The Crystal Reports Underground News:
Archive
for years 2018 and later
Archive
for years 2010 - 2017 (48 issues)
Archive for years 2005 - 2009 (34 issues)
Archive for years 2001 - 2004 (38 issues)
"I've been reading your posts for years, and feel I owe you
a debt of gratitude because I would not be nearly as skilled
a Crystal developer as I am without the benefit of your
willingness to share your vast experience."
Jennifer C. - Springfield, MO.
Archives for years 2018
and later:
Volume 2021.09Volume 2021.07
- C
omparison of Crystal Reports viewers (2021)- My Crystal Reports Expert Series released as free downloads
- Adding an “All” option to a dynamic parameter
- Hot-swapping fields
- “Column mode” in the Crystal formula editor
- Matching colors in your reports
- Using reserved characters in formula names
- Gems from the Archives
- Drawing tables in a Crystal Report (2011.03)
- Mysterious blank pages (2011.05)
Volume 2021.05
- RPT management utilities for 2021
- Download my advanced course materials
- Anyone want to recompile this free dll to be 64-bit?
- U2lwin32 recompiled for 64-bit, available to test
- Transitioning from 32-bit Crystal Reports to Crystal Reports 2020
- Using HTML interpretation
- Crystal Reports 2016 date formatting issue
- Undocumented limit on the ExtractString() function
- Gems from the Archives
- Using Approximate Joins (2011.01)
- Does IsNull() let you filter a Left Outer Join? (2011.01)
Volume 2021.03
- Comparison of server-based schedulers (2021)
- Crystal Reports course materials – free download
- The wrong way to design a report
- Improved formula for elapsed business hours
- Arial 10 text objects get “squished”
- More uses for the Report Explorer
- I finally found a use for the Crystal Reports Workbench
- One way to exceed the table limits in MS Access
- Gems from the Archives
- Using Autosave in Crystal Reports (2010.11)
- Shortcut Keys in Crystal Reports (2010.11)
Volume 2021.01
- Comparison of desktop-based schedulers (2021)
- CRChart for Crystal Reports 2020
- An error has occurred in the script of this page
- What “pie charts” are called in other languages
- Inflation table query for Oracle
- Displaying the report processing time
- Connecting to the Xtreme sample data from CR 2020
- Max rows/columns of a cross-tab
- Gems from the Archives
Volume 2020.11
- Web based deployment options compared (2021)
- SQL to create data dictionary reports
- New Web Widget features of Visual Cut
- Missing the recent file list
- IF THEN vs SELECT CASE
- Update to my SQL functions “cheat sheet”
- “Convert Null to Default” breaks the selection formula
- How to retrieve your Crystal Reports license key
- Gems from the Archives
- Percentages in Crystal Reports vs Excel (2010.07)
- Preventing Drill-Down (2010.07)
Volume 2020.09
- Crystal Reports formula function libraries (2020)
- Running totals vs regular summary fields
- 140+ registry keys for Crystal Reports
- 1000 value limit on dynamic parameters
- Quirks of Group Selection
- One more note about Group Selection
- Using a custom group name
- When a reinstall won’t fix the formula editor
- Gems from the Archives
Volume 2020.07
- Updated comparison of Crystal Reports viewers (2020)
- How to remove the SAP BW toolbar in Crystal Reports 2020
- Converting a character date to a true date
- Converting String and Numeric Dates to DateValues (part 2)
- Get distinct count subtotals to add up to the grand total
- Why would you “Perform grouping on server”?
- Fields that change format when moved to a different environment
- rePORTAL v6.5 released
- Gems from the Archives
- Reporting on the Database Schema (2010.03)
- Superscript numbers in a Crystal Report (2010.03)
Volume 2020.05
- RPT management utilities for 2020
- Are you ready for Crystal Reports 2020?
- Crystal Dispatch site license for $5
- Updating a database table from a Crystal Reports formula
- Giving the database what it needs
- Objects highlighted, but only in design view
- Free lesson in Cross-tab grid functions
- Fun with looping logic
- Gems from the Archives
- Using unlinked tables (2010.01)
- Using the parameter "batch" interface toolbar (2010.01)
Volume 2020.03
- Comparison of server-based schedulers (2020 update)
- Repeating the first columns of a cross-tab for each value in the second column
- Highlighting a phrase within a larger field
- Using the Picture() function
- Reading an Excel column as a true DateTime rather than a string.
