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Crystal Reports Basics: Geographic Mapping
This is based on the book, Crystal
Reports: A Beginner’s Guide. For more
detail and explanation, plus practice exercises, order the book here.
How can you show sales by country or region, from what’s in your
database? Crystal Reports has an integrated mapping function that allows
you to do this—in a variety of formats. The four map layouts in Crystal
Reports are similar to the four graph types:
- Advanced. These rely on a geographic field in your database—you
just need to specify a field to be plotted and a field containing a
value to be shown.
- Group. A map of this type relies on a group you have inserted into
your report for the points to plot, and on a summary field for the
values to show. This method provides drill-down capability.
- Cross-Tab. Works like groups, but uses cross-tabs as the data
source.
- OLAP. Works like groups, but uses OLAP grids as the data source.
Here are the main map and chart types available in Crystal Reports:
- Ranges. A ranges map separates values from your report into separate
bands and assigns a color code to each. Ways to break these out
include equal count, equal ranges, natural break, and standard
deviation.
- Dot density. Just think of a paper map with push-pin tacks in it.
- Graduated. This uses symbols that vary in size according to the
value of the data. Great for showing the relative sizes of cities and
airports, or where relative concentrations of X are. You could, for
example, show dollar signs that vary in size according to the amount
of money saved by Crystal Reports users in each location.
- Pie chart. It requires a field to plot and a subfield.
- Bar chart. It requires a field to plot and a subfield.
A nice feature to the map function is you can move the map around in
your Crystal Report just by dragging it with your mouse. To make life even
easier for you, the mapping function includes a resource similar to that
of the graphing function. The Map Analyzer allows you to put all the right
touches on your map—it even resolves mismatched data.
Geographic mapping provides some nifty functionality. For even more
functionality, you can use third-party programs, such as the ones
available here.
Consider combining geographic mapping with a tool such as
CR Chart. CR Chart helps you enhance the graphing abilities and
visual impact of your Crystal Reports, Crystal Enterprise, or Crystal
Decisions system. Add box plots, Pareto charts, scatter charts, smooth
line charts, waterfall charts, step line charts, audiograms, conditional
styling, programmable markers, and so much more. Free demo download
available.
You can also use colors to differentiate map areas. But think out a strategy
based on conveying useful information. Below are some tips on using colors, and
these apply whether you are using geographic mapping or not.
Avoid common color usage errors
- Don't just add colors gratuitously. Think of them as spices. They need
to bring out the flavor of the report, not bury it. And they need to work
together. Some spices clash when used together, and so do some colors.
- A common mistake with colors is to use large blocks of colored text on
the page. For example, yellow on a black background. You get maximum
readability with black text on a white background. You can use colored text
to emphasize or to bring out headings (or subheadings). But when used for
the main body of the text, it actually detracts from the report.
- Don't use colored page backgrounds. When people try to print these out,
the page becomes saturated with ink and paper jams result. With duplex
printers, the problem is twice as bad.
- Use contrasting colors. Many people can't see the difference between two
closely related light blues, for example. Variations in printing also cause
confusion. Then there's the issue of referring to the color. Bob in
Accounting is discussing the report. He can easily ask Beverly compare the
total that appears in dark blue text to the total that appears in dark brown
text. But how can he refer to the total in tan versus the one in light
brown?
- Avoid red backgrounds. These irritate the eye.
- Remember, color costs money. Use it where there's a return on that
investment (no need to calculate ROI).
- If there's no particular reason to use color, don't use it.
This article is copyrighted by Crystalkeen, Mindconnection, and Chelsea Technologies Ltd.
It may be freely copied and distributed as long as the
original copyright is displayed and no modifications are made to this
material. Extracts are permitted. The names Crystal Reports and Seagate
Info are trademarks owned by Business Objects. |
