Rating: 
Summary: No questions answered by this book
Review: As a developer you better check the knowledge base of Business Objects, post in their news groups and/or if you are a registered user ask/email their consultants.
Perhaps some "missing" information is covered somewhere in the book but if so the index must be very poor.
The book should be titled the "Totally Incomplete CR9 Reference".
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book for All Crystal Users
Review: Crystal Reports has become the leading database report-writing tool. George Peck has become its leading evangelist. This book is the fourth and the best in his "Complete Reference" series. In previous editions he did a credible job of teaching us how to use Crystal's features to create nifty reports. While this edition has many of the same chapter titles, the content has been revised not only to reflect the new features in Version 9 but also to make the chapters easier to read. The concepts almost leap off the page. Crystal Reports 9 is a major revision of the software product. There are multiple editions and many ways of implementing the results in an application and on the web. Peck addresses all these and provide a guide through the confusing array of choices. Most importantly, Peck provides an independent view of the offerings. He is not a cheerleader. His in-depth experience with the product in the real world is evident as he shows us alternative uses for the product and ways to implement it. Most people will not read the book from cover to cover. Much like a dictionary, you will look for the topic of interest a read a section or a chapter. The book provides an index, a detailed table of contents and a summary table of contents to help. The book is written in a direct person-to-person style. Peck suggests situations in which "you" may find yourself and then shows you how to find a solution. Peck's sense of humor shines through in many places. Most of the book is an easy read. If you use Crystal Reports, you need this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for All Crystal Users
Review: Crystal Reports has become the leading database report-writing tool. George Peck has become its leading evangelist. This book is the fourth and the best in his "Complete Reference" series. In previous editions he did a credible job of teaching us how to use Crystal's features to create nifty reports. While this edition has many of the same chapter titles, the content has been revised not only to reflect the new features in Version 9 but also to make the chapters easier to read. The concepts almost leap off the page. Crystal Reports 9 is a major revision of the software product. There are multiple editions and many ways of implementing the results in an application and on the web. Peck addresses all these and provide a guide through the confusing array of choices. Most importantly, Peck provides an independent view of the offerings. He is not a cheerleader. His in-depth experience with the product in the real world is evident as he shows us alternative uses for the product and ways to implement it. Most people will not read the book from cover to cover. Much like a dictionary, you will look for the topic of interest a read a section or a chapter. The book provides an index, a detailed table of contents and a summary table of contents to help. The book is written in a direct person-to-person style. Peck suggests situations in which "you" may find yourself and then shows you how to find a solution. Peck's sense of humor shines through in many places. Most of the book is an easy read. If you use Crystal Reports, you need this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good reference--Let's be fair
Review: For critics of this book, the author explains in the preface that calling this book "complete" is a marketing tool--albeit one that is a bit misleading--and that there is no way a reference on Crystal Reports will be "complete" enough to answer every single quesion. Granted there are ways the book could be improved (more screen shots, more typical scenarios, etc) but so far this is the best CR 9.0 book that I have found. Perhaps book publishers should consider this.
Rating:
Summary: Good reference--Let's be fair
Review: For critics of this book, the author explains in the preface that calling this book "complete" is a marketing tool--albeit one that is a bit misleading--and that there is no way a reference on Crystal Reports will be "complete" enough to answer every single quesion. Granted there are ways the book could be improved (more screen shots, more typical scenarios, etc) but so far this is the best CR 9.0 book that I have found. Perhaps book publishers should consider this.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkably incomplete for developers (or anyone else!)
Review: Has provided little more than the basics despite substantial girth. Especially disappointing are the few pages devoted to VB. Contains no mention whatsoever of .ttx files. The index is also poor for a volume that masquerades a reference tool.
Rating: 
Summary: Developers beware.
Review: I read the review from "J. Mecina from NM" entitled, "the incomplete reference, February 20, 2003" before buying this book. I think his review is on the mark. Unfortunately, this was the best book I could find that covers the CRD (Crystal Reports Designer) control for Visual Basic.
I'm a VB developer with several years of experience and have written many Crystal Reports from simple to moderately complex. So when looking for a good book on the subject, I'm looking for advanced topics. And as was said, unfortunately, this book was not everything that I'd hoped it was. But it still seems to be the best one that I could find. And I spent a good deal of time searching. So... Buyer beware. And good luck.
Rating:
Summary: The Complete Lifesaver
Review: I read the review from "J. Mecina from NM" entitled, "the incomplete reference, February 20, 2003" before buying this book. I think his review is on the mark. Unfortunately, this was the best book I could find that covers the CRD (Crystal Reports Designer) control for Visual Basic.
I'm a VB developer with several years of experience and have written many Crystal Reports from simple to moderately complex. So when looking for a good book on the subject, I'm looking for advanced topics. And as was said, unfortunately, this book was not everything that I'd hoped it was. But it still seems to be the best one that I could find. And I spent a good deal of time searching. So... Buyer beware. And good luck.
Rating:
Summary: Developers beware.
Review: I read the review from "J. Mecina from NM" entitled, "the incomplete reference, February 20, 2003" before buying this book. I think his review is on the mark. Unfortunately, this was the best book I could find that covers the CRD (Crystal Reports Designer) control for Visual Basic.
I'm a VB developer with several years of experience and have written many Crystal Reports from simple to moderately complex. So when looking for a good book on the subject, I'm looking for advanced topics. And as was said, unfortunately, this book was not everything that I'd hoped it was. But it still seems to be the best one that I could find. And I spent a good deal of time searching. So... Buyer beware. And good luck.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: I write a considerable number of Crystal reports, and I keep this book on my desk for reference. I always find helpful information when presented with unique reporting requirements.
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