Good Crystal Reports book? 1

[GWHicks]

Can someone also point me to a good Crystal Reports book that will help me using CR under Visual Studio .Net. I don't have the full version of CR so I don't want to end up with a book that tells me a bunch of stuff that only works in the full blown version. Is there a good book that is either specifically for CR.Net or is there another that does a good job of differentiating between the 2 versions?
Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[kenhamady]

Are you trying to learn CR, or do you know CR and just need to understand the integration. Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com

 

[GWHicks]

I am new to CR and somewhat new to .Net programming. And I have already purchased your book, but was hoping someone knew of a good getting started because unfortunately your book is still talking a little over my head. Thanks for the input.
Greg Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[kenhamady]

Yes, my VB material assumes that you already know Crystal.

If you are trying to learn Crystal there are several books out there, like George Peck's Complete Reference (complete but short on the Intro stuff), and The Dummies book (focuses mostly on the Intro stuff).

I heard that there were a couple of books coming out that focused on .NET part of Crsytal. I think WROX was doing one and Apress was doing one, but I don't know for sure if they came out. Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com

 

[GWHicks]

OK, if I go get a Crystal Reports for Dummies book and all I have is what is integrated with Visual Studio .NET as far as Crystal Reports goes. What book do I want?
Seagate Crystal Reports 7 for Dummies?
Crystal Reports 8 for Dummies?
or
Crystal Reports 9 for Dummies?

I see all 3 versions listed, which one would be appropriate for my environment?
Greg Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[kenhamady]

The .NET is a bit of a mix of v8 and v9, but I am pretty sure that the .NET environment looks most like the CRv8 environment.

To confirm, look at the Crystal designer menu under "Report" and see if you see a menu option called "TopN". If you do, then the menu is v8 style, if instead you see a "Group Sort Expert" then the menu is v9 style. Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com

 

[GWHicks]

Thanks, you are right, I found the TopN item so I will look at the books (specifically the dummies versions) for V8. Thanks for all the help, I am sure some of this will start to sink in soon!
Greg Hicks Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[iemproductions]

Hi Greg,

I came across your message and was wondering if you ever found a book for cr.net that teaches crystal opposed to how to integrate crystal into a vb application. I'm looking for the same type book you are and the only cr.net book i've seen is the one by wrox, but it is for integration. Thanks Indera

 

[GWHicks]

I never found a book to TEACH Crystal, but I did pick up the Dummies for version 8 and one other book that I can't remember the title of right off. It is on my bookshelf at work and I am currently at home, I will let you know the title of that one when I get to work later today.
Greg

Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[RichBrown]

Try "The Complete Reference, Crystal Reports 8.5" or 9.0 by George Peck, can get on Amazon.com

 

[GWHicks]

The other book I have is a Wrox book "Professional Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .Net" and I have not fully read it yet, but the sections I do look into seemed to be fairly helpful.

I ended up rethinking the project I was on and began building it using PHP instead of VS.Net so I didn't take the Crystal Reports issue much further than this. I hope to return to .Net soon, but right now completing the current project is the main focus of my work.

Hope this info helps some.

Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[iemproductions]

Hi Greg,
Thank you for the book recommendations. I browsed through the Wroz book a while back, but it seemed like the primary focus was on integrating cr.net into a vb app, opposed to actually teaching crystal.

I noticed that you said that you purchased a book for version 8 of the standalone version of crystal. Does this mean that cr.net is closer to ver 8 of crystal, than to ver 9?

Thanks
Indera

 

[iemproductions]

Thanks Rich,
I will check out the complete reference book also.
Indera

 

[GWHicks]

From what I was told my version is closer to 8 than 9. If you look up through the messages here you should see one where it was explained to me what to look at to check which your's is closer to. There is a difference in the menu's between 8 and 9 and if you check that difference you will know which book to gear your search towards.

Quoted from message from Ken Hamady:
The .NET is a bit of a mix of v8 and v9, but I am pretty sure that the .NET environment looks most like the CRv8 environment.

To confirm, look at the Crystal designer menu under "Report" and see if you see a menu option called "TopN". If you do, then the menu is v8 style, if instead you see a "Group Sort Expert" then the menu is v9 style.
End Quote

Hope that helps!
Greg

Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[bobhagan]

You might look at

http://www.crystalreportsbook.com

This is by Brian Bischof, and he says this is the book that was supposed to be published by Apress.

Bob Hagan

 

[iemproductions]

Hi Greg,
I am really new to vs.net. I've looked for the crystal designer menu, but don't see it. I was looking inside of visual basic.net 2003 for it.

Indera

 

[GWHicks]

OK, I have migrated to the PHP language currently and have not been working much in my VS.Net IDE lately and I forget where I got that menu. If anyone else can shed some light here it would be appreciated. I just spent a couple minutes cruising thru the IDE and was unable to find the report menu despite the fact that I know I saw it before. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Greg

Greg Hicks
VB.Net (Newbie) Programmer

http://www.ajlb2.com

 

[kenhamady]

Try right clicking in the design area of the report.

Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Expert's Guide to Formulas / Tips and Tricks / Guide to Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

- tek@kenhamady.com