Seagate Crystal Reports 8: The Complete Reference (Book/CD-ROM package) Review

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Seagate Crystal Reports 8: The Complete Reference (Book/CD-ROM package) ReviewLess than a year after he published his landmark book for Crystal Version 7, George Peck has produced another blockbuster. He has updated his volume to include the new features in Version 8. The new book includes all that was excellent in Version 7 and goes further. It is well worth your time and money.
The book has 800 pages, 30 chapters, 2 appendixes, an index and an companion CD containing examples of finished reports, visual basic routines, active server pages and demonstration web sites. There is even a web site to report errors in the book or download corrections.
The chapters are divided into three parts: (1) A general introduction to the report design components including excellent coverage of the new features in Version 8. (2) Seven chapters explain how to create custom applications using Visual Basic and Crystal. (3) An in-depth explanation covering reporting through the web. Jim Bixby, our Crystal instructor in Portland, Oregon, revised the last section.
What makes this book different from others and the manual that is includes with the software is Peck's refusal to simply describe each of the program's features. He goes to the extra effort to explain why you would want to use a feature. He is not afraid to go into depth when depth is required. A good example is his discussion of linking tables. He not only covers linking within one database type, but also linking between database types. He provides his own point of view and discusses the impact on performance.
The book has hundreds of "Tip" paragraphs that provide extra insight into a reporting problem. There are thousands of screen shots showing how to use dialog boxes. Then there is the "What to do..." boxes that address the "got ya" problems that are likely to crop up. These are troubleshooting guides.
I like the way his uses graphics to describe complex database operations. For example: When introducing Crystal's new ability to group data in a hierarchy, he uses vertical and horizontal lines to create a organizational tree structure. While he has not yet discussed how to create the lines, he points this out so we will not be confused.
Another example: Perhaps the most confusing part of Crystal is the web reporting features. Chapter 28 goes through the various options, their strengths and their pitfalls starting with the simplest (exporting to HTML) and proceeding to the most complex (the report development component). There are extremely helpful tips discussing the way things used to be (in Version 7) and the way things are now (Version 8).
The need for ULF (user function libraries) has diminished now that Crystal has upgraded its formula language. However, there are many applications that need them. In about ten pages he explains how this is done. The companion CD contains several examples.
No reference book would be complete without an index. Peck's book has an excellent index.
If you are involved with a reporting project, or if you a responsible for teaching reporting, or if you consult and your consulting involves reporting you need a reference library. Peck's book must be at the top of your list. It will save you time and aggravation. No IS show using Crystal should be without this book.Seagate Crystal Reports 8: The Complete Reference (Book/CD-ROM package) Overview

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