Description:
Perhaps the best thing about Structured Query Language (SQL) databases is the fact that so many excellent reporting products can talk to them. One of the best SQL reporting and charting products is Crystal Reports. Crystal Reports 8 for Dummies shows you how to use this product to maximum effect, even if you don't yet know the first thing about SQL, databases, or effective strategies for presenting information. It patiently reveals what you need to know, using all of the Dummies tricks--including lots of illustrations and a dose of humor--to get the facts across. This book does a great job with stepped procedures. You find out what to do in various situations, of course, but also what Crystal Reports will do in response. This approach to procedures helps ensure that you always know what to expect as you navigate Crystal's interface. Coverage of formulas is particularly good, shedding some light on a subject that sometimes causes new Crystal users to stumble. The SQL tutorial material is quite strong as well, teaching you the essentials effectively. This book will be a big help as you extract data from databases and prepare it for use. --David Wall Topics covered: Crystal Reports 8 for novice and intermediate users; how to manage database tables with Crystal Reports, with emphasis on extracting information from databases, performing calculations on it, and presenting the results as reports and graphics; reports; subreports; drill-downs, SQL connectivity; and Crystal's function library.
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