I want to chart - how to do this creatively???

[eo]

Hi

CR10

We have a range of trend reports, that run off Cross tabs. I will use a simplified example to explain my point:

Data looks like

COUNTRY YEAR ORDER_AMNT
USA 2005 1000
UK 2005 1200
USA 2005 500
USA 2004 2000
USA 2004 1000
USA 2004 500
UK 2004 300
UK 2004 2000
UK 2003 200
USA 2003 1000
UK 2003 2000

The reason the original report designers chose cross tabs was that it display's the data (columns and rows) in a more dynamic fashion. If for example The field YEAR make up the columns, then if more YEARs are added to the dataset, the cross tab will simply rearrange itself.

From the cross tab a stacked area chart is done.

This all works well so far, but now the customers (and I personally agree with them) feel that they want to drill down on the chart sections into the source data, but because it runs off a cross-tab, they cant.

The alternative is to do the stacked area chart off groups and summaries, but then I have the problem that the data display (especially column positioning) is static, which is no good if new data sets are added.

I hope this makes sense. Dioes anyone have any suggestions. I am sure Crystal offers a high level of creative reporting and ultimately business intelligence capabilities, but this seems to be like an iodd and irritating flaw.

Please help!!!

EO
Hertfordshire, England

 

[paulmarr]

To drill down on a chart - the chart needs to be based on summary fields - not cross tabs - so - in addition to the cross tabs on the report - you need to summarise the fields that are being represented - even if you hide/suppress these summaries - think about it - if the user wants to drill down - what is the user expecting to see on the drilldown - and is that information arranged that way on your report?

It can be achieved

I hope this helps
paulmarr

 

[eo]

I suppose I am probably expecting to do too much with CR. What the customer ultimately want to see if he/ she drills down on a section of the stacked area chart, is the aerea chart of that section only, and then from there to the source data to inspect peeks or lows.

Is this more a Crystal Analysis function?

EO
Hertfordshire, England