Crystal Reports is software used to generate reports from various data sources, including spreadsheets, text files, and databases. It also works with XML files and has a graphical interface. It is widely used due to its inclusion in Microsoft products and has been produced by several companies, including Crystal Services, Seagate Software, and SAP. The format is well established, and there are training seminars and manuals available.
A crystal report is one created by the Crystal Reports software application. This application is designed to generate reports from a wide variety of data sources. It has become widely used due to its inclusion in Microsoft Visual Studio.
The main strength of the software used to generate crystal reports is the extremely wide range of data it can work with. Some of the common sources include spreadsheets from software like Microsoft Excel, plain text files, and data from collaboration and sharing applications like Lotus Notes. The software also works with many types of databases including Btrieve and Microsoft Access.
Another data type compatible with the software are XML files. They are similar to the HTML files used to create the simplest web pages. However, while HTML coding only controls how content is displayed on the page, XML is able to define the type of information present in the content. This makes it much easier to manipulate content across multiple pages or sites.
The second main advantage of Crystal Report software is that it uses a graphical interface. This means that the user can use the mouse to set up connections between different data sets. The user can also view and try different layouts for the final report that the software generates.
Probably the main reason so many people choose to produce a crystal report is that the software is bundled with a variety of Microsoft products. These include early editions of Visual Basic and now Microsoft Visual Studio. This is a tool mainly used to build Microsoft compatible applications.
Several companies have produced Crystal Report software. Initially, it was the work of Crystal Services Incorporated, which is the source of the name, although the software was initially known as Quik Reports. The company was later taken over by Seagate Software and renamed Crystal Decisions. This was in turn bought by Business Objects, which in turn was taken over by the German software giant SAP in 2008.
The software is now so well established that the format is widely recognized. This has led to a number of associated activities. For example, several training companies hold seminars on how best to produce a crystal-clear report. There is also a wide range of books and manuals that discuss how to use a crystal report within particular types of businesses.
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