Course Description

This 2-day, hands-on Crystal Reports Introduction training course is for students with little or no experience with Crystal Reports.

While this course utilises Crystal Reports 2013, it is also suitable for students who will be using earlier or later versions of Crystal Reports.

After completing this course, students will know how to:

  • Explore the Crystal Reports window.
  • Open, create, save, and modify simple reports; and use Help.
  • Sort and filter records.
  • Create and modify groups.
  • Insert subtotals, grand totals, and summary fields.
  • Enable drilldown for grouped & summarized reports.
  • Create, modify, rename, and delete formulas.
  • Use functions in formulas; and add, use, modify, and delete an item in the Crystal Repository.
  • Format a report by changing font style, size, and colour.
  • Add lines, boxes, and shapes.
  • Format fields conditionally.
  • Add and link tables by using the Database Expert.
  • Create reports by using various report wizards.
  • Export a report to the Adobe PDF, MS-Excel, MS-Word, HTML 4.0, XML, and MS-Access file formats.
  • Create a report definition; print a report; and e-mail a report.
  • Use the Charting & Mapping features of Crystal Reports.

 

Pre-requisites

Some exposure to a relational data base system such as Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Sybase, DB2 etc.

 

Further Training

After some further on-the-job experience with Crystal Reports, we also recommend students attend our Crystal Reports Advanced training course to gain higher-level skills in the usage of Crystal Reports. Advanced-level users of Crystal Reports can further increase their skill level by attending our SQL Fundamentals of Querying course to learn about the direct use of SQL SELECT statements in Crystal Reports Database Expert SQL Commands.

 

Course content

Creating a Simple Report

Starting Crystal Reports
Creating a New Report
Choosing a Data Source
Design Window – Main Components
Toolbars
Explorers
Report Fields – Selection & Placement
Object Sizing & Selection
Browsing Field Data
Moving & Aligning Objects
Using Guides & Guidelines
Text Objects
Saving the Report, Autosave
Report Preview
Data Refresh
Status Bar
Getting Help

Formatting Features

Template Expert – Quick Formatting
Formatting Objects
Format Painter
Drawing Lines and Boxes
Inserting Graphics
Page Commands
Working with Text Objects
Formatting Text Objects
Special Fields

Selecting Specific Records from the Database

Select Expert – Database Filtering
Record Selection with Multiple Criteria
Viewing & Editing Selection Formulas
Case Sensitive vs. Case In-sensitive
Formula Templates for Record Selection

Grouping & Sorting Data

When & Why to Group Records
Creating a Group
Group & Sort Direction
Customise Group Name Field
Modifying Groups
Creating Multiple Groups in a Report
Using The Preview Panel
Using the Group Tree for Report Navigation
Reordering Groups
Sorting Records within a Group
Using Sort Control
Summarising Groups
Grouping using Date/Time Intervals
Calculating Percentages
Ordering Based on Group Sub-totals

Combining Multiple Tables

Understanding Tables, Records, Fields
Learning about Linking
Adding Multiple Tables to a Report

Creating and Using Formulas

Understanding Crystal Formula Syntax
Using the Formula Workshop
Using the Formula Editor
Formula Editor Toolbar
Simple Number Calculations
Manipulating Dates
Boolean (True/False) Formulas
String Formulas
Using Bookmarks

Conditional Formatting

Formatting Sections
Conditional Formatting of Sections
Conditional Formatting of Fields

Summary Reports & Charts

Creating a Summary Report
Applying Drill-down
Applying DrilldownGroupLevel
Producing Charts
Editing Charts
Using Chart Options
Modifying Individual Chart Objects
Chart Templates

Exporting Reports

Export Formats & Destinations
Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
MS-Excel
MS-Word
Text
HTML Preview
Exporting to a Windows Application
Exporting to Report Definition Format

Using Report Wizards

What Are Report Wizards ?
Using Standard Report Wizard
Data Connection
Fields Selection
Grouping
Summaries
Group Sorting
Charting
Record Selection
Report Template

Mapping

Understanding Maps
Map Layouts
Map Types
Formatting Maps
Drilling Down on Maps
Advanced Formatting of Maps

Using Map Navigator