Crystal Reports 2011

[kenhamady]

I have started looking for (and finding) information about Crystal Reports 2011, which is scheduled for Q2 2011. I have put together an article with some links here:

http://kenhamady.com/cru/archives/1536

I don't see many major changes in features but there are a few nice minor changes. Export to Excel 2007 (XLSX) and a read-only RPT format. I also hear that the GUI within Enterprise will be different than the GUI for the standalone product. There is even a video of the Enterprise version in action. Some of you may have seen this at one of the conferences.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guides to Formulas, Parameters, Subreports, Cross-tabs, VB, Tips and Tricks

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[lbass]

I have not yet purchased CR 2008, but have tried the demo version, and I really dislike the visual display--so much so that I don't really want to use it. The contrast is so low, you can barely tell whether a report has been saved or not--a feature I really like in earlier versions. The icons are very small and difficult to identify, and there is no longer the ability to format them to make them larger, as you can in XI. I have good eyesight, so this is not the problem.

I was hoping to see that this issue was addressed in CR 2011. The Youtube demo seems to show the same type of interface (at least for the BOE version), and I am very disappointed that something this obvious and basic to the reports development experience has not been addressed.

Ken, have you seen any discussions about this?

-LB

 

[kenhamady]

I haven't heard any talk about that and I didn't really notice the change in the contrast until you mentioned it. I guess my eyes are now accustomed to it. In fact CR 2008 was the first version that I switched over to immediately after trying it. The ability to type a date normally in a parameter as well as the ability to instantly clone a formula would outweigh quite a few GUI quirks.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guides to Formulas, Parameters, Subreports, Cross-tabs, VB, Tips and Tricks

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[kray4660]

FYI: If you are up to date on your service packs for XI, you can clone formulas (a serious time saver).

 

[IdoMillet]

Correct. XI R2 has a 'Duplicate' options for formulas.

Cheers,
- Ido

view, export, burst, email, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[kenhamady]

True, but I thought it had to be XIr2 (v11.5). Will applying service packs move you from XI to XIr2 or do you have that feature in 11.0?

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guides to Formulas, Parameters, Subreports, Cross-tabs, VB, Tips and Tricks

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[IdoMillet]

I think you need to actually install XI R2 (and use the same license key as XI).

Cheers,
- Ido

view, export, burst, email, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[hilfy]

Also, be aware that the "Enterprise" version will only connect through universes - it does NOT provide the ability to connect directly to tables.

-Dell

A computer only does what you actually told it to do - not what you thought you told it to do.

 

[kray4660]

Getting back to the look and feel of 2008. It is a radical change from XI. I tolerate it. I probably would not be using it, but we are starting to use Xcelsius and you can show flash in 2008 (the normal output from Xcelsius).

 

[hansdebadde]

I reluctantly use 2008, only because i can't save directly to our Enterprise from XI. I have found that with 2008 if i open a report with a subreport with multiple charts created in XI then 2008 application freezes. If I open the report in XI again it opens fine. I have to delete the subreport, and recreate all the subreport's charts again from scratch, albeit exactly the same. There have been a few other bugs, like it closing without warning.