BOXI R2 Crystal Reports FAQ’s

1) Define Crystal Reports:It is an enterprise reporting tool. Using which you can generate reports using

following sources (data providers).1. Universe2. Business Views3. Databases4. OLAP sources

2) Types of crystal report environment:There are 2 reporting environments

1. Designer environment:- In a designer environment we work with the representation of data (meta data)

2. Preview Environment:- In this environment we work on actual data.

3) Define Crystal server enterprise Architecture?Crystal report server is a new addition to the crystal reports product suit the crystal

report server looks live BO Enterprise server it provides a rich sets of enterprise level report functions which includes.

a. Accessing any Data Sourceb. Designing any Reportsc. Delivering any managing reports over the webd. Integrating report with applications and portse. Marinating the crystal reports with minimal IT overhead.

4) What are the core components are included in the Crystal Report Server?Crystal Reports Server is built from the same object model as Business Objects

Enterprise. The following core components are included in the product: Report Designer (all drivers and access methods) Business Views Report publisher Info View web portal interface Portal integration kits Viewers Scheduler Security (BOE, Active Directory, LDAP, and NT authentication) Software development kits (SDKs) Management console.

5) What are the Enterprise – level reporting functions included in Crystal Reports Server provided?

Crystal Reports Server provides a rich set of Enterprise-level reporting functions including

Accessing any data source Designing any report Delivering and managing reports over the Web Integrating reporting with applications and portals Maintaining repots with minimal IT overhead.

6) Define multi tire system of crystal Report Enterprise?Crystal Reports Server is a multi-tier system. Although the components are

responsible for different task, they can be logically grouped based on the type of work they perform.

Crystal Reports Server has five tiers: -a. Client Tireb. Applications Tirec. Intelligence Tired. Processing Tire

e. Data Tire

7) Define Client Tire:-A client tire is the part of BO Enterprise system that administrators and End users

interacts with directly.This tire is made up of applications that enable people to administer, publish and view

the web content such as crystal reports.This tire includes Central Configuration Management (CCM). Central Management

Control (CMC), Publishing wizard, Import wizard, Info view, Business views.

8) Define Application Tire:Application tire hosts the server side components that process the request from client

tire as well as you to allows you to communicate with appropriate servers in a intelligent tire.Application server acts as a gateway between web server and other rest of

components in a crystal report server.

9) Define Intelligence Tire:Intelligence tire manages the crystal report server system. It maintains the security

information, sends the request to appropriate servers, manages audit information and stores the report instances.

It includes CMS (central management server) Cache server File repository server

1. input file server2. output file server

Event server

10) Define Processing Tire:The processing tire access the data and generates the crystal reports it is the only tire

that interacts with the database.Processing tire includes

Job servers Crystal report page servers Report Application server

11) Define Data Tire:The data tire is made up of data bases from which data can be retrieved and placed

in crystal reports.

12) What are the features of crystal reports?Crystal report features:-

a. High productivity report creation and integration.b. Quickly transform almost any data into powerful interactive

contentc. Tightly integrate reporting into .Net, Java and com applicationsd. Let end users access and interact with the repots via portal,

wireless devises, Microsoft office tools.

13) What are the new features of crystal reports XI?The follow are the new features added in crystal reports XI:-

1. Powerful report authoring:-o Dynamic and cascading prompts are now available in crystal reports.

A single prompt definition can be used and stored in repository and shared among multiple reports improving runtime scalability and design time productivity.o We can also place pictures and graphics in the reports through a link stored

in database.o Group sort order and top or bottom N reports can now have their sort values

driven by formula.

2. Expanding application development capabilities:-o Custom Java user function libraries let java developers to incorporate their

own code in crystal reports.o A report can be formatted with a grain control over the report format.

3. Integration with Business Objects XI:-o Repository explorer has been enhanced to allow for easer logon and easer

browsing of enterprise objects and repository Items.o Repository explorer can open BO Enterprise central management consoleo Dependence check up now allows you to confirm that all repository objects in

report are valid.

14) Define Report Explorer:A Report explorer allows you to create report headers, report footer, page headers,

page footer and details.

15) What are the sections in crystal report?A report in the crystal is divided into the five basic sections.

