Prima's Official Guide to seagate Crystal reports 7

Table of contents

Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Part I: Introducing Seagate Crystal Reports
Chapter 1: An Overview of Seagate Crystal Reports
Getting Started
Getting a Head Start with Report Experts
Custom Reports
Connecting a Report to a Data Source
Selecting Records to Include on a Report
Design Tab Sections
Crystal Report Designer: Basic Concepts
Making Reports Available on the Web
Summary
Chapter 2: Creating Your First Seagate Crystal Report
Creating a Report Using the Standard Report Expert
Opening the Crystal Report Designer and Starting a Report
Choosing the Source of Report Data
The Links Tab
Selecting Fields to Print on the Report
Determining Sort Order
Adding Summaries, Subtotals, and Grand Totals
Selecting Records to Include
Applying a Report Style
Previewing Your Report
The Other Experts: Creating Specific Report Types
Form Letter Report Expert: Repeating a Report with Different Data
Form Report Expert: Making a Report Look Like a Pre-Printed Form
Cross-Tab Report Expert: Analyzing Data in a Spreadsheet
Subreport Expert: Preparing a Report for Insertion into Another Report
Mailing Labels Report Expert: Printing Data on Standard or Custom Labels
Drill Down Report Expert: Combining Summaries and Details on One Report
OLAP Report Expert: Making Data Three-Dimensional
Other Ways to Start a Report
Using Another Report as a Template
Importing a Report with the Document Import Tool
Designing a Custom Report
Connecting to Data
Linking Databases and Tables
Inserting Fields into Your Report
Grouping Data on Your Report
Sorting Records
Totaling and Subtotaling
Adding Titles and Special Fields to the Report
Saving Your Report
Previewing Your Report
Summary
Part II: Adding to Your Seagate Crystal Reports
Chapter 3: Connecting to and Linking Data
Determining Your Data Connection Type
Linking Tables Together
Adding and Removing Databases and Tables
Summary
Chapter 4: Selecting Records
Using the Select Expert
Setting Selection Criteria
Beyond the Select Expert: Writing Selection Formulas
Handling Null Values
Using Parameter Fields in Record Selection
Summary
Chapter 5: Standard Report Elements: Sorts, Groups, and Totals
Sorting Detail Records
Creating Groups
Specified Order: Much More than Ordering Groups
Creating Subtotals, Summaries, and Grand Totals
Creating Running Totals
Summary
Chapter 6: The Power of Formulas
What Is a Formula?
What Can I Do with Formulas?
How Do I Write a Formula?
Using the Formula Editor
Using the Correct Syntax
The If-Then-Else Statement
Datatype Consistency: Problems and Solutions
Using Variables in Formulas
Order of Precedence in Formulas
Summary
Chapter 7: Formatting Your Report
Basic Report Formatting
Formatting Fields
Absolute vs. Conditional Formatting
Formatting Sections
Setting Page Breaks
Underlaying Sections
Suppressing Sections
Working with Sections
Adding Graphics to Your Report
Summary
Part III: Advanced Reporting Topics
Chapter 8: Creating Advanced Reports
Creating Subreports
Why Use a Subreport?
Inserting Existing Subreports into Primary Reports
Creating a Subreport within the Primary Report
Linking a Subreport to the Primary Report
Creating Cross-Tabulation Reports
Creating Drill Down Reports
Using Parameters
Summary
Chapter 9: Adding Graphs and Maps for Better Data Analysis
Integrating Charts and Maps in Reports
Putting the Analyzer to Work
Summary
Chapter 10: Advanced Database Concepts
Introduction to SQL
Benefits of Server-Side Processing
Using SQL Expressions Directly on a Report
Using the Crystal SQL Designer
Using the Seagate Query Expert
Entering the SQL Statement Directly
Starting from an Existing Query
Creating Reports from Saved SQL Queries
Using Dictionaries
Creating Reports from Stored Procedures
Verifying a Database
Changing the Location of a Database
Changing the Database Driver
Summary
Chapter 11: Creating Ad Hoc Reports with Seagate Query
The Components of Seagate Query
Installing Seagate Query
Creating a Report with the Crystal Query Client
Sections of the Crystal Query Client
Select Section
Group By Section
Sort Section
Having Section
Others Section
Result Set
Additional Crystal Query Client Functions and Settings
Maximizing Performance
Formatting the Report
Viewing Sections and Other Display Options
Searching in the Query Tab
Searching in the Report Tab
Looking at the SQL Statement
Exporting to Other Programs
Charting Your Data
Where to Find Help
Summary
Chapter 12: OLAP Reporting
What Is OLAP?
OLAP Data Sources
Creating OLAP Reports
Opening the OLAP Report Expert
Selecting Your Data Source on the Data Tab
Setting the Main Dimensions on the Grid Dim Tab
Working with Remaining Dimensions on the Other Dim Tab
Formatting Your Report with the Layout Tab
Organizing Data with the Sort Tab
Showing Data Pictorially with the Graph Tab
Giving Your Report Style with the Style Tab
Changing the Grid Dimension
Summary
Part IV: Using Seagate Crystal Reports with Other Tools
Chapter 13: Integrating Seagate Crystal Reports with Other Products
Integrating with Visual Studio
Integrating with Microsoft Office and Other Tools
Distribution and Deployment Considerations
Compiling Reports
Using the Report Distribution Expert
Working with a Compiled Report
Exporting Considerations
Summary
Chapter 14: Integrating Seagate Crystal Reports with the Internet
Web-related Features of Seagate Crystal Reports
Interacting with Reports on the Web
Working with Reports on the Web
Architecture and Components of the Web Report Server
Web Server Extensions (ISAPI/NSAPI vs. CGI)
Crystal Web Report Server Components
Seagate Crystal Web Page Server
Seagate Crystal Web Image Server
Installing the Crystal Web Report Server
Samples and Exercises
Additional Help and Documentation
Summary
Chapter 15: The Benefits of Seagate Info
What Is Seagate Info?
Dividing the Work with Three-Tier Architecture
Components of Seagate Info within the Three-Tier Architecture
Extended Architecture Components
Migrating from Crystal Reports to Seagate Info
Summary
Chapter 16: Managing Report Development Projects
Planning a Report
Becoming Familiar with Your Data
Interviewing Your Customer
Creating a Template with Common Graphics and Fonts
Building a Report Step-by-Step
Documenting and Saving Your Report
Summary
Part V: Appendixes
Appendix A: Setting Up an ODBC Data Source
What Is ODBC?
Creating an ODBC Data Source
Troubleshooting Suggestions
Appendix B: How to Get Help
Types of Help Available
Online Help
Using System Information
Getting Help at Seagate Software's Web Site
Requesting Technical Support by E-mail
Using the Telephone for Technical Support
Making the Most of Certified Trainers and Consultants
Glossary
Index