Crystal Reports 8.5: Basic Skills

Course Specifications
Course number: 078-413
Software Version Number: 8.5
Course length: 2 days

Course Description

Overview:   Crystal Reports 8.5 Basic Skills is a hands-on instruction book that will introduce you to the basics of using Crystal Reports' report-writing features.

Prerequisites:   To ensure your success, we recommend you first take the following Element K courses or have equivalent knowledge:

• Windows 95: Introduction
• Windows 98: Introduction
• Windows NT 4.0: Introduction

Delivery Method:  Instructor-led.

Target student:  Those that would like to learn the basics of using Crystal Reports' report-writing features.

Performance-Based Objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Plan the needs for your report including data, as well as appearance.
• Become familiar with components of the Crystal Reports application window.
• Create reports based directly on database information; use a report expert or create a copy of an existing report.
• Add, modify, and remove report objects such as data fields, text objects, file information, graphics or decorative lines, and boxes.
• Format the appearance of your report using font, color, border, and number choices.
• Change the selection criteria and sort order of your data.
• Create subtotals, grand totals, and summaries for your report data.
• Create, edit, and delete formulas.
• Understand Crystal's formula language.
• Understand linking concepts, and then create and modify your own links.
• Identify and control Crystal's report sections.
• Distribute your reports to those who need the information through a variety of methods.
• Publish your reports to a Web site.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Overview
          Topic 1A: Examining the Capabilities of Crystal Reports
          Topic 1B: Planning Your Report
          Topic 1C: Reviewing the Class Database Files and ReportTypes
          Topic 1D: Modifying the Program Default Settings
          Topic 1E: Using Help

Lesson 2: Creating Basic Reports
          Topic 2A: Report Sections
          Topic 2B: Generating a New Report
          Topic 2C: Viewing Your Report
          Topic 2D: Changing the Size and Position of Your Fields
          Topic 2E: Formatting Your Report
          Topic 2F: Adding the Finishing Touches to Your Report
          Topic 2G: Saving Your Report

Lesson 3: Sorting and Selecting Data
          Topic 3A: Using Sort Options
          Topic 3B: Using the Select Expert
          Topic 3C: Using Multiple Criteria in the Selection Formula
          Topic 3D: Changing the Record Selection Formula

Lesson 4: Grouping and Summarizing
          Topic 4A: Understanding Group Components
          Topic 4B: Defining Multiple-level Groups
          Topic 4C: Working with Grouping Options
          Topic 4D: Inserting Subtotals and Grand Totals
          Topic 4E: Working with Summary Fields
          Topic 4F: Calculating the Percentage of the Group to theGrand Total Functions
          Topic 4G: Using Grand Total Summary Function
          Topic 4H: Using the Top N/Sort Group Expert

Lesson 5: Using the Report Expert
          Topic 5A: Creating a New Report Using the Standard ReportExpert
          Topic 5B: Creating a New Report Using the Mail Label ReportExpert
          Topic 5C: Editing Reports Using the Report Expert

Lesson 6: Cross-tab Reports
          Topic 6A: Using Cross-tab Reports
          Topic 6B: Using the Cross-Tab Expert
          Topic 6C: Working with Existing Cross-tabs
          Topic 6D: Understand Cross-tab Layout Features
          Topic 6E: Formatting Options

Lesson 7: Linking
          Topic 7A: Understanding Relational Database Basics
          Topic 7B: Using the Visual Linking Expert
          Topic 7C: Understanding Link Options
          Topic 7D: Understanding Link Options for PC and SQL Databases

Lesson 8: Creating Formulas
          Topic 8A: Understanding Formula Components
          Topic 8B: Using the Formula Editor to Create Formulas
          Topic 8C: Modifying Your Formulas
          Topic 8D: Using String Functions
          Topic 8E: Using Date/Time Functions
          Topic 8F: Using If-Then-Else Statements in Formulas
          Topic 8G: Calculating Your Own Summary Fields

Lesson 9: Formatting Sections
          Topic 9A: Reviewing Sections
          Topic 9B: Resizing Sections in Design View
          Topic 9C: Formatting Sections with the Section Expert
          Topic 9D: Creating Summary and Drill-down Reports

Lesson 10: Distributing Data
          Topic 10A: Exporting a Report to Another File Format
          Topic 10B: Integrating Your Information with Office SuiteSoftware
          Topic 10C: Creating a Report from Excel Data
          Topic 10D: Using Crystal Enterprise for Web Reporting