Crystal Reports Interview Questions for freshers experienced :-
1. What is Crystal Report?
Crystal report is a report generation tool. Generally have interface with VB6. Crystal report basically generates dynamic data. You can format the data in whichever way you feel like.
2. Can we use Crystal report as a stand-alone application?
Generally we use Crystal Reports with VB6. However we can make crystal report stand-alone application also. But for that limitation is for viewing the report user should have crystal reports installed on his/her PC.
3. How do we connect to the database?
There are two ways of creating the report: –
- Use crystal report built in query.
- Use the tool ‘ Crystal SQL Designer’ provided by crystal report.
When you create report using crystal report built in query then it asks for the data source name that you have created. When you run the report, then for the first time it will ask for the user id and password. After that it will store the same.
When you create ‘.qry’ using ‘Crystal SQL’ Designer then at that time it will ask for the user id and password. When you run the report for the first time instead of asking for the user id and password it will ask for the ‘.qry’ file location. You can change the query location also. For that open the report, select ‘Set Location’ option in Database menu item, and set the location.
4. How do we format field?
For formatting any field just right click on it and you will get many options like ‘Format Field.’ ‘Browse field data’ etc. Click on ‘Format Field.’ You can align data, suppress, make it multiline, change the font size, style, and type, make it hyperlink etc.
If it is an amount field then you can display currency symbol also. Right click on the field select ‘Format Field’.
5. Can we give parameters to the report?
We can very well give parameters to the report. For creating parameters select ‘Parameter Field’ in Insert menu item. ‘Create Parameter Field’ dialog box will popped up, it will ask for the name of parameter, prompting text and datatype. Now when you run the report it will prompt for these parameters.
6.Can we create our own formulas in reports?
We can create our own formulas in reports. Select ‘Formula Field’ in Insert menu item. Write the formula in ‘Formula Editor’. Here you will get ‘Field Tree’, ‘Function Tree’, and ‘Operator Tree’, which will display the report fields, functions that are supported by crystal reports (like CDATE () etc.), operators (arithmetic, strings etc.) respectively.
7. Can we create report using more than one database?
We can create report using more than one database like Oracle, Access. Create data source name for both the databases. Select tables from them and create the report.
Only restriction is if you use two databases then you cannot see the SQL generated by crystal reports.
8. Can we export data of reports into other format like in world doc etc?
Generated data can be exported to word doc, or in rich text format. Just click on ‘Export’ icon in the menu. Export dialog box will be popped up. It will ask for the ‘Format’ like comma-separated value (csv) etc and the ‘Destination’ like disk, application etc. After that it will ask for the file name and save the data.
Only restriction is formatting of data will be lost, but crystal report will try to maintain as much formatting as it can.
9. Can we use our own SQL for creating a report?
We can also make our own query using ‘Crystal SQL Designer’ tool provided by SQL. Here you can insert your SQL statement as such. It will save this file as ‘.qry’ . And when you create a report instead of using ‘Database’ button use ‘Crystal SQL Statement’ button.
10. Can we edit SQL made by Crystal reports?
We cannot edit the SQL made by crystal reports. However we can view the SQL. For that select ‘Show SQL Query’ in Database menu item. Limitation is if you are using only one database. If you use two databases then you can’t even view the SQL prepared by crystal report.
11. Are there any limitations in crystal reports?
There are certain limitations in crystal reports. They are: –
- If database is having field whose length is more than 255 characters, then you cannot make formula using that field.
- While exporting data formatting is lost.
- When you browse data just by right clicking on the field then it displays that is there in the database not the data selected by the query.
12. Can we suppress printing in crystal reports if 0 records are fetched?
Yes, we can suppress printing if no records are fetched. Select ‘Report Options’ in File menu item. ‘Report Options’ dialog box will pop up. In that there is one option ‘ Suppress printing if no records’ Check this option. If no records are found then nothing will be printed on the report.
