As I am still new to using Crystal, I asked my IS support person if there was something she recommended that I could get/do that would help me in using Crystal reports with Raiser's Edge data, in addition to my having already taken a class (not from Blackbaud) on Crystal. She told me I should see if I could get the Entity Relationship Diagram because it would help me understand what/how fields/records are linked together. Anybody know where I could find this? If no one has any suggestions I will call Blackbaud support. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

I do not know if this is the answer you were looking for but my IT guy told me that in 7.6 he can now see the table structure and relationships in the management console where he wasn't able to do this in previous versions. Would this help? Melissa S. Graves Databse Administrator Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804

Unless your are using Crystal with Re:Open, there is really no need for you to see or even understand the table structure. Export does all the work for you. You just choose the fields you need and Export figures out what tables you need and creates any and all links. All you have to do is start putting the fields in the report. The best way to learn Crystal is use it as much as possible. The more you use it the more you figure out. Dee Demling

For most of my reports it created the proper linking. For one of my more complicated and often used report some of the linking was not correct. I don't know enough to say whether it was something I did, perhaps because I requested additional information in my export when I refreshed, I'm not sure. My IS person (and resident Crystal expert) says smart linking is not so smart and that if I could understand the table structure it might help me in the future with my reports. I wish it was as easy as just putting the fields in the report but it's not. I defintely agree, like most software, the more I use it the more I know. Thank You. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

Melissa, I am not sure, will check it out when I upgrade to 7.6. Right now I am still on 7.3. Until I get our operating system upgraded (hopefully by year end) I can't install 7.5 and 7.6. Thanks. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

Hi Denise, this link to Sybase's PowerDesigner 9.5 was shared by a user at our user group two weeks ago. RE Open users were complaining about the ackwardness of RE Open manuel in terms of visualising the table relationships. This software apparently shows the links graphically. I have not tested it nor know if you need RE Open (I doubt it) but I pass it on. http://crm.sybase.com/sybase/www/eBD/my_03/pd952_dwnld_eval.jsp  The link leads to an download form (not mandatory info) Genevieve Zevort Information Systems MUHC Foundation

Thanks Genevieve. I am getting ready to leave for the day and will be at a seminar tomorrow but I will check it out on Friday. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

Thanks Genevieve. I checked it out and it's over my head but I will share the information with my IS support to see if she can use it or filter just the information I might need to see. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

If you are still looking for info on how RE tables are linked the following may be of use. It's lifted from an answer by David Drees to a similar question. If you look in the help directory under c:\program files\...\re7\help, you will find a pdf file called REOpenBook. That has all the tables and the way they link. We are using 7.6, so the exact name of the file may differ slightly if you are on a different version. You can also go to http://www.blackbaud.com/support/guides/re76/REOpenBook.pdf  and get the guide there.

Yes, I had already found them but another user was looking for the file just today, so I am going to post the link you provided on that thread for him/her. Thanks. Denise Stengl All Saints Healthcare Foundation Racine, WI 262.687.2208 [Email Removed]

The RODBA User Guide is available only to clients who have purchased Read-Only Database Assistance (RODBA, formerly known as OPEN). RODBA is a Maintenance "product" that consists of detailed documentation including table definitions, a set of custom viewing tools that are used in conjunction with the workstation components of Raiser's Edge and/or The Financial Edge, and professional setup assistance and ongoing advanced support from our Developer Solutions Support team. The RODBA installation CD enables the custom viewing tools and unlocks access to the User Guide. If you'd like more information about RODBA, please contact your Customer Sales Representative at [Email Removed], or 800-443-9441.