Datasheet
have had access to in the past: affordable, interactive visualization of busi-
ness data that could be delivered in easy-to-create dynamic presentations.
For the first time, managers could bridge the gap between data analysis
and data presentation without the need for expensive enterprise solutions.
Figure 1-2 illustrates this bridge.
More Than Just Fancy Graphics: The
Benefits of Using Crystal Xcelsius
I’ve actually met people who use Crystal Xcelsius simply for the slick look
and feel of the graphics. Face it: Many of us were initially attracted to Crystal
Xcelsius because of the sleek graphical components, such as the gauges
shown here in Figure 1-3.
And there is nothing wrong with that at all. The truth is that when many
people see the slick and easy-to-use components in Crystal Xcelsius, they
tend to lift some of the restrictions they have subconsciously placed on their
presentations. For example, before Crystal Xcelsius, I would never even have
thought about creating the gauge-based dashboard shown in Figure 1-3 because
I didn’t know how to create one in Excel or PowerPoint. Indeed, the stunning
graphics alone undoubtedly fosters ideas about new and exciting ways you
can present your data.
Figure 1-2:
Crystal
Xcelsius
bridges the
gap between
data analy-
sis and data
presentation,
converting
dull spread-
sheet tables
into inter-
active
dashboards.
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Part I: Say Hello to Crystal Xcelsius
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