SydneyUser
MIS
Sorry in advance for the length of this post, but I would really like to receive comments from other users/developers on some issues we are having with Crystal Analysis 9.
We have recently rolled out a number of simple CA9 worksheets, via CE9, connecting to Sql Server OLAP Cubes. Our user base of 350 is far from happy with a number of limitations we are encountering with CA. I would love to hear from anyone that a) has any suggestions to relieve any of the following issues or b) can let me know if they have been improved upon in 10 or XI.
Some of the issues are:
1. Member Selector - The window is small and not resizable. It must have been developed by a gynocologist was one of our users comments !
2. Member Selector again - When using the thin client can not save favourites and have them persist across multiple sessions.
3. Drilling in a large dimension through Member Selector is very slow. We have found that having the worksheet blank quickens it up.
4. Saved Views - Can't resave on a saved view. Can't copy saved views to another worksheet in someone elses Favourites folder. When calling up a saved view the columns in the worksheet are often very thin and cant be resized.
5. Saved views are lost if a new version of the worksheet is published. I realise that a saved view may not be compatible with a new version of the worksheet, but it doesn't even give you an option to retain them.
6. Exporting to Excel - Often crashes Excel on the desktop.
7. Can't export charts to Excel. It seems ridiculous that you would have to regenerate them after exporting the data.
8. General performance of the worksheets is poor. However, I can't fully point the finger at CA yet, until I have ruled out traffic problems on the network. Having said that connecting to our cubes via an Excel Pivot table gives far superior performance.
I really would appreciate comments on workarounds or improvements seen in later versions as I will need to make a call on whether to persevere and upgrade or start assessing other BI tools.
Many Thanks.
We have recently rolled out a number of simple CA9 worksheets, via CE9, connecting to Sql Server OLAP Cubes. Our user base of 350 is far from happy with a number of limitations we are encountering with CA. I would love to hear from anyone that a) has any suggestions to relieve any of the following issues or b) can let me know if they have been improved upon in 10 or XI.
Some of the issues are:
1. Member Selector - The window is small and not resizable. It must have been developed by a gynocologist was one of our users comments !
2. Member Selector again - When using the thin client can not save favourites and have them persist across multiple sessions.
3. Drilling in a large dimension through Member Selector is very slow. We have found that having the worksheet blank quickens it up.
4. Saved Views - Can't resave on a saved view. Can't copy saved views to another worksheet in someone elses Favourites folder. When calling up a saved view the columns in the worksheet are often very thin and cant be resized.
5. Saved views are lost if a new version of the worksheet is published. I realise that a saved view may not be compatible with a new version of the worksheet, but it doesn't even give you an option to retain them.
6. Exporting to Excel - Often crashes Excel on the desktop.
7. Can't export charts to Excel. It seems ridiculous that you would have to regenerate them after exporting the data.
8. General performance of the worksheets is poor. However, I can't fully point the finger at CA yet, until I have ruled out traffic problems on the network. Having said that connecting to our cubes via an Excel Pivot table gives far superior performance.
I really would appreciate comments on workarounds or improvements seen in later versions as I will need to make a call on whether to persevere and upgrade or start assessing other BI tools.
Many Thanks.
