easy way to copy report header between different reports?

[JKrumins]

i have developed a 'standard' front page for my company's reports (ie the Report Header in Crystal). It includes some of the special fields (date printed, author, filename, comments) from Crystal's 'Summary info' and company logo (graphic) and some boxes and lines to make it pretty.

The question is, what is the best way to save and re-use that 'template' so that it can be easily applied to all new reports and all existing reports that don't have this 'front page' yet?

Copy-and-paste seems to be a bit problematic (because there is text within boxes) and in any case i can't ensure exactly the same positioning.
In particular, how do I easily get the whole header into an existing report, ie where i am not starting from scratch?

Any tips gratefully received.

 

[Mike Lewis]

JKrumins,

If you are using CR 9.0, you can create a template file:

- Create a report containing the common header.

- In the summary info dialogue, give it a name that you will remember.

- Save it.

- Open another report.

- Select Report / Template Expert. Click Browse, and navigate to, and select, the template you just created.

The second report should now have the same headings as the templage.

Give it a try.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

 

[JKrumins]

Thanks.
Unfortunately I'm using only Crystal 8.

 

[lbass]

Each time you start a new report, you could open your standard front page report and then do "file save as", giving the report a new name.

For old reports, you could go to insert->subreport->choose a report->then choose your standard front page report and then insert it in the report header (or a second report header section that you have inserted and toggled in format->section to be report header_a).

-LB

 

[hilfy]

If you go with lbass' first suggestion (file save as), you might want to make the rpt file containing your standard front page read only. That way you can't accidently overwrite it and it will force you to do save as if you want to save your work.

-D