Sell Crystal Reports to me

[drog]

I've been looking into Crystal Reports for the last few weeks and I can't find anything it can do that Access and Excel can not. In some cases, Crystal Reports seems more limmited than using Access to manipulate data and Excel to make the report. What am I missing?

 

[Nuffsaid]

Hi Drog,

If your database has more than a "billion" records that you have to deal with, I don't think excel will be much help to you. If you are using Crystal to feed off an "Access database" and feel Access can satisfy your needs, then why bother. Here it comes.... BUT, If you wish to work with a superior product that can "feed off" almost any DB and handle a countless number of records, which you can manipulate just about anyway you want... WELCOME !!!!!!

Nuffsaid.

 

[dgillz]

Drog-

If you want to change your databases contents programatically, crystal reports is not for you. It only reports it does not allow update or append or delete queries as does MS access.

If you have ever tried to write an access report against a networked 3rd party database with 500,000 records, you will LOVE crystal reports as an alternative.

In term of reporting, Excel is not even in the same LEAGUE as crystal reports. A good spreadsheet, but thats it.
Software Support for Sage Mas90, Macola, Crystal Reports, Goldmine and MS Office

 

[drog]

Yes, I'm using an Access database which contains over 2 million records in tables that aren't always tied closely together. I don't use the entire database, but the amount of data can become fairly large, and I need to work with the tables independantly (which requires sub-reports in Crystal Reports).

"BUT, If you wish to work with a superior product that can "feed off" almost any DB and handle a countless number of records, which you can manipulate just about anyway you want... WELCOME !!!!!!"

Why can't access do this with ODBC?

"In term of reporting, Excel is not even in the same LEAGUE as crystal reports. A good spreadsheet, but thats it."

Which is why Access is used to manipulate the data and Excell is used to create the reports.

I'm making a recommendation for purchasing Crystal Reports (or not) soon. So far, I don't see any advantages with CR, but I haven't had enough time to get dirty with it.

 

[Guest_imported]

Sell Crystal Reports to you? I would give Crystal Reports to you, but it is company property. Read the knowledge base on Crystal Reports, note the volume and fundamental failures of CR. Can CR query your database correctly? Can it add variables correctly? Can it pass parameters and data between subreports? Can CR link database tables correctly? But don't worry, you might be able to find patches out there to fix the problems. My advice is this: if you can do without CR, or can get a similar report writer, DO IT.

 

[Ngolem]

Personally....Why are you even looing at Crystal Reports at all???

What is prompting this investigation?....I would think that it is because of a deficiency in your current reporting process.

Or is it a whim on the part of management?

SO... if there is a reason why your group is investigating Crystal, then ask us if Crystal can handle certain troublesome reporting situations and we will be happy to answer.

I have worked in Excel and if you want plain jane reporting on a small Excel database....it is fine....but an Excel database can hardly be compared to an Oracle or MS SQL database.

MS Access I have had some experience with the database but creating presentation quality reports...hmmm...prefer Crystal for that...even using a .mdb database...but again this database hardly compares to Oracle or MS SQL for industrial applications.

If your databases are small and the reports you are generating are adequate...continue with what you are doing...IMHO

 

[drog]

Thanks, Ngolem.

Yes, it was a managerial whim. Actually, it was suggested to management by a customer (who they like to please to stay in business) so they wanted to look into it further.

It's not Access or Excel by itself, but both of them combined which offers alot of power. My analysis is done and my report containing my recommendation has been handed in and can not be changed now. Please don't come up with any further points in case I missed adding them to my final report s-) -- Actually, I really don't think anyone can.

 

[Ngolem]

bye..