13. What are the sections that we have in Crystal reports?
- Report has got standard sections like ‘Page Header’, ‘Page Footer’, ‘Report Header’, ‘Report Footer’, and ‘Details’.
- However you can add other sections also. Select ‘Sections’ in the Insert menu item. You can insert group sections also.
- If you don’t want to show any section just right click on that section and suppress that.
14. Can we add any database field once we have chosen ‘Close’ button?
- Yes, we can add any database field afterwards also. Select ‘Database Field’ in Insert menu item.
- If you are using crystal report built in query then it will display the tables that you have selected. And you can select whichever field you want to display on the report.
- But if you are using ‘.qry’ file then it will display Query and you can select only those field, which are there in the query.
15. Does Crystal Report support all the functions that we have in Oracle?
No, Crystal report does not support all the functions. Like Decode function is there in SQL but not there is crystal report. You need to convert that in crystal report format (in if and else etc.).
However if you use ‘.qry’ files then it take the SQL as such. There is no need of changing any syntax.
16. Can we use stored procedure for creating the report?
Yes, we can use stored procedure.
17. Is there any feature like summing total in crystal report?
- Crystal reports provide features like grand total, sub-total, running total etc. You can select any of these features in Insert menu item.
- You can sum up records on the basis of each record or on change of group using ‘Running Total ‘ option in Insert menu item.
18. I am using two tables one is of access database and other is of oracle database, I am getting an error saying that ‘SQL odbc error’ what should I do?
If you are getting such an error then click the icon for ‘Report Expert’. It will give a warning saying that formatting will be lost. Ignore this you will get ‘Standard Report Expert’ dialog box. Reverse the links of access database table and it will work.
19.How do we connect to the database?
- Use crystal report built in query.
- Use the tool Crystal SQL Designer provided by crystal report. [Most data sources can be chosen through the Database Expert dialog box. The Database Expert appears when you create a report from scratch using Blank Report, or when you choose Database Expert from the Database menu.
Note: You also select a data source in the Report Creation Wizards. The Data screen in all of the Report Creation Wizards, except the OLAP Report Creation Wizard, is much like the Database Expert dialog box.To select a data source Choose Database Expert from the Database menu. The Database Expert dialog box appears. Use the tree view in the Available Data Sources list of the Data screen to select your data source: Current Connections Favorites History Create New Connection Repository Some popular choices in the Create New Connection folder are described here:Access/Excel (DAO), Database Files, ODBC (RDO), OLAP OLE DB (ADO)Note: The data source options available in the Create New Connections folder depend on the data access components selected during installation.]
20.Can we use Crystal report as a stand-alone application?
We can make crystal report stand-alone application also. But for that limitation is for viewing the report user should have crystal reports installed.
21.How to “Print” in Crystal Reports while using ASP DOT NET Platform?
Using Crystal Decisions. SharedCrystalReport1 cr= new CrystalReport1;’here crystalreport1 is crystal report which we design.CrystalViewer1.ReportSource = cr; OR we can directly print the report without showing reportCrystalReport1 cr= new CrystalReport1;cr.PrintToPrinter(1,False,1,1);
22.What are the advantages or disadvantages of using Crystal?
Reports in a Windows Forms application as opposed to say rolling our own reports as HTML and displaying them in the Internet Explorer control
Advantages :
- Secure as End user cannot modify the data which is appear in the report if we use crystal report to show the report but in HTML, user can modify the report data
- Report layout is not transparent, so that end user will not know about how we design the report. But in HTML, anybody can study the report layout and can copy the technology
- Can export into different format like PDF, HTML, XML, etc, and many more.
Disadvantages :
- End user need to have the crystal report viewer in his PC in order to see the crystal report output. But this can be overcome if you export the report as PDF/HTML
- You need to buy Crystal Report license for each pc you are used to design the crystal report.
- Must buy the version which allows you to install run time components in end user PC
- Crystal Report is slow as compare to Active Reports
- If we have 100 pages report then crystal will need to process all pages and then it shows the output. and many more.
