| Microsoft Retail Management System (MS RMS), | | | | database that you are targeting that contains the data |
| formerly known as QuickSell 2000, is an integrated | | | | needed for your Crystal Reports. |
| retail management software designed to help small | | | | Tables Structure |
| and medium-sized retailers to automate their business | | | | When a business entity is processed, the information is |
| processes. It runs on personal computers and can be | | | | written onto the RMS database tables. The tables |
| used by practically any type of a retail environment: | | | | structure is self-explanatory. Entities include Customers, |
| sporting goods, hobby stores, convenience food | | | | Transactions, Supplier and Tender. |
| stores, appliance stores, liquor stores, just to name a | | | | Links |
| few. It can also help manage a number of store and | | | | The master table in Microsoft RMS usually displays an |
| headquarters operations including inventory control, | | | | ID Column and the Transaction linked to it: |
| employee management, purchase orders, and sales | | | | Transaction.CustomerID=CustomerID. If you were to |
| tracking. | | | | create a query that will display customer information |
| Microsoft RMS uses worksheet technology, wherein | | | | and sales transactions, do the following statement: |
| updates from Headquarters are deployed to the | | | | Select b.FirstName, b.LastName, a.* from [Transaction] |
| stores by generating a worksheet with a specified | | | | a join Customer b on a.CustomerID=b.ID |
| command. The stores, on the other hand, upload data | | | | Use this knowledge to create links for your report |
| including sales transaction and receipt journals back to | | | | creation. |
| Headquarters. These transactions are not generated | | | | SQL Views and Stored Procedures |
| from Headquarters. It is, therefore, not wise to attempt | | | | Since Microsoft SQL can be deployed in RMS, you |
| data integration of such transactions between the two | | | | have unlimited access to SQL Views and execute a |
| entities (store and headquarters). | | | | number of Transact-SQL statements into one using |
| Crystal Reports is a report-writing software that can | | | | Stored Procedures. |
| integrate itself to Microsoft RMS database. It goes | | | | Advanced Techniques and Tips |
| beyond the report creation process of RMS' own | | | | You can create a link server in Microsoft SQL |
| Report Writer. As a developer, Crystal Reports will | | | | Enterprise Manager to connect to all ODBC |
| help your client access decision-driving information to | | | | OLEDB-compliant databases (Ctree, PervasiveSQL/ |
| aid in managing their businesses more effectively. | | | | Btrieve, MS Access, Oracle, DB2, Unidata) and C |
| The following are some guidelines in using Crystal | | | | ODBC-compliant database such as Navision. |
| Reports in Microsoft RMS: | | | | You can also use the OPENROWSET keyword in |
| Microsoft SQL Server or MSDE | | | | MS SQL to create a pool of linked databases for your |
| A native SQL driver can be deployed in RMS to | | | | Crystal Reports. |
| connect to the database targeted for report | | | | Need more information? |
| generation. | | | | Contact us: |
| You can also use Open Database Connectivity | | | | For customization work and advice, please contact |
| (ODBC) - an integration tool to connect a client | | | | Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Chief Technology |
| application to an ODBC-compliant database. Microsoft | | | | Officer. His works include development of applications |
| RMS uses the ODBC drivers installed by Microsoft | | | | with the use of Dexterity, SQL, C# .NET, Crystal |
| SQL Server. Once it prompts you to connect to the | | | | Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK. |
| appropriate data source, choose the company | | | | |