Epicor vs Crystal Report

[Guest_imported]

Does anyone try to use crystal report to generate customized report from Epicor database? I found most of the reports offered within Epicor ebackoffice do not meet my requirement.
thanks.
wonay

 

[matahari]

Yes, we are using crystal to design reports to meet our requirements and not depend on Platinum's reports.

 

[Guest_imported]

will this involve a lot of programming? we are currently using foxpro to generate report but it relies on a programmer. I want to kick away this programmer but use a easier technology. do you think it is possible?
thanks.
wonay

 

[matahari]

Wonay,
It will involve knowledge in T-SQL programming (if you are using SQL server) for complex reports and Crystal Report designing. There is a forum here that covers SQL and Crystal Reports.

 

[nanado]

Crystal is way easier that programming, IMHO.

[twocents]

 

[fareopagita]

Hi Wonay, In our organization we are also using crystal reports to generate most of our management and operational reports though some of the standard platinum reports are also used.

If your only problem is your programmer then I think you could give away with him.

If your using Epicor Software then we all know that you have some kind of support. And am sure that the local distributors of Epicor does some local programming (e.g. customizations) work.

To make it simple, easy reports let your in-house people do the reports thru crystal and the not-so-easy let your local distributor do it for you. Believe me it would save your company alot...

Freddie Areopagita
Business Systems Specialist III

 

[bbrendan]

Hi,

Its not that hard to write your own crystal report for Epicor tables. The hardest part is understanding what tables to use.

Ive found most of the reports including invoices & statements from Epicor useless to put it mildly!, and have had to redesign these using there basic layout but adding additional fields as needed.

There are no decent Sales analysis reports, so this will take a bit of doing but again it all depends on what the end user requires.

Yes you will need to ask a few questions, but once I figured out how to do something like adding a new field to the statements for example it just fell into place.
Then its down to formatting

HTH
brendan

 

[lalato]

I have written a few reports over Platinum for one of my clients. It's a little difficult at first to figure out which tables to use, but after the initial learning process (as with any new database)... it's a breeze.

--sam