Run report that finds no data. How can you be sure report worked? 1

[mjm19]

Is there a formula out there that tells a user upon completion of a report that it did indeed search the database, but found nothing that qualified for the report.
Need to run a daily report that rarely finds data, but when it does, needs to be acted upon immediately. Regulatory issues have come up where I need to defend that a search was done via a message on the report itself from the Crystal formula.
We have Crystal v8.0 and 8.5.
Thanks for any input ....

Mike

 

[Naith]

Can you not verify that the report is doing what it's supposed to by looking at the SQL it generates? (Database menu/Show SQL)

Naith

 

[mjm19]

Naith,
Yes I can do that, but not good for users who look at the completed, mostly "blank" report. I recently took a Crystal Report Design 8.5 course where the Instructor showed us how a message could be generated via a formula when the report did successfully read the database, and found nothing to qualify for it. Of course I thought that it was of know use at the time, but now I'm being asked to come up with something as proof on the report. We are a huge networked Enterprise here, and this report prints out miles away from where I'm at.

Thanks for your help,

Mike
Boston, Ma.

 

[Naith]

I think the technique your instructor showed you was how to return a message when no records are returned. If there is no database connection for the report, it'll just fall over.

In your report header, place a formula that says simply:

Count({KeyField})

In the place of KeyField, place a core field to the report. i.e. an id or something. Something which the report MUST contain if it were to return data.

Right click the report header, and insert a new section. In this section, place a text box containing your chosen message for when the report contains no data.

Conditionally suppress this new section with the following details:

Not IsNull(Count({KeyField}))

This will suppress the section when there are KeyField values, but when there aren't, the section and it's message will be displayed.

Naith

 

[IdoMillet]

Insert a "Text Object" saying "No Records Found" and set its Suppress attribute to:
-----------------------------------------
Not(Isnull(Count({some_Field}))) or
Count({some_Field}) > 0
-----------------------------------------

Cheers,
- Ido

CUT, Visual CUT, and DataLink Viewer:
view, e-mail, export, burst, distribute, and schedule Crystal Reports.

http://www.MilletSoftware.com

 

[mjm19]

Thanks Naith ... you've saved my neck. This is exactly what I need to do.

Mike