How Crystal Reports Training Can Help You Create Crystal-Clear Reports
The Crystal Reports package allows users of large databases, e.
g.
Oracle or SQL, to produce nicely-formatted reports, no matter which type of database they are using.
Many of these people may be skilled programmers and be able to produce amazing code, but have never had to use Crystal Reports to present their data professionally.
Crystal Reports training can address this issue and quickly demonstrate to learners how to get the most out of the package.
Time invested in Crystal Reports training will often show users that instead of importing data from their large database into Crystal Reports and then export it again into Microsoft Excel in order to be able to manipulate the data, they could easily be doing the manipulation, formatting and producing professional reports from within the package itself.
After all, that is what is what it was designed for - it is just that people feel more comfortable using a package such as Excel as they already have the necessary skills.
Yes, they will learn how to export into Microsoft Excel, but may find after Crystal Reports training that the need no longer exists.
The formatting tools within Crystal Reports are similar to those in Microsoft Office packages - one big advantage is that when drawing a line, a good, straight horizontal line is produced without any effort.
The point of using Crystal Reports is to present data in an easily readable report no matter what format the data feeding the package is stored in.
Time spent in learning how to format the report using features such as Format Painter, aligning objects with one another and making objects of similar size will make learners more productive longterm.
Crystal Reports training will enable learners to rapidly discover how to sort, group and filter information.
They will learn how to produce group totals (similar to creating subtotals within Microsoft Excel) before moving on to creating formulas (another reason why they might have previously exported into Excel).
Formulas are written in Crystal syntax but there is a Formula Workshop available within the package which takes the fear out of creating formulas and functions for non-programmers.
There are many functions available within the package and a training session will allow learners to explore these functions and consider which might be useful in successfully analysing their data.
Crystal Reports also has facilities to create mailing labels, thus negating the need to bring data through Crystal Reports and export it into Microsoft Word to create labels.
Crystal Reports training will quickly take learners through the Experts toolbar, even in an Introduction course.
With a bit of training, learners soon realise that creating percentages of totals does not involve any complex formulas.
The Highlighting Expert will allow them to apply conditional formatting to cells, or conditional formatting can be applied by using the Formula Workshop.
The Select Expert allows for easy filtering of data; if filtered data is required on a regular basis, then learning how to create a parameter report will help automate the process.
Data can be charted straight from the package and maps can be produced showing data either globally or more locally provided the right elements of the package have been installed.
Mapping of data is not included in Excel, so this is an added bonus to some companies.
Alerts can be created - for example if stock falls below a certain level and subreports can be created within reports.
All this can be demonstrated within a Crystal Reports training session which saves learners a lot of time trying to look things up in books, via the Help files or over the Internet.
If training is delivered on client site, the trainer can work with the data used by the learners and help them to produce appropriate reports, thus making the training very relevant and rapidly increasing productivity.
g.
Oracle or SQL, to produce nicely-formatted reports, no matter which type of database they are using.
Many of these people may be skilled programmers and be able to produce amazing code, but have never had to use Crystal Reports to present their data professionally.
Crystal Reports training can address this issue and quickly demonstrate to learners how to get the most out of the package.
Time invested in Crystal Reports training will often show users that instead of importing data from their large database into Crystal Reports and then export it again into Microsoft Excel in order to be able to manipulate the data, they could easily be doing the manipulation, formatting and producing professional reports from within the package itself.
After all, that is what is what it was designed for - it is just that people feel more comfortable using a package such as Excel as they already have the necessary skills.
Yes, they will learn how to export into Microsoft Excel, but may find after Crystal Reports training that the need no longer exists.
The formatting tools within Crystal Reports are similar to those in Microsoft Office packages - one big advantage is that when drawing a line, a good, straight horizontal line is produced without any effort.
The point of using Crystal Reports is to present data in an easily readable report no matter what format the data feeding the package is stored in.
Time spent in learning how to format the report using features such as Format Painter, aligning objects with one another and making objects of similar size will make learners more productive longterm.
Crystal Reports training will enable learners to rapidly discover how to sort, group and filter information.
They will learn how to produce group totals (similar to creating subtotals within Microsoft Excel) before moving on to creating formulas (another reason why they might have previously exported into Excel).
Formulas are written in Crystal syntax but there is a Formula Workshop available within the package which takes the fear out of creating formulas and functions for non-programmers.
There are many functions available within the package and a training session will allow learners to explore these functions and consider which might be useful in successfully analysing their data.
Crystal Reports also has facilities to create mailing labels, thus negating the need to bring data through Crystal Reports and export it into Microsoft Word to create labels.
Crystal Reports training will quickly take learners through the Experts toolbar, even in an Introduction course.
With a bit of training, learners soon realise that creating percentages of totals does not involve any complex formulas.
The Highlighting Expert will allow them to apply conditional formatting to cells, or conditional formatting can be applied by using the Formula Workshop.
The Select Expert allows for easy filtering of data; if filtered data is required on a regular basis, then learning how to create a parameter report will help automate the process.
Data can be charted straight from the package and maps can be produced showing data either globally or more locally provided the right elements of the package have been installed.
Mapping of data is not included in Excel, so this is an added bonus to some companies.
Alerts can be created - for example if stock falls below a certain level and subreports can be created within reports.
All this can be demonstrated within a Crystal Reports training session which saves learners a lot of time trying to look things up in books, via the Help files or over the Internet.
If training is delivered on client site, the trainer can work with the data used by the learners and help them to produce appropriate reports, thus making the training very relevant and rapidly increasing productivity.
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