Cannot Summarize fields

[roswelltx]

I have a field that is a number and Crystal see's it as a number, but it will not let me summarize it, or count it or anything. I don't understand why? I have tried doing it with insert summary and through a formula, it just doesn't let me. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Regina

 

[Madawc]

Crystal works using 'rows', detail lines deriving data from a record or set of linked records. If a field involves more than one 'row', it cannot be summarised.

What you can do is to make another summary or running total that gets the same result as if you had summarised the field.

Right-click on a field and choose Insert to get a choice of Running Total or Summary. Or else use the Field Explorer, the icon that is a grid-like box, to add running totals.

Running totals allow you to do clever things with grouping and formulas. They also accumulate for each line, hence the name. The disadvantage is that they are working out at the same time as the Crystal report formats the line. You cannot test for their values until after the details have been printed. You can show them in the group footer but not the group header, where they will be zero if you are resetting them for each group.

Summary totals are cruder, but are based directly on the data. This means that they can be shown in the header. They can also be used to sort groups, or to suppress them. Suppress a group if it has less than three members, say. They default to 'Grand Total', but also can be for a group.

It helps if you give your Crystal version.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK). Using Windows XP & Crystal 10

 

[roswelltx]

Sorry. I am using Crystal 10. It will not let me right click and insert a summary, that option isn't available. Almost like it doesn't see it as a number, but it does say it is a number if I try to do a SuM({field}) it gives error saying this field cannot be summarized.
Thanks,
Regina

 

[Madawc]

You'll need to start with the components of that field. It can't be database, must be some sort of formula. Try posting it, if you can't work out how to proceed.

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK). Using Windows XP & Crystal 10