Crystal Reports XI – Designer 1

Course Outline

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Windows 2000/XP environment is required. Familiarity with

relational database concepts (tables, fields and records) is strongly recommended.

Description: This two day interactive workshop was designed for new users of Crystal Reports XI.

Some of the topics covered include a review of the software features, report design and the creation of presentation quality reports. The course incorporates a number of hands on exercises to reinforce the learning process.

Course Outline

Before You Begin

• Defining the Purpose of the Report

• Determining the Layout of the Report

• Finding the Data

• Organizing the Data for the Report

Creating a Report

• Starting the Crystal Reports Program

• Starting a New Report

• Choosing a Data Source

• The Main Components of the Design Window

• Exploring the Toolbars

• Managing Resources with Explorers

• Placing Fields on the Report

• Selecting and Sizing Objects

• Browsing Field Data

Moving and Aligning Objects

• Using Guides and Guidelines to Move and Align Objects

• Creating Text Objects

• Saving the Report

• Auto-saving the Report

• Previewing the Report

• Refreshing the Data

• Getting Help

• Challenge Exercise - Creating a Basic Report

Formatting Features

• Quick Formatting with the Template Expert

• Using the Format Painter

• Formatting Objects

• Inserting Lines and Boxes

• Drawing a Line

• Drawing a Box

• Inserting Graphics

• Working with the Page Commands

• Changing Page Orientation

• Changing Margins

• Working with Text Objects

• Adding Fields into a Text Object

• Formatting Part or All of an Object

• Inserting Special Fields

Database Filters

• Filtering Data with the Select Expert

• Selecting Records with Multiple Criteria

• Viewing and Editing the Select Formula

• Case Sensitive vs. Case Insensitive

• Record Selection Formula Templates

• Challenge Exercise - Selecting Specific Records

• Challenge Exercise - Selecting a Range of Values

Report Grouping

• When and Why to Group Records

• Creating a Group

• Group and Sort Direction

• Customize Group Name Field

• Modifying Groups

• Creating Multiple Groups in a Report

• Using the Group Tree to Navigate the Report

• Reordering Groups

• Summarizing Groups

• Additional Summary Options

• Grouping Data in Date/Time Intervals

• Calculating Percentages

• Ordering Groups Based on Their Subtotals Using the Group Sort Expert

• Challenge Exercise - Grouping, Sorting, Summarizing

• Challenge Exercise – Calculating Percentages

Multiple Table Joins

• Understanding Tables, Records, and Fields

• Learning About Linking

• Adding Multiple Tables to a Report

• Challenge Exercise - Using the Database Expert to Link Tables

Creating Formulas

• Understanding Crystal Formula Syntax without Being a Programmer

• About the Formula Workshop

• Using the Formula Workshop

• Using the Formula Editor

• The Formula Editor Toolbar

• Performing Simple Number Calculations

• Manipulating Dates with Formulas

• Creating Boolean (True/False) Formulas

• Creating String Formulas

• Using Bookmarks to Navigate Through Formulas

• Challenge Exercise - Creating String Formulas

• Challenge Exercise – Doing Calculations

• Challenge Exercise - Subtracting Dates

• Challenge Exercise - Using Nested If Statements

Conditional Formatting

• The Highlighting Expert

• Setting Highlighting Priorities

• Formatting Sections

• Formatting Sections Conditionally

• Formatting Fields

• Challenge Exercise - Section Formatting and Conditional Formatting

Summary Reports and Charts

• Creating a Summary Report

• Applying the Drill Down Feature

• Applying the DrillDownGroupLevel

• Producing Charts

• Editing Charts

• Formatting Charts

• Using the General Chart Options

• Modifying Individual Objects in the Chart

• Using Auto-Arrange Chart

• Applying Chart Templates

• Challenge Exercise - Creating a Summary Report

• Challenge Exercise – Charting

Exporting Reports

• Understanding Export Formats and Destinations

• Using an HTML Format for Crystal Reports

• Exporting to Windows Applications

• Exporting to a Report Definition Format

Default Options

• Setting the Default

• Layout for Design and Preview Views

Report Wizards

• What are the Report Wizards?

• Create a Report Using the Standard Report

Creation Wizard

• The Data Dialog Box

• The Fields Dialog Box

• The Grouping Dialog Box

• The Summaries Dialog Box

• The Group Sorting Dialog Box

• The Chart Dialog Box

• The Record Selection Dialog Box

The Template Dialog Box

• Challenge Exercise - Create a Report Using a Report Wizard

APPENDIX A - Mapping

• Understanding Maps

• Map Layouts

• Map Types

• Formatting the Map

• Drilling Down on Maps

• Using the Analyzer Tab for Advanced Mapping

• Changing the Geographic Map

• Using the Map Navigator

• Changing Map Layers

• Resolving Data Mismatches

APPENDIX B – Creating an ODBC Data Source to Attach to a Database

• Creating an ODBC Data Source to Attach to a Database

• Creating an ODBC Connection to Any Database

APPENDIX C - Pre-Qualification Exercise for the Power User Workshop

• Why Should You Pre-qualify Yourself for the Power User Workshop?

APPENDIX D – The Xtreme Sample Database

• A relational diagram of tables existing the Xtreme Sample Database provided on the Crystal Reports Installation CD

APPENDIX E - Installation and System Requirements

• Review the necessary hardware and operating system requirements to make Crystal Reports operate correctly

APPENDIX F - Function and Operator Locations

• A complete listing of all the available Formula Functions and an explanation of the new Custom Functions

APPENDIX G – Glossary

• A complete glossary of terms used throughout the book