 8 on the Web				28: Crystal Reports 8 Web Alternatives Crystal Reports Web Alternatives Compared Exporting to Static HTML New Hyperlink Capabilities 29: The Crystal Web Component Server Web Component Server Overview NSAPI/ISAPI and CGI Interfaces Using the Crystal Web Component Server Linking to .RPT files Crystal Web Component Server Commands Crystal Report Viewers Report Viewers Compared Choosing and Customizing Report Viewers Exporting Files with the Web Component Server 30: Crystal Reports and Microsoft Active Server Pages Active Server Pages and VBScript Overview Visual InterDev as a Development Tool Seagate-Supplied Sample ASPs The RDC Automation Server Object Model in ASPs Using the Report Viewers Using the Crystal Reports 8 Design-Time Controls with Visual InterDev Specifying Report Source Properties Specifying Report Viewer Properties
Part IV Appendixes				A: Installing and Configuring Crystal Reports Components Installing the Crystal Reports Designer Installing Web Components on Your Web Server Assigning a User Account to Web Component Server NT Services Web Components Manager Utility B: Using Crystal Reports Excel and Access Add-Ins Using the Microsoft Excel Add-In Using the Microsoft Access Add-In Index What's on the Accompanying CD
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