1. Report header :- Any thing placed in the report header is displayed only at the beginning of report. Like images.

2. Report footer :- Any thing placed in the report footer is displayed at the end of the report. Like grand totals.

3. Page header :- Any thing placed in the page header is displayed on the start of each page in the report.

4. Page footer :- Any thing placed in the page footer is displayed at the end of each page of the report page.

5. Details :-It contains the body of the report that is actual data.

16) What are the data sources supported by crystal report?a. Oracleb. IBM-DB2c. Microsoft Ms-Accessd. Sybasee. Info mixf. CUBEg. ODBC

15) What are the operating systems support crystal report?Windows NT, Sun Solaris, HP Unix and IBM AIX.

17) What are the web servers support crystal report?1. MS Internet Information Services (IIS)2. Netscape Servers3. Apache Web Server

18) What the Browsers supports crystal reports?a. Netscape Navigator b. MS – IE (Internet explorer)

19) What are the types of Filters?In the crystal reports the data can be filtered in two different ways

1. Select Expert : It allows you to define the simple conditions.2. Selection Formula : The data can be filtered by defining the expressions in

formula editor.

20) What is selection formula?The data can be filtered by defining the expression in formula editor.

21) What is conditional Formatting?

The data in the report can be formatted based on given condition this allows you to quickly identify the data for faster analyses.

22) What is alert message?An alert is a message which is displayed before viewing the data records.

23) What is sub reports?A sub report allows you to navigate the information summery to detail.

24) Define Master detail relationship?A sub report includes the detailed information, master report includes summery

information.The link between master report and sub report is established through common

column.

25) What is the extension for crystal report?A crystal report saves with an extension .rpt (report template).

26) How the formula fields are referenced?Formula fields are referenced using @field name.

27) How the running totals are referenced?Running totals are referenced using #field name

28) Define Cross Tab:In crystal reports a cross tab can be created in a two different ways.

a. Using cross tab wizardManual approach : A cross tab can be placed only either in report header or report footer.

29) Define Charts?A chart is graphical representation of business data. In crystal reports a chart can be

created in a different ways 1. Using wizards

a. Standard Report wizardb. Cross tab report wizard

2. Manual approach : A chart can be placed either in report header or report footer.

30) What is cascading prompts?In a crystal report an cascading prompt can be implemented using dynamic list of

value.Between the objects their should be a one to many relationship.The filter needs to be created for the lowest level grain in the hierarchy.

31) What is a hyperlink?A hyperlink allows you to access a report or another URL.

32) What all the new chart types are included in new version of crystal reports?In addition to familiar chart types including bar charts, pie charts, scatter charts, line

charts and bubble charts new chart types in recent versions include the following:

Histogram charts Funnel charts Gantt charts Gauges Numeric Axis charts

33) What is Numeric Axis chart type?A Numeric Axis chart is a bar, line, or area chart that uses a numeric field or a

data/time as its On Change of field, With Numeric Axis charts you can create a true numeric X-axis or a true date/time X-axis.

34) Define Gauge chart?A Gauge chart presents data using a speedometer visual and is often used to

measure percentage completed against target type metrics.

35) Define Gantt chart?A Gantt chart is a project focused horizontal bar chart used to provide a graphical

illustration of a project schedule. The horizontal axis shows a time span, whereas the vertical axis lists project tasks or events. Horizontal bars on the chart represent event sequences and time spans for each task on the vertical axis.

36) Define Funnel chart?Funnel charts are most often used to represent stages in a sales cycle and visually

depict proportionality of the different phases in that sales process. A funnel chart is similar to a stacked bar chart in that it represents 100 percent of the summary values for the groups included in the chart.

37) What is Histogram Chart?Histograms show the frequency of occurrence of data elements in a data set. The X

axis is divided into intervals the denote ranges of data values. Each histogram bas show the number of data elements whose values falls into interval.

38) What are the limitations over BO Enterprise in Crystal reports? Concurrent Access License (CAL) limitation – Crystal Reports server is limited to a

maximum of 20 concurrent users. An error message will be displayed when the administrator attempts to enter key codes that exceed 20 CAL licenses.

Scalability limitations – Crystal reports server can run on only a single server and there is a license limiting the installation to a maximum four-processor server.

Platform limitation – Crystal Reports server only runs on Windows, whereas BO Enterprise runs on other operating systems, such as AIX and Solaris.

