The addition of Crystal Reports 9.0 to Visual Studio .NET 2003 offers developers a reporting tool that allows you to turn almost any data into interactive, dynamic content through portals, wireless devices, and Microsoft Office documents. This code-intensive guide takes you step by step through developing reports and incorporating them into applications.

First, you gain a thorough understanding of how this version of Crystal Reports differs from previous versions and how it fits into the .NET platform. Then you begin creating reports and learn how to integrate them into both Windows and Web-based applications. You explore XML Web services, find out how to work with ADO.NET, and learn to use formulas and logic in your reports. Finally, you develop distributed reporting applications and discover how to deploy the applications you have created.

Packed with real-world examples of working applications, this comprehensive second edition provides a complete understanding of commonly used features, examples of integration with a variety of databases and platforms, and much more.

What does this book cover?

Here are some details on what you'll discover in this book:

• Advanced report design
• Methods for creating reports using the Expert
• How to integrate reports into Windows and Web-based applications
• Development and deployment of distributed reporting applications
• How to create XML Report Web Services and work with ADO.NET
• Tips for using parameters with Crystal Reports and customizing the report content at run-time
• Options for working with different data sources
• How to use the features contained in the properties, methods, and events associated with the Crystal Reports engine

Who is this book for?

This book is for programmers seeking a comprehensive guide to the functionality of Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET. You should have some experience with .NET and Visual Studio .NET. Some familiarity with Crystal Reports is helpful, although this update includes a large section on report design. 

Crystal Reports is one of the world's leading software packages for creating feature-rich reports and is now fully integrated with Visual Studio .NET. With this book, you will learn how to use the software to produce elegant and effective reports for Windows and the Web. It provides a detailed guide to the functionality provided with Crystal Reports for Visual Studio .NET, and shows how to integrate reports into .NET applications.

What does this book cover?

Professional Crystal Reports for Visual Studio.NET 2003 has been expanded to include functionality of the latest offering from Microsoft’s .NET platform and also the latest release of Crystal Reports. With the release of Visual Studio.NET 2003 the version of Crystal Reports included with the product has been updated and expanded. This title covers all of the fundamentals of working with Crystal Reports including:

• Creating and integrating reports into Windows and web-based applications

• Creating XML Report Web Services

• Working with ADO.NET

• Using formulas and logic in reports

• Developing distributed reporting applications

• Deploying reporting applications

The book also explores topics covering the new features and functionality. 

In this new edition, you'll also find a number of enhancements, including the following:           

• An entire chapter focused on Report Design

• More in-depth code samples to build complex applications with an emphasis on commonly used features.

• Examples that demonstrate integration with other databases and platforms (i.e. Oracle, etc.) as opposed to just samples for Access, SQL Server, etc.

• Expanded coverage on using parameters with Crystal Reports and customizing the report content at run-time.