How to Use Alias Tables for columns spreadsheet style

[tconway]

I have seen a number of posts on the use of Alias tables in Crystal and one in particular on displaying data in a column rather than row fashion. That is:

ABC Co.
ItemA ItemB ItemC

Rather than

ABC Co.
ItemA
ItemB
ItemC

Is there a way to do this with Alias. I know about crosstabs as an option on this, but are they the only way?

Or better yet, under what circumstances would aliasing a table be useful and how is it used?

Thanks

Tim

 

[dgillz]

Alias is something completely different from what you are trying to do. Don't go there.

a crosstab is the best way, IMO. Your alternative to this is to create a manual cross tab with 3 formula fields:

{@ItemA}
If {ItemField}="ItemA" then {DatabaseField} else 0

Create 2 formulas similar to that for ItemB and C, and make them your columns. Summarize as needed. Software Training and Support for Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
714-348-0964
dgilsdorf@mchsi.com

 

[tconway]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I understand about cross tabs, but some time ago, I had occassion to use Alias Tables for this exact purpose. But that was several hard drives ago and the reports I did with them are gone. Now, I can't remember how I used them and I am trying to remember what the application was. The report was columns in a horizontal fashion and it created an invoice and the way the original invoice was designed, it required this format. But now, from memory, I can't seem to duplicate it. One method would be to have a group, have a summary on a formula searching for only one type of entry, make it maximum and drop only that one down in the footer, but I don't think that was it. What I am really looking for is a practical use of Alias Tables for my own understanding.

Thanks

Tim

 

[dgillz]

I do not believe that using an alias table in your situation is necessary or efficient. Here is the best practical use of alias tables that I have run into:

Imagine you have a bill ogmaterial table with the parent item, the component item, Qty required, units of measure, etc., etc. You link the Item Master table to the BOM table and link on component item in order to pull out individual components descriptions, cost, etc. You also need the description of the parent item, but you CANNOT get this info from your link on components.

you must add the Item Master to your report AGAIN, and link to the parent item. When you attempt to add the same table again you are prompter for an "alias". Give it something that makes it easy to tell which table is which. In my case I celled it "ItemMasterParent".

Then you can drag the description field from "ItemMasterParent" an you get the description you want.

If you have any questions, let me know. Software Training and Support for Macola, Crystal Reports and Goldmine
714-348-0964
dgilsdorf@mchsi.com

 

[kenhamady]

I can't think of how Alias tables helped you do this. Doesn't make sense to me.

One other way to print details side by side instead of down is to use a running total of the text. There is an example in faq149-243. Ken Hamady, On-site Custom Crystal Reports Training & Consulting
Public classes and individual training.
Guide to using Crystal in VB

http://www.kenhamady.com/

tek@kenhamady.com