Download the entire Crystal Ball directory.
Run the Crystal Ball installation program.
On the Select components to install page, select all components, including the following Windows features:
Set up the Microsoft SQL Server database engine (exact name may vary).
On the Finish page, follow the onscreen instructions to continue the installation.
When completed, a message box will appear indicating that Crystal Ball has been successfully installed.
Note:
• To obtain the latest version of the Microsoft SQL Server database engine, visit the Microsoft SQL Server Software Downloads web site.
Note:
• To determine which version of Excel is required, visit the Microsoft Download Center.
4. Create an External data connection
In Crystal Ball, go to the File menu and select External data connection.
In the upper-right corner of the Open dialog box, click New.
In the New External Data Connection dialog box, in the External data tab, select the New Data connection option, and then click Next.
On the Specify File Connection dialog box, in the File drop-down list, select your Excel workbook or XLSM file, and then click the Browse button.
In the Save dialog box, click Browse, and then navigate to the directory containing the Excel workbook or XLSM file.
In the Folder dialog box, type a name for the connection, and then click OK.
Note:
• You can also select an Excel file from a local directory, or a network share, or a network folder, or an Internet location. For more information on selecting a connection, see Excel 2003: Selecting a File Connection.
5. Create a table
In Crystal Ball, go to the Insert tab and select Table, and then click Table Builder.
On the Table Builder toolbar, in the Name box, type a name for the table, and then click OK.
In the Insert Table dialog box, in the Tables section, select Table, and then click Next.
In the Table Properties dialog box, in the General section, expand the Table Size, Row settings, and Row operations settings to change the number of rows or columns in the table. Then click OK.
In the Table editor, go to the Design tab and select the Table Size tab.
In the Columns box, type the number of columns you want in the table, and then click OK.
Note:
• If you use only a limited number of columns for 01e38acffe
Now start Excel and open up Crystal Ball. You will see the Quick Start window with icons like the one in Figure 14-2.
To open the data file you previously downloaded, click Import → More Options and then click to open the file.
Figure 14-2
To open a.csv file, click Import → Open.
The Import ribbon in Crystal Ball opens with a loaded sample file.
Now you will see the Format tabs open in Crystal Ball.
Formatting the Date and Time Columns
To format the date and time columns, choose Date & Time from the Format ribbon.
The Date and Time menus now appear.
In the Date menu, click Custom.
In the Date Format drop-down menu, choose Short Date.
In the Time menu, select AM PM (24-hour time).
Note:
The Short Date format displays the date in MM-DD-YYYY format with four digits for the day, two digits for the month, and four digits for the year. The AM/PM format will display the hour, minute, and am/pm indicator in the AM/PM column.
To add a comma separator to the date in the date column, click Other from the Date menu.
In the Open window, choose Text from the File Type drop-down menu.
The Text menu opens.
In the Text box, type 1,000 and then click OK.
Repeat the same procedure to add a comma separator to the time in the time column.
Now click OK.
Formatting the Date Column
To format the date column, select the date column from the Format ribbon.
The Date and Time menus now appear.
In the Date menu, click Other.
In the Text menu, choose Short Date.
In the Open window, choose Date.
In the Date Format drop-down menu, choose Short Date.
To add a comma separator to the date in the date column, click Other from the Date menu.
In the Text menu, choose Date.
In the Date Format drop-down menu, choose Short Date.
To add a date separator, click Other from the Date menu.
In the Text menu, choose Date.
In the Date Format drop-down menu, choose Short Date.
To add a comma separator to the date in
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