Intermediate Crystal Reports

1 Day, 9:00-4:00

Course Overview

This instructor-led, hands-on course teaches the basic skills needed to create complex reports using Crystal Reports. It covers how to use advanced string and date functions, insert parameter fields to prompt for values, work with advanced totaling and grouping features, create cross-tab reports and charts to present your data in a more meaningful way, create multiple-section reports, and apply conditional formatting. In order to successfully complete this course, we recommend that you first take Softek’s Introduction to Crystal Reports course or have equivalent knowledge. You should feel comfortable creating basic reports from scratch and using wizards; insert database, text, and special fields; format objects; sort, group, and total data; and write basic formulas to calculate information.

Course Objectives

• Learn advanced grouping features
• Apply conditional formatting
• Use string and date functions
• Use parameter fields
• Chart data
• Create cross-tabs
• Create form letters and use multiple selections

Advanced Grouping Features

• Sorting Summarized Group Values
• Identifying the "Top" Groups
• Creating Custom Groups

Applying Conditional Formatting

• Understanding If-Then-Else Formulas
• Applying Conditional Field Formatting
• Creating a Nested If Statement
• Applying Conditional Section Formatting

Using String and Date Functions

• Using String Functions
• Sorting and Grouping by Date
• Using Date Functions
• Using Arrays

Using Parameter Fields

• Creating a Parameter Field
• Using the Parameter in a Selection Formula
• Refreshing Report Data
• Modifying the Report Title to Include a Parameter Field
• Creating a Date Parameter Prompt

Charting Data

• Creating a Chart for a Report
• Resizing and Moving a Chart
• Using a Chart for Drill-down
• Creating a Chart for Groups

Creating Cross-Tabs

• Using the Cross-Tab Wizard
• Selecting the Data Source
• Verifying or Establishing Links
• Selecting Fields for the Cross-Tab Report
• Applying Record Selection
• Selecting the Look of the Cross-Tab Report
• Changing a Summary Field
• Creating an Additional Summary
• Pivoting a Cross-Tab
• Charting a Cross-Tab

Creating Form Letters & Using Multiple Sections

• Inserting the Date
• Creating Additional Detail Sections for Each Address Line
• Printing One Form Letter Per Page
• Suppressing Blank Sections
• Creating Detail Sections for the Message
• Creating a Detail Section for the Closing
• Setting Conditions on a Section