Access Crystal Reports are additional standard reports provided by Access, which enable you to report on aspects of your data which are not covered by the normal Transaction and Record reports. These reports use the Seagate Crystal Reports print engine.

You can invoke the Access Crystal Reports through the Ribbon bar for most of the units.

When you select Access Crystal Reports a window will open listing the reports that are available.

The reports are automatically installed with the software, to a default folder called \Access Reports.

The structure of the folders within the Access Reports folder must follow a strict pattern to ensure the software can locate the reports.

The Access Reports contains a folder called SQL.

The SQL folder must contain folders named to match the units.

The reports must be placed in the folder for the unit to which they relate.

If you decide to move your reports to a central location, such as a shared folder on a network for access by multiple Users, please ensure you keep the correct folder structure.

You will also have to point each User's record to the new location.

This is done using the Options window on the User records to save the path to a new location. See User Options.

A report can be flagged as a Favourite by selecting it in the list and clicking on the Add to Favourites icon.

Reports that have been flagged in this way will be moved to the top of the list.

You can select to display just your favourites by selecting Show >> Favourites.

The Access Crystal Reports have been designed to meet the needs of most users but do have limitations. In particular, field sizes for values. These have been formulated to suit most users but you may find that where you have very large values they may appear as ##########.

If this occurs, it will be necessary for you to modify the report to expand the field. To modify reports you will require Seagate Crystal Reports Professional which is available separately.

Selecting Access Crystal Reports displays a window listing the reports currently available for that unit.

If you wish to set up a personal list of your favourite reports, select each of these reports and click on the Add to Favourites icon. You can then use Show All to display just your Favourite reports, or to show reports selected according to the first word of their name, or to Show All.

Select whether you want to print to Screen or to Printer

Select the report that you want to print.

Double clicking on a report will print it to the currently selected output device.

Alternatively, click on a report, and click on Print or press <Enter>.

If printing to Screen, when the data has been retrieved, the report will be displayed in a new window, where you can further manipulate it:

From this window, you can then print it to printer, or send it by email (assuming that you have the relevant third party software and hardware already installed and running).

Edit: This can only be used if you have purchased and installed the Professional version of Seagate Crystal Reports. You would then be able to change and enhance the selected report.

Search: This search icon enables you to search for the data to be reported in the selected report.

Note: Not all reports have searchable fields defined.

Note: If you write your own reports, and wish to use these Search facilities, you must set your reports to link with the Access features (see your Support Provider for details of this).

Note: If you have your own reports stored on your PC, changes that you make will not affect any other users, and changes that they make will not affect your reports.

The two 'Clear' icons enable you to clear the current search criteria line or all search criteria lines.

Select Search: Displays an alternative window which enables you to select predefined searches.

Print: Prints a report listing all or currently saved searches.

Show All: Shows all searches defined by all Users.

Show Mine: Shows all the Searches that you have defined.

Edit Search: Displays the selected Search in a sub-window, and enables you to edit it.

When you have finished, click on Print on the main window, or press <Enter>, to print the report using the search criteria you have just entered.

Duplicate: Duplicates the Search and displays it in the sub-window for editing. When you have completed the changes, click Print on the main window, or press Enter, to print the report using the search criteria you have just duplicated and edited.

In some of the Nominal Ledger reports, Headings will not be produced for any Sales or Purchase Nominal Codes if these do not start with 10 "Sales" or 20 "Purchases" respectively (see below), the default prefix for these Accounts.

P & L reports

There are two P & L reports for periods 1 - 12.

If a Nominal Code is set up that does not match this criteria, the subtotal descriptions will not appear as the report is based on the 'standard' Chart of Accounts. You may need to edit the Crystal report or have it edited by your Support Provider.ACD - Crystal Reports Technical Notes

As new Crystal reports are added to the software, they will begin to take advantage of reporting features that are not compatible with older versions of Crystal. For example: the As at Aged Debtors (Summary and Detailed) reports from Sales Ledger and As at Aged Creditors (Summary and Detailed) reports from Purchase Ledger cannot be compiled and printed using Crystal Reports version 8.5: You will receive the error "Open print job failed".

This relates to using ACD (Access Crystal Design) and ACR (Access Crystal Reports) within DimensionsHorizons.

Supported Operating Systems with Crystal 11 are detailed below:

Service pack 2 is now available for Crystal 11, this will make Crystal compatible with Windows Authentication.

From Dimensions 2.43c, Windows Authentication can be used with Crystal 11 plus service pack 2.

Crystal 10 is supported for Dimensions 2.41b and above in so much that Dimensions will print Crystal 10 reports using the Crystal 9 print engine.

Crystal 10 is not provided, to use Crystal 10 it will be necessary to copy the crpe32.dll file from Crystal 10 to the location of your Dimensions software.

Please note, Crystal 10 support does not cover new features available in this version. For further assistance, please contact your Dealership.

We recommend users use Postscript Print Drivers.

Multiple sub-reports are supported from Version 2.41c.