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The Repository from The Ablaze Group, Inc.

November 2008

News Welcome to our newsletter!
The Repository comes out every 6 - 10 weeks. You'll find Business Objects tools tips and tricks, news about Crystal Reports, Crystal Reports Server, Xcelsius and BusinessObjects Edge/Enterprise. Check our Promotions section for upgrades, implementations and training. This month's highlights:
  • I Didn't Know... - your Crystal knowledge resource. Look for tips and tricks from Crystal Reports Professional Results.
  • 2008 Q4 30-minute Webinars - sign up today! Crystal Reports Server 2008, Xcelsius 2008, BusinessObjects Edge 3.0. See for yourself, ask questions, get answers. See our News section.
  • Ablaze Comps: free services when you buy before 12/31/08 - Check out our Promotions.

Questions? Suggestions? email us - we look forward to hearing from you.
Visit our newsletter archive for past issues.

I Didn't Know...

...how to use wingdings and other symbol fonts. By default, Crystal Reports uses a particular font face and size for report objects. While you can change the default font choices in the File|Options dialog box, you can also choose font face and size for individual report objects. You are not limited to standard letter-oriented fonts - you may choose symbol fonts such as Wingdings and Webdings as easily as you can choose letter-oriented fonts.

  1. Add a database field, text object, formula or other textual element, that you wish to display as a symbol to the report.
  2. Ensure that the object returns a character value that will "map" to the proper symbol. For example, to display a smile or frown with the Wingdings font, you might create a formula similar to this:
    If {Customer.Last Year's Sales} < 50000 Then
    "L"
    Else
    "J"
  3. Select the object you wish to format with a symbol font.
  4. Either using the Formatting toolbar or the Format Editor, select the symbol font (such as Wingdings or Webdings) that you'd like to use.
TIP To determine what the proper character value is for the desired symbol, make use of the Windows Character Map. You may choose the symbol font and character you'd like to use and copy the character to the clipboard. Then, when you paste the character into a Crystal Reports formula or text object, the proper symbol will appear when you format the object with the symbol font. The Character Map is available from the Systems Tools submenu of the Accessories menu from the Start Programs list.

Tips and tricks are brought to you by Crystal Reports Professional Results and you, our readers. You can win a copy of Crystal Reports Professional Results or Crystal Reports: The Complete Reference and see YOUR name here. How? Just email your favorite Crystal tip, trick or technique. If it's selected we'll include it and your name in the next release of The Repository and we'll send you a copy of either Crystal Reports Professional Results or Crystal Reports: The Complete Reference.

email your favorite Crystal/Business Objects tip, trick or technique.

News

2008 Q4 30-Minute Webinars.
Got half an hour? Grab a cup of coffee, sit yourself down and invest in 30 minute's worth of product learning. During Q4 2008, George Peck presents 3 monthly product learning webinars: Crystal Reports Server 2008, Xcelsius 2008, BusinessObjects Edge 3.0. These webinars are free, and will prepare you to take the best steps to buying these powerful tools.

  • Crystal Reports Server 2008 - October 2008, archive available
    Learn about the latest release of the web-based report distribution and automation tool for Crystal Reports. You'll see a live demo of online report viewing and interaction capabilities, as well as the flexible scheduling and distribution features that make Crystal Reports Server 2008 the perfect solution for small and medium size organizations with expanded reporting needs.

  • Xcelsius 2008 - November 13, 11a - 11:30a Mountain Time
    The second major release of Business Objects Excel-based dashboard and analysis tool will be demonstrated live in this exciting webinar. You'll learn how Xcelsius can turn plain textual spreadsheets into exciting, visually appealing charts, graphs, and analytics. And, we'll show you the complete interactive capabilities of Xcelsius, allowing real-time what-if analysis with sliders, gauges, buttons, and more. Finally, you'll see how to distribute your finished Xcelsius analytic to your audience via Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, and the Web.

  • BusinessObjects Edge - December 10, 11a - 11:30a Mountain Time
    See a live demo of the latest release of Business Objects' premier Business Intelligence Suite for small and medium size organizations. Not only will you learn about web-based report distribution and automation, but you'll see the leading online query and reporting tool that provides real-time, ad hoc query and reporting capabilities directly to end users through their web browser. And, we'll discuss and demonstrate several options for web-based Dashboards too!
Sign up today!
Email your full name, company name, work email and telephone number.
Sign up to review the Crystal Reports 2008 Webinar archive.
Sign up for the Xcelsius 2008 Webinar.
Sign up for the BusinessObjects Edge 3.0 webinar.

Promotions

Ablaze Comps - available until December 31, 2008
While we can't promise prices won't rise after the first of the year, we CAN promise Ablaze Comps when you buy Crystal Reports Server 2008, Xcelsius Engage Server, or BusinessObjects Edge 3.0 before the end of 2008. Just what are "Ablaze Comps"? They're free consultation and design services, available when you buy from The Ablaze Group - a Business Objects Crystal Partner.

  • Crystal Reports (XI or 2008) 10 CAL or more
    Ablaze Comp: 4 hours of telephone consultation
  • Xcelsius Engage Server
    Ablaze Comp: 1 single-page dashboard
  • BusinessObjects Edge 3.0 10 CAL or more
    Ablaze Comp: Edge 3.0 webinar for up to 10 people.
Call for details and pricing. Offer ends 12/31/2008.
Do you want to learn more about these products and our super services?
Call 800 773 3472 or email us.

The Ablaze Group, a Business Objects Crystal Partner, Sales & Support

  • Crystal Reports
  • Crystal Reports Server
  • BusinessObjects Edge
  • BusinessObjects Enterprise
  • Xcelsius
Call 800 773 3472 or email for pricing and details.

Monthly Online Learning
Log On...Learn...LIVE!
Test-drive a demo session.
Call 800 773 3472 for details and to enroll.

Training - Onsite and Online Look at our course outlines.

Consulting - Buy It By the Block!
Onsite and Remote consulting packages.

Call 800 773 3472 or email for training and consulting information.

 


About The Ablaze Group, Inc.
Consulting
Training
Books
Web Site
The Ablaze Group offers consulting and training for Xcelsius, Crystal Reports, Crystal Reports Server, BusinessObjects Edge/Enterprise. Our staff can help you design and develop reports, distribute reports via the Web, and integrate it all into your company's Web site or intranet. And we can also show you how to do it with our customizable onsite and online training classes. Just let us know how we can help.

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