- The Crystal Reports label wizard
- Page Header plus Page Footer is too large for the page
- A way to speed up repeated Crystal Reports installations
- Gems from the Archives
Comparison of desktop-based schedulers (2020 update) The number of business hours between two DateTimes (updated) Cross-tabs can total formulas that you can't normally total Charting based on a parameter value "New Page After" on group 2 orphans Group Footer 1 Using the "parent" section in the Section Expert The humble beginning Trouble installing CR 2016 Gems from the Archives Volume 2020.01
Web based deployment options compared (2020) Script errors on the start page and how to customize it Grouping times into half hour periods Save money on rePORTAL Column breaks in a multi-column report Deleting fields without losing (linked) column headings PDF problems with Viewpoint's Spectrum Software Sage 50 GetPeach() functions in Windows 10 Gems from the Archives
Volume 2019.11
Crystal Reports formula function libraries (2019) Creating a "Distinct Sum" when the duplicates not grouped together No column headings on the last page (v2.0) Correction to "elapsed time string" formula Table filters in the database expert Converting an Excel column from Characters to Numbers Literal values that include quotes Crystal crashes with no error message Gems from the Archives
- Cross-Tabs with multiple initial columns (2009.9)
- Crystal Reports and the color orange (2009.10)
Volume 2019.09
Updated comparison of Crystal Reports viewers (2019) Calculating the begin and end of Daylight Saving Time Suppress column headings when there are no details on the last page How to turn records/rows into columns When that zero isn't really a zero Real rounding vs fake rounding Column headings scrambled in Excel export Math tweet splits internet mathematicians Gems from the Archives: Volume 2019.07
RPT management utilities for 2019 Preventing the "division by zero" error How to make sure you are on the last day of the month How to reorder tables to improve performance Finding groups where the last record meets a criteria Moving cross-tab numbers to Excel SQL Syntax for several common date ranges The last resort when you need an extra pass Gems from the Archives Volume 2019.05
Server-based scheduler comparison (2019) Group sort reverses ascending and descending CurrentDate vs DataDate Using the function DrillDownGroupLevel Using the ExtractString function Hiding part of your criteria from the database Solving problems when reporting on CSV files Impossible link in Pervasive SQL (Elliot) Gems from the Archives:
- Formula for today's date in contract format (Oct 2009)
- On-Demand Subreports that work with saved data (May 2009)
Volume 2019.03
Comparison of desktop-based schedulers (2019 update) Applying a formatting condition to multiple fields Add an address block without blank lines A simpler approach to address blocks How link direction can affect performance Another option for selecting ALL in a parameter Carriage returns in a formula that will survive a text export Windows update breaks Raiser's Edge reports Gems from the Archives Volume 2019.01
- Reporting on data that isn't there Part 1 (2009.03)
- Reporting on data that isn't there Part 2 (2009.05)
Web based deployment options compared (2019) Connecting to QuickBooks data from Crystal Reports Setting section height to a specific number Using an asterisk for ALL in a parameter Downloading the Xtreme sample data Minor changes can have a major impact on performance Better SQL for showing the last record Even Better SQL for showing the last record Gems from the Archives Volume 2018.11
- Using AutoComplete in Crystal Reports formulas (January 2009)
- Ranking based on a ratio (January 2009)
Crystal Reports formula function libraries (2018) New functions in Cut Light Selecting ALL with a parameter field SQL Server dates show up as strings Setting default export options for a report Improving report performance with a subreport? Date formulas in Accpac without pwFormatDate() Flaw in XML Exports Gems from the Archives Volume 2018.09
- Grouping by a non-calendar week (November 2008)
- Temporarily ignoring the grid and guidelines (September 2008)
Updated comparison of Crystal Reports viewers (2018) Service Pack 3 for Crystal Reports 2016 Crystal Reports versions over time (2018) Crystal Reports FAQ on the SAP website Selection based on two different records in the same group A temporary formula change that expires automatically Why is the group tree ODD sometimes? Numbers that touch operator words Gems from the Archives:
- Using the Report Explorer (Sept 2008)
- The effect of dashes on the VAL() function (Sept 2008)
Volume 2018.07
RPT management utilities for 2018 Review Crystal Reports and earn a $25 Amazon gift card The end of Crystal Dashboard Design Another free method for comparing rpt files Cloaking Groups First day of the calendar quarter Set Datasource Location from tables to an SP Crystal Reports new features by version Gems from the Archives:
Volume 2018.05Server-based scheduler comparison (2018)
Formula to group into 2-month periods. Adding static and dynamic images to Crystal Reports. Listing all formula changes with Notepad++ Column headings for cross-tabs Using a "display string" turns off HTML interpretation No current Crystal Reports certifications New SQL Server OLEDB provider supports TLS 1.2 Gems from the Archives:
- Conditional page footer (May 2008)
- Cascading parameters that lose values (March 2008)
Volume 2018.03
- Cascading parameters & duplicate field names (March 2008)
- Converting a decimal to a fraction (March 2008)
Volume 2018.01
- Web based deployment options compared (2018)
- Renaming formulas in the Formula Editor vs the Field Explorer
- Handy copy tricks in Crystal Reports
- The power of a double click
- Finding tables and fields in SAP B1, JD Edwards and Great Plains
- Finding changes in report output
- How to fix the error: "A loop was evaluated more than the maximum number of times allowed"