I am trying to get my head around designing some Crystal Reports on Notes databases. I have been looking for a forum that is as good as this one, but have been disappointed.
If there is anyone out there that feels real comfortable with Crystal Reports/Lotus Domino, please let me know. I need a kick-start, because I am spinning my wheels trying to get a report built.
More details if interested…
I am using the NotesSQL driver 3.02x which is supposed to support subforms, but when I begin building a report, only forms and views are available.
If I end up having to use a view, I need some assistance in adding a Formula Field so that I can convert the data (views provide CR with text strings, and I need that data to be summed, hence I need numbers). I cannot figure out the formula syntax/functions that will help me.
This is the type of stuff that the CR Online Help is just horrible in providing.
Subject: Crystal Reports questions…where would I go to ask?
Sory to take so long but I just stumble across this responce on Crystal and Notes. I have been developing in both platforms for the past 5-6 years - Several things you need to know. The native driver for developing reports for Crystal against Lotus - you need to install notes to the root directory the install process for Notes defaults to the program library and the install process for crystal does not see notes therefore it will not install to the default connection.
Another issue that occurs is that the Notes connector will only recognize so many forms and views, so if you have a large database all forms will not be showne.
Another issue if you have a form that has an alias name crystal will show the form but it will not report the data.
Some computed fields will not show the data
Ways to get totally around these issues ;
Create a File ODBC Connector straight to the database this will seperate the forms from the views and display the information so you can access it.
If you create a view date fields may not show as dates and you will have to create a formula to work with them as dates within a crystal report.
I am not saying that Crystal is a bad product but with any product you will the good, bad and the ugly. the best thing about Crystal is that you can connect across multiple types of databases and report this information in one report.
As for assistance there really is not one good source. Business Objects has information scattered and there are webs sites that offer some assistance on creating formulas. This web site is great for Lotus Notes assistance but not for Crystal assistance and for connection issues, I have tried to search for help and end up figuring it out myself. I can try to help you out as much as possible with reporting issues.