[RESOLVED] Consolidating details in crystal 10

[drag0n_45]

Hello,
I'm trying to make my crystal report for the output of a program I'm writing. I want to take two detail lines and condense them to one, but ONLY if a given field is different. For example, let's say a user chooses 10 packages. Three are boxes and seven are bags. I would like to have on detail line say 3 boxes and then the total weights of JUST the boxes, and then 7 bags and the total weights of just the seven bags. How would I do this?

[brucevde]

Crystal has many options to turn raw data into a desired format. Groupings, Formulas, Summaries, Running Totals etc. It would help if you posted a sample of the raw data and how you want the report laid out.

[drag0n_45]

I think it would have to be a complex formula involving some kind of variables, but here goes...

I have an access database that stores information about packages being shipped, each package has a package number (the number of the package in the shipment), a description, a type (Boxes, Bags, Containers, etc), and then various radioactivity measurements.
An example of such:
Package No:1
Type: Box
Description: Clean Laundry
Contact Rate: 5mR/hr
Activity: 5MBq


Package No: 2
Type: Box
Description: Clean Laundry
Contact Rate: 2mR/hr
Activity 3MBq

Package No: 3
Type: Containter
Description: Empty Container
Contact Rate: 3mR/hr
Activity: .1MBq

Now assume this is in table form, and what I'd like to have the output be for a given part on my report is....

Number of Packages: 2
Type: Box
Total Contact:7mR/hr
Total Activity: 8MBq

Number of Packages: 1
Type: Container:
Total Contact: 3mR/hr
Activity .1MBq

I've taught myself basic crystal, but what I'd need to do here is iterate through all the fields of description, and count which ones are similar, add up the radioactivity values, and then display the total count, the similar description, and radioacitve sums while still maintaining the ability to have more than one type of package be displayed. I know how to get a sum, but I don't know how to take a sum of only a certain amount and create the script to continue to add details of each different kind of package...

[brucevde]

I don't know how to take a sum of only a certain amount and create the script to continue to add details of each different kind of package...

If you add a Group to the report (in your case based on the Type field) and include Summary fields Crystal will handle totalling everthing correctly.
Create two formulas that extract the numeric data from the Contact Rate and Activity fields. You can then create summary fields on those formulas.

It wasn't clear from your post but do you want to total by Type and Description or just by Type? I assumed just Type but if you want totals by Type and Description then add another Group based on the Description field.

Now it is just a matter of displaying the fields and formulas. Place them in the Group Footer and Suppress the Details section.

[drag0n_45]

Well, the output on that page won't contain the description. it will simply be quantity of a given type, then the type, then a UN listing code of that type of shipment (not the description of the packages) then the total contact rate as a summation of just that type, then total activity as a summation of just that type, and then any additional types and so so on.

[brucevde]

Then you only need the 1 Group based on the Type field.

[drag0n_45]

when i create the group it creates the header and footer for the group .... I'm going to try to attach an ms word document of the way I want the output to look...

but I don't understand how to create a summary for just the group. I know how to create a summary field for ALL records of a given field (for example, the total number of packages,) but I don't get how I'm supposed to sum up the info from the current group only.

[drag0n_45]

I just tried creating a group and came up with each package being displayed and sorted by group. Problm is I don't want EACH package to be displayed, I want to have it say that there are two containers then the dose and contact rate sums of both, the one bag, etc... i'm going to try to upload that word file now to make it clearer...

[drag0n_45]

here's the file

[brucevde]

I only have version 8.5 here so I hope the menu items are the same in 10.

but I don't understand how to create a summary for just the group.

Use the Insert -> Summary menu. The Group.jpg attachment is a screenshot of this dialog. In this sample the report is grouped by CategoryId and the Summary type is Count. When you click okay Crystal will add this field to the Group Footer section. Use the Report -> Top N/Sort Group Expert menu to sort the Groups based on the Count summary field.

Since this report summarizes the data, the Details section should be Suppressed. Place all output fields in the Group Footer.

[drag0n_45]

brucevde, when I said summary, I wasn't speaking in crystal terms, just layman terms. I fairly new to crystal (I've only been using it for about 2 days) so I don't know how to do a lot. Take a look at the word document I posted.

[drag0n_45]

I did get it working. Thank you. I had to use the details field to populate all the details of the group then creat a summary in the footer by right clicking on the detail and selecting summary and changing it to be in the footer. Now on to page two of the report....