Hi Everyone,

I have tried finding a post on this site about this but can't. Can anyone tell me how (or where) I can learn about crystal reporting? Or what the benefits are....or really, just about anything pertaining to the subject. I'm new to this world and am looking for information.

Also, trying to run a report, query, or export that show each constituent's relationship (whether to individual or organization). I seem to only be able to find the option for the record's first, or primary, relationship. Posting here because maybe my answer is in doing this kind of report.

Thank you,
Adam

Hi Everyone,

I have tried finding a post on this site about this but can't. Can anyone tell me how (or where) I can learn about crystal reporting? Or what the benefits are....or really, just about anything pertaining to the subject. I'm new to this world and am looking for information.

Also, trying to run a report, query, or export that show each constituent's relationship (whether to individual or organization). I seem to only be able to find the option for the record's first, or primary, relationship. Posting here because maybe my answer is in doing this kind of report.

Thank you,
Adam

Adam,

Let's start with the obvious regarding Crystal Reports. Their web site is www.crystalreports.com. This product has been around for several years (don't want to date myself, but I have been using it since version 4.6) and has been owned by several companies (both a good and bad thing). Depending on who you talk to, it is the best or worst reporting software developed. Crystal Reports comes bundled with Microsoft's Visual Studio so it was a natural reporting solution for Blackaud. I will admit that it is an acquired taste. It can make reporting easy or difficult depending on your experience level. The more you use it the more better you become and the more detailed your reporting can become. Crystal Reports comes with a reporting server so you can host reports that can be run manually or automated with several report formats available. Some of the more popular formats are PDF, MS Excel and MS Word. You can also control how reports are presented. Most common is for viewing but you can have them emailed or even sent directly to a printer. I would suggest reading what you can about it on their web site and then talking to others who have used it. At the very least, I would recommend downloading the demo and using it on a test server to get a better understanding of it's possibilities. I hope this helps.

Thanks,

RWilliams