23.What are Crystal Reports and Crystal Reports Explorer?
With Crystal reports explorer one can quickly create and modify reports on the web, and since its built on the trusted Business object enterprise platform, it can easily manage massive user loads, individual access, and application customization.
24.How to conditionally suppress a field based on whether a page number is odd or even?
Select the field –>Click FORMAT–>Click FORMAT FIELD–>Select the COMMON tab–>Click the FORMULA BUTTON to the right of SUPPRESS (Don’t click the suppress check box)To suppress a field on odd numbered pages PageNumber MOD 2 = 1To suppress a field on even numebred pages PageNumber MOD 2 = 0 –>Click SAVE Icon–>Close the formula editor–>Click OK on the FORMAT screen
25.How to pass stored Procedure Parameters to the report?
Choose File–>Options menu.
In the Options dialog box –>Click the Database tab and ensure that Stored Procedures is selected. Selecting “”Stored Procedures”” automatically displays any available stored procedures when you log on to an SQL database.–>Click OK to exit the Options dialog box. –>On the Start Page, click Blank Report.–>Locate and select the SQL Server data source that contains the stored procedure you want to use.–>Click Next to go to the Connection Information dialog box–>Enter the required information to log in.–>Click Finish–>Highlight an SQL stored procedure in the Stored Procedures folder, and click the–>arrow to add it to the Selected Tables list.–>The Enter Parameter Values dialog box appears.–>Highlight a parameter in the Parameter Fields list–>Assign a value by typing into the Discrete Value box and then click OK–>You are returned to the Database Expert–>Click OK and create your report using the fields in the stored procedure.
26.What is the “refresh” button suppose to do on the crystal Report viewer?
- When you use Refresh Button in crystal report viewer, it refreshes the report data.
- When you refresh data from the Preview tab, the Refresh Report Data dialog box appears
Select the “Use current parameter values” option to use the current parameter value,
Select the “Prompt for new parameter values” option to enter a new parameter value.
When you select this option and click OK, the Enter Prompt Values dialog box appears. The program now runs the report using the new value(s) you specified.
27.Is there a way to export a report definition without writing code?
- Yes. The following steps work assuming you have Crystal Reports on the machine and the appropriate export dlls loaded.
- Open the report
- Preview it
- Click the EXPORT envelope
- Select REPORT DEFINITION for the format
- Select DISK FILE
- Click OK
- Enter a file name or accept the default
- Click SAVE. The file is a text file and can be viewed with NOTEPAD.
28.Is there a way to export the report formulas, like totals to excel?
Yeah we can do that using crystal report
29.What does it mean when we get the error message “Invalid report version” when try to open a Crystal Report?
Crystal in its evolution has changed the report file format several times. In most cases the file format is FORWARD-compatible. By this I mean a file created in Crystal 6 can be opened in Crystal 6 or higher. When the file format changes were major the format is not BACKWARD compatible. By this I mean a file created in CR 9 cannot be opened in CR 8 or before. Crystal changed the report file format with CR 8 and CR 9. The CR 9 change was because of the introduction of Unicode support. CR 8 has the ability to save a file in CR 7 format. Because of the support for Unicode CR 9, 10, and XI cannot save the file in previous formats.
30.How to write a formula to change a font based upon data?
- Select the field
- Click FORMAT
- Click FORMAT FIELD
- Select the FONT tab
- Click the FORMULA BUTTON to the right of FONTif ({YourField} = Value) then “Arial”else “Times New Roman
- Click SAVE Icon
- Close the formula editor
- Click OK on the FORMAT screen
31.How many sub-reports can report can have?
0-256
32.Where is the “save data with report” option?
You can find File menu.
33. How to refresh the crystal report from the application?
calling crystalreportcontrolname.reset (by selecting Report menu under Refresh the report menu item at design time) will refresh the report[crystalreport1.DiscardSavedData=True]