User`s guide
Linking tables and views
Reports that are based on SAP tables (transparent, pool, and cluster tables, as well as views) behave
similarly to reports that are based on mainstream databases. If you include more than one table or view
in a report, you must describe the relationship between the tables by using the Links tab in the Database
Expert in Crystal Reports.
Due to the standardized field-naming conventions that are used by SAP, you may find that the Auto-Link
feature (on the Links tab of the Database Expert) generates unnecessary links between tables.
To clear Auto-Links
1.
On the Database menu, click Database Expert.
2.
On the Links tab, click Clear Links.
3.
Click OK.
Note:
The Links tab appears in the Database Expert only when two or more tables are selected for the report.
The following client field and language field features are specific to SAP tables.
Client field
Most tables in SAP contain a client field (native field name is MANDT). Because individual SAP systems
can be configured to hold data for multiple clients, the client field specifies which rows of data in a table
are for which clients. The Open SQL driver automatically handles this configuration. When you connect
to SAP, you are prompted to provide your client number: this information eliminates the need to create
a selection formula that filters the clients. As well, if a report contains multiple tables, you do not need
to include a link on the client field—this, too, is automatically handled by the Open SQL driver.
Language field
Some tables in SAP, specifically those that contain text descriptions, have multiple entries—one for
each language that is installed on the SAP system. Consequently, with these tables you must create
a selection formula on the Language Key (native field name is SPRAS) and specify the language that
you want to display. For example:
{table.spras} = "E"
For additional help on table-linking and on general report design topics, see the
Crystal Reports Online
Help
.
Reporting off ABAP functions
Reporting off ABAP Functions is an advanced topic that requires an understanding of the ABAP
programming language.
While technically not a table, an ABAP function is often used in SAP reporting to provide calculations,
and to retrieve data that is based on parameters that are passed into the function (for example, an
employee number passed to a function that returns the employee's address). For this reason, the Open
2012-03-14599
Integrating Business Applications with Crystal Reports