The Saved Data Selection is a great new feature of Crystal Reports 2008, that allows the user to interact with data via a parameter within an already run report. This is already a useful feature within Web Intelligence, and now we can do the same thing within Crystal Reports.

The following is an example of a typical formula: (Not HasValue (parameterA) or parameterA = field )

This forumula allows the parameter to be ignored if it is empty or null, and only be processed when it has data. By placing this formula within the Saved Data Selection, this formula is run after the report has been processed (i.e. after the data has been pulled into the report).

Because the point of using the Saved Data selection is to allow the user to interact with the report, we should use a parameter to filter with. Avoid comparing Formula fields or other Data fields. This parameter should not be used in the regular Record Selection formula. We want to compare this against one of the data fields that is being displayed in the report. This is not a requirement, but is a best practice. The user should be able to visually verify that the data they want to filter with the parameter has been filtered.

Consideration should be given to amount of data in the report and overall processing time of the report when using the Saved Data Selection formula. To make the Saved Data Selection useful, more data than normal would typically be pulled into the report, this will make overall processing time for the report greater than if a regular Record Selection filter was used. The Saved Data Selection may not be useful if your report is dealing with thousands of rows of data and/or has many formulas.