Crystal Training

Every month you key in a vast amount of data. Isn't it time you gained some useful information for your company?

Reports, queries and graphics tailored to your needs - We can show you how!

Crystal Reports is the world's leading Report Writer. It enables you to:

• Tailor reports, screen enquiries, graphs, export data to spreadsheets/e-mail /Internet
• Link information from different systems (eg. Accounting, MS Access, etc)
• Set up a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) "instrument panel" for your business.

The type of information you produce is only limited by your imagination. Do something for yourself to improve your skills and help your company.

Communicat provides the Crystal Reports training which shows you how to extract data from an Accounting System as well as MS Access and other tailored systems in your company. Our courses are "hands on" with one computer per student. Our Crystal Reports training will enable you to get the most out of your data, enabling your business to perform at its best.

Day 1 - Concepts - Introduction - Report Design Basics (Detailed info on Day 1)

We teach you:

• General concepts of how Crystal works
• What it can and can't do
• Formatting reports, queries and graphs
• Introduction to linking database tables and extracting information.

Pre-Requisite - A general level of computer literacy & familiarity with MS Windows.
Note - To link to accounting systems you need ODBC or MS SQL - please call for details.

Day 2 - Intermediate Report Design (Detailed info on Day 2)

This course gets you down to brass tacks on creating your reports:

• Linking tables
• Design realistic reports - e.g. financial, debtors, sales analysis, etc.
• "Drill downs"
• Sub-reports and linked reports.
• Setting up Key Performance Indicators for your business.
• Exception reporting - You can zero in on the "hot spots" in your business.
• Linking data from different systems.

Pre-Requisite - You must have attended the first day's training course
An understanding of database tables would be an advantage.

Detailed list of topics you will learn during Day 1 of Crystal Reports training

• Creating a report
  • How does it operate?
  • Setting up Crystal reports for use
  • Deciding on the content of the report
• Report Design
  • Exploring the Report Design window
  • Starting a new report
  • Exploring the Design Tab
  • Placing objects on your report
  • Previewing your report
  • Positioning and sizing objects
  • Formatting objects
  • Using Text Objects
• Record Selection
  • Using the Select Expert
  • Using the Select Record options
  • Defining the Select Expert's features
  • Understanding saved vs. refreshed data
  • Applying Record Selection
  • Using the Format Editor to modify the Record Selection statement
  • Applying Record Selection on Date Fields
• Sorting, Grouping and Summarizing
  • Sorting Records
  • Grouping Records
  • Working with groups
  • Summarising
  • Using Grand Totals
• Presentation Quality Reports
  • Using Special Fields
  • Applying lines and boxes
  • Inserting a picture
• Text Objects
  • Combining Text Objects with Database Fields
  • Combining Text Objects with Special Fields
  • Formatting individual elements of a Text Object
• Formula Basics
  • Using formulas
  • Using the Formula Editor
  • Using basic calculations
  • Using string manipulation
  • Applying basic date calculations
  • Applying If Then Else formulas
• Conditional Reporting
  • Using Conditional Formatting
  • Using the Highlighting Expert
• Charting
  • Using the Graph/Chart Expert
  • Graphing on Summary information
  • Graphing Detail or Formula fields
  • Drilling down on a graph
  • Customizing a graph
• Basic Report Distribution
  • Exporting your reports
  • Viewing from a web browser

Detailed list of topics you will learn during Day 2 of Crystal Reports training

• Linking
  • Defining linking concepts
  • Adding/removing databases from a report
  • Working with links
• Advanced Formulas
  • Exploring Functions (a sample of the more commonly used functions)
  • Running Totals
  • Using variables
  • Using Date Functions
• Parameter Fields
  • Defining Parameter Fields
  • Creating Parameter Fields
  • Using Parameter Fields
• Subreports
  • Defining Subreports
  • Creating an unlinked sub-report
  • Creating a Linked sub-report
• Report Distribution
  • Crystal Enterprise
  • Compiling reports (Version 7 or prior only)

Next Training Session Details

For the next available Crystal Reports training session time, please check the Events page