Crystal vs Access 1

[DCBBB]

I'd like to get some input from people regarding the advantages of Crystal over MS Access. Currently I use MS Access to filter data and distill it into finished reports which are then converted to .pdfs and posted to our intranet. Also, use it to create custom GUIs for other users to view data. I hear so much about Crystal and am wondering what advantages it would offer me. Thanks.
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[kenhamady]

Most of my students that use MS Access say that in CR it is easier to accomplish the same things. However if you can already do everything that you need in MS Access, it may make sense to stay there.

In CR, the filter and formatting are packaged together in the RPT file, not like a form and query in MS Access.

1) I like the cross-tab feature of CR better, they are just objects on the report.
2) It is easy to create totals and use them in formulas and for filtering.
3) The automatic running total feature is nice.
4) Extensive conditional formatting is available for just about every object.
5) TopN and Charting seem more straight-forward and more flexible.

CR also has some runtime capabilities so that a program can launch a report without requiring CR a licenses. Your users can also run the reports in real time using a free downloadable viewer, although they are trying to discontinue this.

One reason you might want to be careful about switching is that CR has restrictions on what you can do with the PDF if you "automatically " post or distribute it. Read the details about this on my web site in the section called "fine print". Ken Hamady, On-site/Phone Crystal Reports Training/Consulting
Quick Reference Guide to using Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[DCBBB]

Thanks for the input, Ken. Good feedback. The .pdf functionality is important for us to post to our intranet, so I will keep an eye on your website. Thanks!

 

[PoBoy]

my preference is to use access for most data base queries. Crystal is nice until you need to store several pieces of data in different locations such as downloads. Crystal is easier to learn but access has way more features.

 

[Guest_imported]

Honestly speaking, Access reports cannot compare to the scalability of Crystal Reports. It really depends on what you want to do and how far you want to go to distribute information to users and management. A motto I sometimes go by, "What you don't know won't hurt you". Not true in this case. I think you should give Crystal a try. One point I don't agree with is,"Your users can also run the reports in real time using a free downloadable viewer, although they are trying to discontinue this." It appears to me Crystal Reports is moving more towards a web based look and feel. The viewer is a free download and is the thin client that will allow you to distribute and view the report from a webserver. I found that exporting to PDF works quite well from Crystal Reports. I fit my 2 bits. I think you should find out for yourself.

 

[kenhamady]

Just to clarify for those who are new to CR, the free viewer I mentioned above is not the web based viewer. The free viewer is the compiled report feature described in the FAQ area. It is not included with the current release, but can be downloaded. It came with V7. Ken Hamady, On-site/Phone Crystal Reports Training/Consulting
Quick Reference Guide to using Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[crystalball]

The problem with crystal is that it lacks the ability to store data other than in the report. Access allows users to add data tables to be used in conjunction with the tables being read. If you don't need this feature then crystal is ok, but in my opinion just barely ok. Crystal is easier to create basic reports, but I have complaints about crosstab reports not having drill down features like the crosstab in access.

Simple reports are easier in crystal but complicated reports are easier in access. The data being read by crystal needs to be in excellent format or crystal just falls apart. I find that access is more forgiving when you have less well thought out databases.

Both access and crystal are cheap to buy so try out both and make your own decision.

 

[balves]

Crystal is a reporting tool. Access is a data mgmt tool, with one of its functions being the ability to create reports.

If you or your users strictly wish to report on data, then Crystal is a better choice. If some users want the ability to report on, slice and dice data, create a little Windows app to enter/select data, then the decision is Access.

That's not to say that you cannot accomplish the same functionality with Crystal + some other tool. People who only have Crystal can create reports, export the data to Excel (or even Access), then work with the report data locally.

 

[chelseatech]

CR is also accepts a wider range of data sources. So if everything is in MS Access then you could choose either tool, but what happens if you upgrade your data soruce to SQL server or Oracle.

Cr can use either, and reports can easily be upgraded. Cr also can access older legacy DB's like DBF', Paradox, Btrieve and txt files.

The other problem with MS Access is that it's read-write - while Cr is read only - a lot safer.