User`s guide
What identifying information is needed in the header and footer?
You may wish to include the print date, information on who prepared the report, a block of text to describe
the purpose of the report, the range of data covered, or something similar. If you are going to include
such information, write it down so you can use it in preparing your prototype.
The information can come from a variety of sources, depending on the kind of information you plan to
use.
• Information on who prepared the report might be drawn from individual data fields in the database
table(s) used. If it is to be drawn from a database table, what table? Or, what combination of tables?
• A block of text can be created as a text object and placed anywhere on the report.
• Crystal Reports can generate information such as the print date or page numbers.
3.2.3 Finding the data
What data do you want to use in the report?
Do you know the type of database you are reporting from? Will you be reporting off a data file,
SQL/ODBC, or another data source?
If you do not know, ask the database administrator in your organization for help in setting up the database
type and location of the data. For more information, see Accessing Data Sources in the
Crystal Reports
Online Help
.
Are you familiar enough with the data to find the necessary information? When looking for a Customer
Contact name, can the field be found in a database table?
If not, your MIS professional, database administrator, or co-workers will have to help you become
familiar with the data.
What specific data should appear in the body of the report?
The body should contain all the data needed to fulfill the statement of purpose you wrote for the report.
It should also contain all of the data needed by the various users that you have identified.
This step requires you to look at the available database table(s). Crystal Reports allows you to combine
data from different databases when you create reports, so you have a great deal of flexibility in your
work.
• Much of the data in a typical report is taken directly from data fields. Which data fields will be used,
and where are they located?
• Other data will be calculated based on data fields. Which data fields will be used in the calculations?
• Still other data will be placed directly into the report using text objects (headings, notes, labels, and
so on).
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Report Design Concepts