Crystal Reports XI Designer 1

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Windows 200/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

Basic Reporting

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

Adding Flexibility to Reports

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 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

For After the Class

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? Pre-qualification Exercise

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