[AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports

One of the major advantages of using Crystal Reports is the ability to make a
dictionary (list of fields and functions) of complex data structures for end
users to make their own reports. I have found that this ability "beats" Access
reports hands down. I still use Access for my canned reports but encourge end
users to use Crystal if they want on the fly reporting abilities. Plus it keeps
end users out of the mdb's.

Scott Marcus

-----Original Message-----
From: Shamil Salakhetdinov [mailto:shamil at smsconsulting.spb.ru]
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 4:59 PM
To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports


> Access 2002 and CR 9.0 are
> almost identical in their feature sets.
Charles,

I thought the same but then I made approx. 50 real-life CR reports for
HRM/Payroll system and my customer was a real guru in both HRM/Payroll
programming/reporting and CR itself (I worked as his subcontractor) - and I
soon realized that despite the fact that the feature set of MS Access and CR
seems to be very similar, the real power of CR is in its unique and looking
at first not very significant feature of allowing to have and manipulate on
runtime of several (as many as you wish) independent sections/areas of
Report Header/Footer, Page Header/Footer, Group Header/Footer and Details...

The only area where I've found MS Access "beats" CR 8.x, which I used, is
when you need in CR to copy and paste (or cut and paste) a group of controls
within one report or between reports - here CR sometimes goes "crazy" and
you need to realigh controls manualy after paste operation...

Charles, I'd not like to have this thread to become"religious" debate "CR
vs. MS Access report generator" - let's stop it? - after your
contr-arguments if you wish! :)

Shamil

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wortz, Charles" <CWortz at tea.state.tx.us>
To: <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 10:37 PM
Subject: RE: [AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports


> Shamil,
>
> I just got through with a three day course on what's new in Crystal
> Reports 9.0 and I stand by my statement that Access 2002 and CR 9.0 are
> almost identical in their feature sets.  I did not say they were equally
> easy to learn or use, because that is subject to your background
> experience and personal preferences.
>
> I also stand by my assertion that there is no reason to buy CR to
> produce reports from an Access database.
>
> If you have C++, C#, VB or some other platform as your front-end to SQL
> Server or Sysbase or some other database other than Access, then CR
> makes sense.
>
> Charles Wortz
> Software Development Division
> Texas Education Agency
> 1701 N. Congress Ave
> Austin, TX 78701-1494
> 512-463-9493
> CWortz at tea.state.tx.us
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shamil Salakhetdinov [mailto:shamil at smsconsulting.spb.ru]
> Sent: Thursday 2003 Mar 06 13:19
> To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports
>
> > Why pay extra for Crystal Reports?
> Sorry for my jumping in, Charles,
>
> I used to use Crystal Reports(CR) to build advanced reports with C++
> last spring - and I'd say that CR can give 1000 points allowance to MS
> Access reports' designer and still win nevertheless this big handicap...
> On first glance CR looks for a MS Access developer like a very sprawl
> and not as intuitional as MS Access report designer tool but when one
> gets the rules of report generation used by CR they understand that CR
> allows to create reports, which can't be created in MS Access - and I
> think that all of MS Access types of reports can be created by using
> CR...
>
> And of course CR reports created to view in MS Access can be (re-)used
> in VB, C++, DELPHI, on the Web etc.etc....
>
> Shamil
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wortz, Charles" <CWortz at tea.state.tx.us>
> To: <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>; <dba-VB at databaseadvisors.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 9:48 PM
> Subject: RE: [AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports
>
>
> > Richard,
> >
> > May I inquire why you want to use Crystal Reports with Access?  Access
>
> > 2002 and Crystal Reports 9.0 are almost identical in their feature
> > sets, so why not use Access for your reports?  Why pay extra for
> > Crystal Reports?
> >
> > Charles Wortz
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Griffiths, Richard [mailto:R.Griffiths at bury.gov.uk]
> > Sent: Thursday 2003 Mar 06 12:09
> > To: 'dba-VB at databaseadvisors.com'
> > Cc: 'AccessD at databaseadvisors.com'
> > Subject: [AccessD] Access and Crystal Reports
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > using code how do you run a Crystal Report when the Access Db has 1) a
>
> > password and/or 2) uses a system mdw
> >
> > Many thanks
> >
> > Richard
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