Crystal Reports XI:
Advanced
Frequently asked questions and instructor notes
All our courses assume that each student has a personal computer to use during the class. Our hands-on approach to learning requires they do. This topic gives information on how to set up the classroom to teach this course. It includes minimum requirements for the students’ personal computers, setup information for the first time you teach the class, and setup information for each time that you teach after the first time you set up the classroom.
Hardware requirements
Each student’s personal computer should have:
· A keyboard and a mouse
· A Pentium III or
higher processor (700 MHz minimum)
· 512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)
· 5.5 GB of available hard-disk space
· A CD-ROM drive
· An XGA monitor (1,024´768 minimum resolution support)
Software requirements
You will need the following software:
· Windows XP Professional (You can also use Windows 2000, SP4, although the screen shots in this course were taken using Windows XP, so students’ screens might look somewhat different.)
· Crystal Reports XI Professional
· Crystal Reports Server (30-day trial version or registered version)
· Microsoft Office 2003
· A printer driver (an actual printer is not necessary)
Network requirements
The following network components and connectivity are also required for this course:
· Internet access, for the following purposes:
· Downloading the latest critical updates and service packs from www.windowsupdate.com
· Downloading the student data files from www.courseilt.com (if necessary)
First-time setup instructions
The first time you teach this course, you will need to perform the following steps to set up each student computer.
1 Install Windows XP on an NTFS partition according to the software manufacturer’s instructions. If the student machines have Internet access, and they are behind a software or hardware firewall, install the latest critical updates and service packs from www.windowsupdate.com.
2 From the Control Panel, open the Display Properties dialog box and apply the following settings:
· Theme — Windows XP
· Screen resolution — 1024 by 768 pixels
· Color quality — High (24 bit) or higher
3 Install the Internet Information Services component from the XP installation disk. A default installation of this component is all that is required.
4 Do a Custom installation of Microsoft Office 2003 Professional. Install only Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access.
5 Do a Custom installation of Crystal Reports XI Professional Edition. On the Select Features screen:
– Expand Export Support. For ODBC Data Source Format, select Will be installed on local hard drive.
– For Geographic Mapping, select Will be installed on local hard drive
6 On the Web Update Service Option screen, check the Disable Web Update Service if you do not want Crystal Reports to regularly access the Internet for software updates.
Warning: The activities in this course were tested with updated software as of January 2006. If any subsequent Crystal Reports updates include significant changes, some activities might not work exactly as described, and some screen shots might not match what students will see on their screens. Therefore, if you choose to update the software, we strongly recommend that you walk through the entire course, noting any changes so you can point them out during class.
7 Continue installation with remaining default settings.
8 On the registration screen, click Register Later.
9 Install Crystal Reports Server. Accept the default installation options until reaching the Choose Web Component Adapter Type screen. On this screen, clear Java application server, and verify that IIS ASP.NET is checked.
10 During installation, provide a password for MSDE Security Configuration. The default username is sa. When the Business Objects Registration Wizard dialog box appears, click Register Later. Clear the Business Objects Enterprise Administration Launchpad checkbox.
11 Install a printer driver. An actual printer is not necessary.
12 If you don’t have the data CD that came with this manual, download the Student Data files for the course. You can download the data directly to student machines, to a central location on your own network, or to a disk.
a Create a folder named Student Data at the root of the hard drive.
b Connect to www.courseilt.com/instructor_tools.html.
c Click the link for Crystal Reports to display a page of course listings, and then click the link for Crystal Reports XI: Advanced.
d Click the link for downloading the Student Data files, and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
13 Add the Outlander logo to the Business Objects Enterprise Repository. To do this:
a Start Crystal Reports XI.
b If the Business Objects Registration Wizard dialog box opens, click Register Later.
c On the Start Page, choose Open file. Navigate to the Unit_06 folder, and open Repository report.
d Choose View, Repository Explorer to open the Repository. Click Logon on the Repository Explorer toolbar. You will be asked to log on to the Business Objects Enterprise server. Enter the user name as Administrator to log on, if necessary. There is no password.
e Choose Insert, Picture to display the Open dialog box.
f Select Outlander logo, and click Open. Place the picture anywhere in the report.
g Right-click the picture and choose Add to Repository to open the Add Item dialog box.
h In the Name box, type Outlander Logo and in the Author box, type Outlander Spices.
i Under Location, right-click the top-level object (Computername [Administrator]), choose New Folder, and type Images. Verify that the Images folder is selected.
j Click OK to add the picture under Images in the Crystal Repository.
k Close the Repository Explorer. Close the report and do not save changes to it.
l Close Crystal Reports XI.
Setup instructions for every class
Every time you teach this course, it’s best to do a fresh install of Crystal Reports. If you choose not to do this, you will need to perform the following steps to set up each student computer.
1 If necessary, reset any defaults that have been changed in previous classes.
a Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator and delete the user data sources Product Information and Retail Orders.
2 Delete the contents of the Student Data folder, if necessary. (If this is the first time you are teaching the course, create a folder named Student Data at the root of the hard drive. For a standard hard drive setup, this will be C:\Student Data.)
3 Copy the data files to the Student Data folder. (See the download instructions in the preceding section.)
Topic B: Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions for this course at this time.
Topic C: Course notes
There are no notes for this course at this time.
Topic D: Additional information
There is no additional information for this course at this time.