Report Design
 | Dynamic and cascading
prompts. Base report
prompts on dynamic values. You will no longer need to
maintain static prompt value lists within individual
reports because you can reuse existing prompts stored in
the repository. |
| Dependency checker.
Use the dependency checker to instantly find
broken links, formula errors, and dependency
issues before reports are published and
distributed. |
| Dynamic image
location.
Pictures and graphics can be placed in a report
through a link in the database so that you no
longer need to store images within the database. |
| Hierarchical
grouping.
Users can create their reports in a
hierarchical rather than just a
relational manner. This provides a
better fit for organizational charts and
summary reports. |
| Visual report
designer.
Quickly design interactive reports using
an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface
and object-oriented explorers. |
| Experts and
wizards.
Use optional experts and wizards to
simplify common reporting tasks such as
connecting to a data source, selecting,
grouping, sorting, and summarizing data.
|
| Any report
type.
Create virtually any report you need
including cross-tab, conditional, top
N/bottom N, summary/drill-down, form,
mailing label, OLAP, and subreport. |
| Charting and
mapping.
Increase the graphical impact of your
reports by choosing from a wide variety
of map and chart types, including bar/3D
bar, pie/doughnut, line, Gantt, gauge,
funnel, XY scatter, ranged map, dot
density map, and more. |
|
Drag-and-drop
charting and cross tabs.
For intelligent charting where
Crystal Reports will select the best
chart style based upon the data in
your report. Chart design is faster
and easier because charts will be
automatically updated when new
variables are added.
|
|
Reusable
report objects.
Expedite the report design process
by storing key report objects -
including text objects, SQL
commands, bitmaps, and custom
functions (formulas) - in a central
managed library for sharing, reuse,
and single-point updating across
multiple reports.
|
|
Customizable
templates.
Spend less time formatting
individual reports. Design and apply
customized templates that specify
standards in formatting and logic -
including data access operations -
to ensure design consistency across
reports. You can even use existing
reports as templates.
|
|
Powerful
formula language.
Use the extensive formula language
in Crystal Reports with over 160
built-in and user-defined functions
and operators to tightly control
report formatting, complex logic,
and data selection. A call-stack
makes debugging data-level errors
easy. A formula extractor and
formula workshop are also included.
|
|
Custom
functions.
Eliminate redundant formula
creation. Extract business logic
from formulas to create custom
functions so you can use them
across multiple reports.
|
|
Asymmetric reporting.
Provide a customized view of
OLAP grids. With asymmetric
reporting, you can hide specific
dimensions of data so that end
users only see relevant and
valuable data.
|
|
Access
and Excel add-ins.
Use an intuitive wizard to
easily design a Crystal report
from within Microsoft Access or
Excel.
|
| Designer improvements. Designing reports is easier with the start page that appears each time you open Crystal Reports. The updated visual report designer allows you to point and click so you can create reports without the need for intensive coding. |