Content limitation – Crystal Reports Server runs only Crystal reports; it does not run Web Intelligence reports.

39) What are the five main toolbars that we can use within the Crystal Report design environment?

1. Standard2. Formatting 3. Insert Tools4. Expert Tools5. Navigation Tools

40) What are the date related comparators?Is between – The selected items fall between these two dates.Is not between – The selected items do not fall between these two dates.Is in the period – The selected items fall in the periods selected from the drop-down

list.Is not in the period – The selected items do not fall in the periods selected from the

drop-down list.

41) What are the most highly useful formatting features that are used in cross-tab?• Customizable style (colors, gridlines, and so on)• Vertical and horizontal placement of summaries• Formatted grid lines• Toggle for summary totals (rows / columns)• Cell margins• Indented row labels

• Location of totals (beginning or end for both rows / columns)• Repeatable row labels.

42) What are the reporting problems which are difficult to solve without the use of sub reports?

A few particular reporting problems are difficult to solve without the use of Sub repots. Some of the most common problems and a specific example of each are listed here:

> The presentation of data from two (or more) completely unrelated data sources on a single report.

> A report that needs to combine data from different tables with only derived (and not direct) database field links.

> The presentation of the same data in two (or more) different ways in a single report.> The inclusion of a summary field in the report that is unrelated to the established

grouping in the main report.> The inclusion of a reusable component like a standard reporting header or footer in

numerous reports across an organization that can be dynamically updated for all reports in single location.

43) What the use of bookmarks?A new option, called “Create bookmarks from group tree,” uses the group tree

from the source Crystal report to create bookmarks in the exported PDF output, making the PDF export easier to navigate.

44) In one sub report how many sub report we can insert? No. in Sub Report we can’t insert sub Report.

45) How many different types of reports we can create in Crystal reports? You can create report types like1.Form/Layout2.Summary3.Listing Reports

Moreover you can create your own report format and make it as template for your other reports in Crystal.

46) How can we know the time taken for particular report execution? Report>Performance Information

47) Can we stop the database null values? How? Yes, we can by selecting suppress if null option.

48) Can we export data of reports into other format like in world doc etc? We can export the data in Word doc. Adobe Acrobat, HTML, Excel, Rich Text format,

XML.

49) Can we create report using more than one database? We can create the report but we must having the primary key for both the database,

otherwise it fails to create the smart linking between two database.Generally using more than one link is not supported.

50) What is the section expert? Why we use it? A section expert is used for the entire section, it could be the details section or the

header section. Once you change the settings in the section expert it can be seen through out the section. if we want to make sure that a specific data has to be displayed in the entire section , then you can write a formula for that in the section expert which will work good for all the sections.

51) Define Merged dimensions:

Web Intelligence 6.5 and Web Intelligence XI allowed you to include multiple data providers in a document but did not allow you to synchronize these data providers and place objects from different data providers in the same block.

Web Intelligence XI R2 allows you to synchronize these data providers through the creation of merged dimensions. Once you have merged common dimensions, you can include dimensions from all the synchronized data providers in the same report block.

52) Define Formula language: The Web Intelligence formula language is enhanced with the addition of numerous

functions and operators, providing calculation power similar to that provided by Desktop Intelligence (formerly Business Objects).

53) Drilling on report data: Web Intelligence XI R2 introduces the new query drill mode that is specifically

adapted for drilling on data providers containing server-side aggregates in databases such as Oracle 9i OLAP. When in query drill mode, Web Intelligence modifies the query in response to each drill action, thus recalculating aggregates and ensuring their accuracy.

54) OLAP universesWeb Intelligence XI R2 allows you to access SAP BW data sources through OLAP

universes. Web Intelligence leverages the data access model familiar from standard universes to provide seamless access to SAP BW data. You work with an OLAP universe in the same way as you work with a classic universe.

55) Hierarchical lists of valuesBusiness Objects XI R2 allows universe designers to create objects with hierarchical

lists of values. Web Intelligence displays these lists of values in a tree view format. Hierarchical lists of values make it easier to navigate to specific items in a list.

56) Cascading promptsIf you define a prompt on an object whose list of values is hierarchical, Web

Intelligence displays a cascading prompt. You enter prompt values at each level of the prompt hierarchy. Like hierarchical lists of values, cascading prompts make it easier to identify the data that interests you.

