Operation Manual

Introduction to Reporting

Choosing data sources and database fields

Crystal Reports User’s Guide 83

The Blank Report option was chosen for the “Quick start for new users” on

page 48, because the process of creating a report from scratch most fully

illustrates the basics of reporting.

Choosing data sources and database fields

Crystal Reports makes it simple to select data sources and database fields by

providing easy-to-use functionality in the Database Expert dialog box and the

Field Explorer dialog box. Each of these dialog boxes uses the familiar

Windows tree structure to allow you to navigate through the possible choices.

The Database Expert

The Database Expert provides an integrated tree view of all data sources you

can use with Crystal Reports. In the Database Expert, you can select from the

following as a data source for your report:

• A currently connected data source.

• An SQL command that has been saved to the BusinessObjects

Enterprise Repository.

• A data source that has been added to your Favorites folder.

• A recently accessed data source (the Database Expert automatically

maintains a list of such data sources for you).

• An existing data source (for example, a data file residing locally, or an

ODBC data source that has already been set up).

In the Database Expert, you can also specify links between database tables

when you have selected more than one table for your report.

Data tab

Tree View

The Data tab of the Database Expert shows a tree view of possible data

sources you can select when creating a report. The tree—in the Available

Data Sources list—is made up of folders for:

• Current Connections

• Favorites

• History

• Create New Connection

• Repository