Reports can retrieve data from Banner and other databases in bulk form to create lists, spreadsheets, and data feeds to other systems.
The University uses Crystal Reports for its reporting needs. The suite includes the Crystal Reports version 2020 desktop software and the Crystal Business Objects web server.
Report Requests
To request a new report, for help re-running an existing report, or to request data, please complete the Crystal Report Request Form.
Crystal Reports Licensing
There are two types of licenses in use at the University:
1. Crystal Reports Desktop Software
This license allows you to run the full Crystal application on your PC.
After you're approved for the desktop license, we'll install Crystal on your computer and configure it to connect to Banner.
We recommend this option for advanced users familiar with the location of data in the Banner database tables. Users should understand how to define and build reports within Crystal and where to save reports so they're backed up.
Important: Always save reports to a network server—either your J: drive or departmental drive—never save a report to your computer's C: drive!
2. Crystal Reports Enterprise
This license allows you to retrieve reports from the Crystal Reports/Business Objects website crystal.fitchburgstate.edu without installing the desktop software.
Reports on crystal.fitchburgstate.edu can be refreshed (with parameters) and/or scheduled to email you (or other university personnel) regularly.
In order for a report to appear on crystal.fitchburgstate.edu, one of the Crystal Reports developers must move it there.
What Can Crystal Reports Do For Me?
Crystal Reports can gather data from many sources (such as Banner, spreadsheets, and other databases). This data can be sorted, filtered, compared, and manipulated.
Data is most often rendered in native Crystal format, as a file with an extension RPT. There are other ways to render report data, such as Excel files, Comma Separated Value (CSV) files, and PDFs.
Crystal Reports can also create charts and graphs, perform mail merges, create forms, and print mailing labels.