How do I trace the data used to create the report? - crystal-reports

I am using CR 9. Sorry about that.
I have never used Crystal Reports; however, my boss has asked me to provide him the "logic" used in a report generated for one of our customers. The report was created several years ago and the customer contact is new. He wants to know what information we use to calculate the data reported in each column. Is there an easy way to trace this information in Crystal?

You don't say what version of CR you are using, so I'll make an assumption. Run the report with any parameters that it may need. From the file menu, click on "Database" and on the drop down menu, there should be an option to "Show SQL Query".

I think if you run the report, it'll ask you for the date info. Then once it's done do the "show sql query" thing and it should fill in the dates for you in the query.

Related

crystal report 8.5 filter records

I am new to this position (production support) and asked to look into a problem in a crystal report 8.5. I am new to crystal report as well with some basic training only.
The report seems to be missing some records. It uses a SQL Server 2005 procedure as data source. I tested with same parameters the report used on the procedure and the it returns all records including the missing records in the report. So I think the report must filter the records. Then I checked Record Selection Formula, I saw something in there but it seems not related to the missing records. For testing, I commented them all, run the report but the records are still missing.
So I guess there may be something else that filters the data?
It turns out to be something in top N group expert. The report only lists top 50 items for a group based on sales units.
You might benefit from exporting the report definition into a .txt file by clicking file > export > export report > report definition txt ( you have to scroll for it). I believe this functionality existed back in 8.5.
What it does is display the underlying formatting, filtering and formulas in an easy to read format. You should be able to pick out what is happening much more quickly than clicking through all the potential places for something to be hidden. I see that you answered your own question but seeing that you're new to this position this is a troubleshooting tip I found invaluable.

Crystal Reports : Crosstab refuses not to paginate

I am using Crystal Reports 11 (XI) and I have a crosstab that has quite a few rows to it. Its publishing format is to Excel, so pagination doesn't really even make sense. However, no matter what I do it repeats the column/crosstab headers every couple dozen lines. I've tried:
-Increasing page size definition to max size (12x18) portrait
-Turning off pagination in the output settings
-Turning off horizontal pagination
-Deleting column headers (works) but I cannot delete the crosstab header
I'm running out of ideas.
If the goal is just to create an excel file with some pivoted data crystal reports is not the best way to do it. Check the first 5 minutes of this video:
http://www.r-tag.com/Pages/Preview_Demo.aspx
It compares the same data presented as a cross-tab in Crystal reports and pivot report based on a SQL ad-hoc query. SSRS is also part of the comparison and it is a better choice than Crystal too , but SQL ad-hoc query is my favorite for pivoted data.
P.S. I am proposing this alternative because the tool is free, it will save you development time and will create a better formatted excel file. If you are using BOE and you want to keep the report there this might not work for you.
The solution is as contrived as the problem...
There is no way in Crystal XI to "turn off" the crosstab pagination. It simply cannot be stopped. However, you can cheat the system by configuring a massive page size. In windows on your development machine, locate your XPS printer virtual device and choose "Print Server Properties" (in the top banner in Win 7+)
In the "Forms" tab, you will be able to configure a new paper form object of arbitrary size. Click on "Change Form Settings" and create a new page that is as large as you think you will need. I'm not aware of any limitations on this configuration, but I'm sure bad things happen if you go nuts.
Returning to crystal, go to printer configuration and select the XPS document printer as your target device for exports, and save the custom page size as the target paper type.
Now, the crosstab will assume you are printing to a massive sheet and will not attempt to paginate. As far as I can tell it's impossible to achieve the same effect any other way.
Here is a introduction about jasper crosstab.
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/jasper_reports/pdf/jasper_crosstabs.pdf
From the document, you can add two attributes in node
<crosstab isRepeatColumnHeaders="false" isRepeatRowHeaders="false">
...
</crosstab>

Crystal Reports : This group section cannot be printed

I'm currently modifying an existing report and replacing the data source used in the report. The reason I'm not creating a new report is because the report is laid out exactly how I would like it to be laid out. I've updated every field with the new data source fields and checked that the formulas are all correctly formatted.
Everytime I attempt to view the report (I'm using the Crystal Reports tool in VS 2010), I get the error "The group section cannot be printed because its condition field is nonexistent or invalid. Format the section to choose another condition field."
I've read another question from stackoverflow but still can't seem to find out what is wrong with my report.
First of all, why doesn't Crystal tell you more specifically what is wrong?
Any suggestions or hints?
My first thought is that you didn't update the Groups correctly when you switched backends. Go into your Group Expert. Do you see any groups simply labeled with question marks? If so, there's your problem. Go into the options for that group and choose an appropriate grouping field.
Also, use the Database->Verify Database command to look for other possible errors.
As for your question about Crystal's design, I believe that it does give reasonably accurate error messages, especially considering everything that can go wrong with any one report.

