Loved by Users and Consultants -- Neglected by SAP
Updated June 26, 2018
Loved by Users and Consultants -- Neglected by SAP
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Software Version
SAP Crystal Reports for Visual Studio
Overall Satisfaction with SAP Crystal
I develop software utilities for Crystal Reports. I also teach undergraduate and graduate business intelligence courses where Crystal Reports is used as one of the main software tools.
- The Crystal Reports Runtime (SDK) is very powerful.
- Crystal Reports itself is very powerful, so the combination of powerful reports + powerful SDK is very compelling.
- The ability to use dynamic expressions to control almost any aspect of report behavior and layout. For example, control visibility, formatting, sizing, and placement of any object or section using dynamic expressions.
- Dynamic expressions are not limited to a single statement. Can use variables, and control structures. In other words, full programming language (Basic-like) to control report layout and content.
- Beyond hundreds of built-in functions, you can build or purchase 3rd-party User Function Libraries (UFLs) that can extend the power of the tool in useful and creative ways.
- Critical Mass and Network Effects: millions of licenses sold, report libraries integrated into 3rd-party software packages, tech support forums, consultants, training materials ...
- Deployment options: can use as agile solution with direct connectivity to practically any data source or move into Enterprise-level deployments using data and security layers.
- The tension between Enterprise-level solutions and Agile-level solutions for BI within SAP seem to cause feature stagnation. Not much has been enhanced in the last several years even though many opportunities for obvious improvements exist.
- Because of feature stagnation, momentum is shifting to alternative BI tools such as SSRS, Power BI, Tableau, etc.
- SAP seems to like hiding useful tech support information behind a fence. Folks without support contracts can't access KBA Numbers or SAP Note IDs even though they are useful for situations such as understanding recent bug fixes.
- R&R, SSRS, Oracle OBIEE, Power BI, Cognos, ...
- Crystal has overtaken R&R many years ago (similar to how Excel overtook Lotus 1-2-3).
- The rest seem either less agile, more expensive, and in many important ways less powerful.
- I have to admit though that in other important ways they each offer some important advantages.
- For example, the ability to collapse/expand grouping rows and columns (grid-type display).