Crystal Reports: Advanced Course

Welcome to the Virtual Training Company. My name is Lauri, Lauri Matson and it is my pleasure to be your instructor for the advanced version of Crystal Reports. Now although this is intended for the proficient user, we will be doing reviews, and refreshers of all the most commonly used features within Crystal Reports. Crystal Reports of course is the program that we use to analyze, interpret, and visualize information from our database programs. Remember that Crystal is a comprehensive tool, it's meant for complex reporting. As a result, each of us are going to use it very, very differently. One of the key components of working with Crystal is the fact that it can cross platforms. This ability to integrate with a number of different databases allows it to really be published in a variety of formats. We can work with Crystal and publish information on the web, to an Adobe PDF file, we can even transfer into a Microsoft Excel file. This flexibility with all the different applications allows for easy report integration. That's what makes Crystal such a popular tool in the work environment. Now our objectives for this particular class, are to first, be comfortable with working with SQL, and other databases. We will address being able to input our data, and the different kind of components that we need to be aware of. We will also work with commands and code. Now this will include SQL Statements, and of course the Crystal Syntax. We'll also touch upon Visual Basic, and talk about the flexibility of Crystal, when it comes to working in code. Of course this will also include working with formulas, primarily the advanced formulas and features, but as I had mentioned before, we are going to review the basics, but go beyond the basic. This will include our charts, our subreports, Cross-tab objects, and even multiple sections, and the ability to really go through form letters. Now most of us will probably recognize Cross-tab objects, more from it's Microsoft Excel name of Pivot Tables. You'll also see that we'll touch upon working with OLAP data. Now of course we'll delve deep into this, but OLAP data is another type of component that we use when working with these Cross-tab type objects. Now I'd like you to know that in this particular program, you will find that I have included the sample database files that I'm working with. It is my recommendation that you first go through the features exactly the same way that I have. Make sure you understand the concept, and then apply it to your particular situation. You won't have to worry about working with another program to come up to date, because I've included those refreshers for all the different sections to ensure your proficiency, as we go into the advanced features. Again, remember, when we're going through these concepts, they're going to be the same for all of us. However, because of the complexities within Crystal, we all use it very differently, and you may find that some of the screen changes will be just a little different. But if you do have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Drop me an email at Lauri at Wiseowl/wa.com. It will be my pleasure to help you as much as I can throughout your learning of the Advanced aspects of Crystal Reports.  

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