Linking Reports to External Websites or Documents
Subject: SAP Crystal Reports in SAP Field
SAP Crystal Reports offers robust capabilities not only for designing rich, data-driven reports but also for enhancing interactivity by linking report content to external websites or documents. This feature enables report users to seamlessly access additional information, supporting documents, or related resources directly from the report interface, improving navigation and user experience.
This article explores how to create and manage hyperlinks in Crystal Reports to external URLs, documents, or even other reports, along with best practices for implementation.
Crystal Reports allows you to add hyperlinks to text objects, fields, images, or buttons using formula fields or static URLs.
Choose the database field or text object that you want to convert into a hyperlink.
Right-click the object and select Format Field (or Format Text for text objects).
In the Format Editor dialog, go to the Hyperlink tab.
Check the option "Hyperlink" and select the hyperlink type:
You can either enter a fixed URL or write a formula to create dynamic URLs based on field values. For example:
"http://www.company.com/products/" + {Product.ProductID}
This generates a link to a product page based on the product ID field in the report.
You can link to documents stored locally or on a network file share by specifying the file path or URL. Examples:
File path:
"file:///\\NetworkShare\Documents\Contract_" + ToText({Customer.CustomerID}) + ".pdf"
Web URL:
"https://intranet.company.com/docs/ServiceManual.pdf"
Incorporating hyperlinks to external websites or documents in SAP Crystal Reports adds a valuable layer of interactivity and connectivity. By enabling users to navigate directly from report data to relevant resources, businesses can enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. Mastering hyperlink features allows report designers to build more engaging, user-friendly reports that integrate seamlessly with broader information ecosystems.