Producing multiple reports with range parameter

[ribbons]

Hi all. I am running CR XI with Windows XP. I am trying to pull a number of reports using the range option of the parameter field. The parameter is set for "Lab number" and if I select the range option, the dialog box will prompt me to enter a range of numbers. But, when I refresh the data, I only get the first number of the range ie only one report. I know this must be something simple, so simple in fact that it is not in my instruction book. Does anyone have any idea how I can get this to pull and display all reports in this range?

Ribbons

 

[lbass]

I think you are confusing things by referencing "reports", since CR will produce one report at a time. Do you have a group based on labnumber so that there are different sets of data you want to display per labnumber?

Your record selection formula should look like:

{table.labno} = {?labno}

In what report sections did you place your fields?

Or is that you want to display that numbers that have been selected in the range?

-LB

 

[ribbons]

You answered my question when you said Cr would produce only one report at a time. I was trying to retrieve reports on a range of lab numbers, say from lab numbers 1 - 10. I was hoping they would all come up and be printable. Is there any way this is possible?

Ribbons

 

[lbass]

I think you are misinterpreting my comment. What is the content of the report? If you insert a group on labnumber and then place your fields in the detail section, you would get one "report" per labnumber. You could insert a new page after on the group footer, so that they were on separate pages.

It is not clear though why you are having trouble. You should respond with more detail about what you are trying to do.

-LB

 

[ribbons]

I have a database that serves a seed testing lab. They produce a report for each sample completed. If, in the course of a day, they finish 10 samples, they would like to print the 10 reports. I am pulling up the reports to print, for now, in CR XI. I wanted to be able to pull up all ten reports by using a parameter in which they would enter the range of lab numbers finished. I had thought that by setting the parameter value to "ranges" that I could pull up all ten reports AT ONCE by entering the range of lab numbers that were finished. I guess by what you are saying that this is not possible.

presently, I have to pull up each individual report, print that report, then go onto the next.

Ribbons

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Please reread what LBass said..

If you insert a group on labnumber and then place your fields in the detail section, you would get one "report" per labnumber. You could insert a new page after on the group footer, so that they were on separate pages.

If the data that is shown for each lab's sample report
is the same ( That is, same fields and layout) then you do not need 10 reports you need 1 report with a group for each of the 10 labs.





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[lbass]

What I am saying is that you could set up the report that you see for each labno (I'm assuming it was created in CR) so that it allows multiple labnos. Then you insert a group on labno, and format the group footer to new page after, and then you have all reports in one report.

-LB

 

[IdoMillet]

Do you need to print and staple each of the 10 lab reports separately?

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Hi all,

I don't think I made this clear yet, so I'll try again.

The reports were created in CR and each lab number produces one report with all the associated data. I can pull up each report separately and print them out just fine.

This new reporting system I'm working on replaces a very old one where the end users were able to print a "batch" of reports -- say all the reports finished between the dates of 6/22/07 and 6/23/07. These reports would be called up and printed out en mass without each individual one being called up and printed out separately.

At some point, we are going to have in this program coding to achieve this, but for the meantime, I have to print out all of the finished reports straight out of CR. My question was, is it possible to call up a "batch" of individual reports, parametered by inclusive dates, and instruct CR to print out this "batch" of reports? Does this make any better sense?

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

Just create a range parameter for the dates, and set the record selection formula to {Test_Date}.

The user can then run the report and print it.

- Ido

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Hi Idomillet,

I tried that first and what I got was the first report of the range and no others. Myabe I'm misunderstanding the usage here, but when you use a parameter with a range, do you get just one report or do you get multiple reports within that range.?

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

You get one report that contains all the records "reports" as you call them) that match the selection criterion.

If you didn't, that show us what your record selection formula is.

- Ido

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Ok, I think this answers my question.

I have ten "records" or lab numbers. If I put in a range of labnumbers, then I will get ONE report. I will never get 10 reports displayed, one for each "record". Right?

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

Correct. You should get ONE report containing the data for all the lab tests that fall within the specified range parameter.

- Ido

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Ok. Great! That answers my question. Unfortunately, it doesn't solve my problem, but at least I'm on the right track. Thanks you so much for your time.

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

It's not clear why it doesn't solve your problem because you haven't stated the problem.

I repeat my earlier question: "Do you need to print and staple each of the 10 lab reports separately?"

In other words, do you need separate reports? If so, WHY?

- Ido

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Yes, I need to print and staple each of the 10 lab reports separately.

Each "record" or lab number requires a separate report be printed and mailed. For us, the terms "record" and "lab number" are synonymous.

I can produce ONE report on ONE labnumber just fine. But, if at the end of the day, I need to print ALL the reports on all of the lab numbers that have been finished that day, I have been unable to find a way to do that. I thought if I created a parameter field based on the lab number and they instructed it to accept a range of values, that would I would get would be ONE report for each of the values in that range (i. e. labnumbers 1 - 10). Instead, what I get is ONE report representing the first lab number in the range of values and nothing after that.

The lab number is the key to the record. All of the associated data for that lab number is produced on the report I get. What I need, or would like, is to be able to produce reports for more than one lab number at a time.

Is this clearer?

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

Problem #1 - you wrote:
"... Instead, what I get is ONE report representing the first lab number in the range of values and nothing after that."
That's a completely different problem. If your record selection formula is correct, you should get all the lab numbers in the range parameter.

I repeat a previous question then: "If you didn't, than show us what your record selection formula is."
--------------------------------------

problem #2 (the first time you actually explained you need a separate printout and stapling for each lab test). The solution for that challenge is to group the report on Lab# and "burst" it to a printer. There are 3rd-party tools that can do this for you (see list of 3rd-party tools at:

http://www.kenhamady.com/bookmarks.html).

My Visual CUT software provides this type of print (as well as export) bursting functionality.

hth,
- Ido

view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[ribbons]

Problem #1

Here is my record selection formula:

 {LabNumber.OldLabNumber} = {?Lab Number}

Then under "Parameter Fields", "Edit", in the "Options" panel, I have sent the "Allow Range Values" to "True".

When the report is refreshed, the parameter box asks for the desired range of lab numbers. I enter the range I want and I get the one report.


Problem #2

I'll check out this link. I work for state government, so we may not be allowed to use this software. If I could do what I wish inside CR, it would be desirable.

Ribbons

 

[IdoMillet]

Problem #1:
What lab numbers did you enter in the parameter ?
What is the data type of the parameter ?
What is the data type of {LabNumber.OldLabNumber} ?

Problem #2:
afaik, there is no way to burst to printer just with Crystal.

- Ido


view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com