Crystal Reports 2008 Designer 3

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Designer 1 and 2 Workshops is strongly recommended.

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 fo advanced report writing along with a good amount of hands on practice. In addition, you will cover custom functions, advanced formulas and report efficiencies techniques. This course incorporates a number of hands on exercises that reinforce the learning process.

Course Outline

Advanced Database Topics and Formulas

Refresher Exercise

· Review of Planning a Report

· Creating the Report

· Placing Fields on the Report

· Advanced Grouping

· Selecting Certain Records

· Group Sorting

· Group Charting

Advanced Database Concepts

· What is SQL?

· Native Database Driver

· ODBC

· OLE DB

· ODBC, OLE DB or Native

· Using the Database Expert for Linking

· Adding a table Multiple Times

· Changing Join Types

· Database Changes

· Database Verification

· Set Data Source Location

· Re-mapping Database Fields

· Views

· Stored Procedures

· SQL Commands

· Creating an SQL Command

Using the Advanced Formula Features

· Select Case Statement

· For Loop Control Structure

· While… Do Loops

· Do… While Loops

· Building Arrays

· The Split Function

· Array Sizing Limitations

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

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

Tips, Tricks and Special Features

Advanced Cross-Tab Design

· Dissecting a Cross-Tab Grid

· Cross-Tab Parts Listing

· Row and Column Indexes

· Summary Indexes

· Grid Value Functions

· Embedded Summaries

· Conditionally Formatting Embedded Summaries

· Calculated Members

Tips and Tricks

· Manual Cross-Tabs

· Formatting Subreports

· Parameter Tricks

· Using Unique Fonts in the Report

Appendix A: Setup Instructions for Crystal Reports 2008

· Crystal Reports 2008 application installation instructions

· Installing required class files

Appendix B: Setup Instructions for SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

· Installing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

· SQL Server 2005 Express Edition installation instructions

· Installing the AdventureWorks database

· Attaching the AdventureWorks database

Appendix C: The AdventureWorks Database