User`s guide

Report Design Concepts
3.1 Basic report design
The purpose of this section is to suggest a structured approach to preparing a Crystal report. This
approach includes the following elements:
• Deciding on the content of the report.
• Developing a prototype on paper.
This section has been designed to provide a conceptual understanding of the reporting process.
3.2 Deciding on the content of the report
Before you do anything else, you should outline the information you want the report to provide. The
following sections provide a guide to making that outline.
Note:
A report (.rpt) file might contain sensitive business data. You are advised to protect access to the file
by using one of these methods:
• Manage the file with SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform server.
• Apply file security.
• Apply operating system-level encryption.
3.2.1 Stating the purpose
What is the overall purpose of the report?
Reports are management tools. Their purpose is to help you quickly grasp the essential elements and
relationships found in raw data, to help you make effective decisions. For a report to be effective, it has
to present the correct data in a logical way. If it presents the wrong data, or if it presents the right data
2012-03-1451
Report Design Concepts