I would like to ask a somewhat different question:



Is there anyone using the data within TMS to write reports with something
other than Crystal Reports?



I am seeing a great deal of time being spent on some rather mundane details
around reports (misaligned columns, formatting details, etc.)  I have to
wonder if crystal reports is the appropriate tool (and from within the TMS
program.)  On my short list is to explore something like Microsoft Reporting
Services for use with the TMS data, and offer the reports through a web
interface and is therefore available outside of TMS.



The above is a brief outline of my desire to explore reporting in other
methods so there is greater flexibility and efficiencies.  This leads me to
ask - is anyone doing this differently and if so how?  Comments?



best,

Thomas



Thomas R. Raich
Information Technology Group
Yale University Art Gallery
  o: 203.432.6589
  f: 203.432.9260

[log in to unmask]
 <http://artgallery.yale.edu> http://artgallery.yale.edu







From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Maja Clark
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 2:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: To learn or not to learn Crystal Reports



After silently following this Listserv the past several months, I'm finally
braving to poll the group to help me figure out whether it would be more
practical for me to learn Crystal Reports or to outsource. I am particularly
interested in replies from folks who work at smaller institutions (vs.
institutions large enough to have staff members whose job descriptions may
be primarily focused on TMS). I have been advised in the past that the
Crystal Reports program is too complex to bother learning given my other job
responsibilities.



Did you learn Crystal Reports? Was it difficult to master in the limited
proportion of time that you can actually allocate among your other job
duties to hone your report building skills?  I am particularly interested in
hearing from folks who do not have a computer science background, since I
have no doubt that Crystal Reports is a piece of cake for techies. I want to
know if Crystal Reports can be mastered by mere mortals!



Maja Clark

Collections Technician, Shangri La

Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art

4055 Papu Circle

Honolulu, HI 96816

(808) 792-5506

www.shangrilahawaii.org <http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/>