SSRS 2008 - Expand and Collapse subreports

I am dealing learning SSRS 2008. I want to do a report that is a little bit more complex.
I would like to have a row with information about "Object": name, id, description, etc. And I would like to have a + sign in this row, so I can expand/collapse rows that are regarding "Comments" about that object, with columns like "comment", "date", etc.
I first tried the "Grouping" approach, but I got to a dead end because the groups would use the same header.
Now I am trying to tackle it with a subreport.
The first problem I had is that I couldn't find the query designer in VS2008, so I started the SQL Reporter Builder.
Is there any way to use the Query Designer inside VS2008?
Then I created my report and my subreport as different report files, because I thought I would be able to use the subreport properties to select the subreport file and add it, but I was wrong. How can I add it? Do I have to publish it?
I just found out that I can't use the rdl file from SQL Report Builder in Visual Studio (it doesn't recognize the file extension, in VS2008 it is rdlc).
I am basically lost.
Could someone give me some guidance?
Thanks,
Oscar
This was asked a while ago but you haven't closed the question so I assume you still need an answer.... Are you looking to add the drill down feature to your report?
http://blogs.lessthandot.com/index.php/DataMgmt/DataDesign/creating-a-basic-drilldown-report-in-ssr-2005
http://www.sqlservercurry.com/2009/08/creating-drill-down-report-with-sql.html
If not... I am confused at what you are looking for and if what you want is really intended to be done in SSRS.
And... are you using subreports because the Object information and the Comment information is on different servers or data sources? Because it seems like you would want to use grouping for this, and group by the objectID and have the comments below.

Eclipse Birt Reports, Creating report from SQL database, (user key?)

I'm fairly new to using the Birt Report Designer and need to figure out how to generate a report from a SQLite database. I have suceeded in getting it to connect to the DB but am now unsure how to generate a report and the tutorials that I have found aren't of much help so far.
I have a template that was given to me by my employer that has a few fields, I'm wondering if these fieldnames (in the template) are supposed to match field names in the DB.
Also, when I go to Run->View Report-> As PDF I am unsure what I am supposed to enter for the field "User Key", does this correspond to a table name in the DB or something along these lines?
As of now, I have tried entering a table name but just a blank report is generated.
If anyone can point me to a good resource or help with this I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
There are two books i could really advice:
BIRT - A Field Guide to Reporting
Integrating and Extending BIRT
and the Eclipse Help containing BIRT documentation.
I suppose the User Key could be report parameter (listed in Data Explorer window), which is passed to Data Set to select appropriate data. If I'm guessing right, check within a Data Set editor ("Parameters" tab and "Query" tab) where the User Key parameter goes in - probably to one of the table field in a WHERE clause. Parameters in a query are represented by question marks: SELECT * FROM fooTable WHERE barColumn = ?. Hope tracking this would lead to find out, what to enter to the parameter.
Additionally, ensure if your Data Set(s) is(are) connected correctly to your SQLite Data Source ("Data Source" tab in a Data Set editor).
Being as new as you are to BIRT, I would suggest building a couple of reports with the sample DB (Classic Models). There are many, many samples out there for you to use as a guide. Additionally, most tutorials will use the Classic Models data so you can follow right along. After you create a couple of practice reports (this should not take more than 30-45 minutes) the template you have been given will likely make A LOT more sense and allow you to make progress almost immediately.
If you are looking for a nice collection of tutorials and samples, be sure to check out Birt Exchange for Dev Share (samples) & tutorials.
As for the "User Key" this is almost certainly a report-level parameter used to filter the data set (as the previous answer points out).
Good Luck!