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
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