57) Web Intelligence Java Report PanelThe Java Report Panel contains numerous additions to both its query and reporting

functionality.

58) Define Query:Combined queries allow you to build data providers on single universes that combine

multiple queries in UNION, INTERSECTION, and MINUS relationships. Combining queries allow you to frame complex business questions that are more difficult to frame using a single, standard query.

Web Intelligence XI R2 allows you to build data providers with two new types of query filter: sub queries and database rankings. Sub queries provide an additional method of answering complex business questions by allowing you to build data providers that include nested queries in their query filters. Web Intelligence first calculates the nested query and compares the object(s) inthe query filter against its result. If your underlying database supports ranking, Web Intelligence allows you to rank data as part of your query. This means that the data is already ranked when Web Intelligence retrieves it from the database and places it in your report. By using database ranking, you can significantly reduce the amount of data stored in Web Intelligence.

59) Define Reporting:The reporting interface of the Java Report Panel is redesigned to provide easy and

consistent access to the properties of different report elements. When you select a report element (for example a table or a cell) the Properties tab displays those properties relevant to

the element in a display format consistent across all report elements. The new interface also features dockable toolbars.

The Java Report Panel allows you to define sophisticated rankings to answer complex business questions. You can rank based on raw totals of records ranked or based on percentages of the total number of records. You can also define which dimensions Web Intelligence uses to calculate a ranking.

60) Drilling on chartsDrilling down, up, or by on a chart, provides you with a graphical explanation for why

summary results are particularly high or low.The following section of this guide tells you how to drill on:• dimensions – by drilling on chart axes • measures – by drilling on the data bars or markers in the body of the chart• dimensions – by drilling on the chart legendYou cannot Drill by dimensions on chart axes. you can Drill by dimensions on chart

legends.

You can drill on the measures displayed on the following types of chart:* bar charts – by drilling on the bars* line and radar line charts – by drilling on the data markers* pie chart – by drilling on the segments

When you drill on measures, Web Intelligence performs the drill action on each dimension displayed on the chart axes. The new measure calculations displayed on the bars or data markers on the drilled chart, correspond to the lower- or higher-level dimensions to which you drilled. The chart axis labels display the names of the drilled dimensions.

61) Define Cache:A small, temporary data storage area on your computer or a system server used to

store frequently-used or recently-accessed data.

62) Define Connection: A set of parameters that provide access to an RDBMS. These parameters include

system information such as the data account, user identification and the path to the database. The universe designer sets up the connection between a universe and the database middleware.

63) What is Dimension object Object that retrieves the data that will provide the basis for analysis in a document. A

dimension object refers to dimensions on universes and typically retrieve character-type data, or dates.

64) Define free-hand SQL:A type of data provider that you define by writing your own SQL scripts, or by using

existing SQL scripts.

65) Define linked cubes: A cube based on another cube that is defined and stored on a different server. This

allows creating and maintaining a cube on one server while it is available as a linked cube on several other servers. Linked cubes appear and work like normal cubes to users.

66) Define linked universes: Universes that share common components such as classes, objects, joins or

contexts. In linked universes, one universe is said to be the kernel or master universe while the others are the derived universes.

67) Define List of values (LOV) In Business Objects and Web Intelligence documents, a list containing data values

associated with an object. You can display, perform functions with or sort a lost of values in Business Objects.

68) What is local cube:A cube created and stored on a local computer. Cube files have “.cub” extensions.

69) What is a Micro cube? A structure in which the data retrieved by a data provider is stored in a document;

houses data that you can display in the report(s) inside the document. Most data providers return a single microcube. However, queries containing incompatible objects return two or more microcubes.

Such queries generate multiple SELECT statements.

70) What is nested dimension?A dimension in a WebIntelligence OLAP report that is grouped with another

dimension on a row or column.

71) What is universe designer?User of the BusinessObjects Designer product, responsible for creating and

maintaining universes. The universe designer distributes universes to users by exporting them to the repository or by moving them as files through the file system.

72) Define virtual cube:A logical cube made up of dimensions and measures of at least one physical cube.

Virtual cubes are similar to views in a relational database and combine data from other cubes without requiring additional data storage.

73) Define virtual dimension: A logical dimension based on properties of dimension members.