Datasheet

When you install Crystal Xcelsius, it gives you the option to install the
Macromedia Flash Plugin/Player. If you have not elected to install this and
if you do not already have Macromedia Flash Player installed on your com-
puter, you will not be able to use Crystal Xcelsius properly. However, you
can easily get Macromedia Flash Player by downloading it free from www.
macromedia.com.
As mentioned before, the three versions of Crystal Xcelsius are
Standard: The Standard version is designed for those who are looking to
get started with interactive visual analytics. It provides the basic fea-
tures of Crystal Xcelsius.
Professional: The Professional version is designed for large organiza-
tions that require dashboards that contain many layers of information.
Workgroup: The Workgroup version is designed for environments where
connections to live data are essential.
The components that are available to you depend on the version of Crystal
Xcelsius you are using.
Importing data
All Crystal Xcelsius dashboards start with an Excel spreadsheet that typically
contains data that has already gone through some analysis, massaging, and
shaping. Crystal Xcelsius takes a snapshot of the Excel spreadsheet and
imports that snapshot into memory. After the data is in memory, Crystal
Xcelsius disconnects from the Excel spreadsheet.
This method of separating the data from the actual spreadsheet ensures two
things. First, your final dashboard is a standalone object, independent of the
location or status of the original spreadsheet. Second, it ensures that the size
of your final dashboard is as small as possible, making for easy distribution.
18
Part I: Say Hello to Crystal Xcelsius
Problems getting Crystal Xcelsius up and running?
There are three versions of Crystal Xcelsius:
Standard, Professional, and Workgroup. No
matter which version you have, getting Crystal
Xcelsius up and running is a relatively intuitive
process. However, if you find yourself having
trouble getting started, help is at hand.
The Crystal Xcelsius team has a support desk
that is willing to help you with any issues you
may have. You can contact them by phone at 858-
552-6674, or by e-mail at crystalxcelsius
support@businessobjects.com.
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