## E

#### element

The word element is used in the documentation to describe individual report components such as database fields, formulas, and group fields. The Design Tab uses rectangular frames to represent fields.

#### embed, embedded object

An embedded object contains a presentation of the object, all of the data pertaining to the object, and information about the application used to create it. When you modify the original object in the server document, nothing happens to the embedded object unless you specifically update that object.

#### empty date

An empty date [designated as Date (0, 0, 0)] is a date that contains neither month, day, or year, and thus does not print. Use an empty date in If-Then-Else formulas that either return a date or not. For example, the formula:

    If PageNumber = 1 Then

        PrintDate

    Else

        Date(0,0,0)
    «Prints the print date on the first page and prints nothing on every other page.»

Since the Then part of the formula is a date (PrintDate), the Else part of the formula must be a date as well, but a non-printing date. To create a non-printing (empty) date use the Date function and the arguments (0, 0, 0).

#### empty number

An empty number [designated as zero (0)] is a field value that is typically printed when a value does not meet a specific condition in a numeric If-Then-Else formula. Use an empty number to specify that 0 be printed. For example, in the formula:

If {file.FIELD} = 3.5 Then
{file.FIELD}
Else
0

you are specifying that the numeric Gradepoint be printed (Then) if the grade point is 3.5 or higher. You are using the empty number 0 to indicate that 0 is to be printed (Else) if the grade point is below 3.5. Often a user will format the field that contains this formula to be suppressed if 0. In this event, nothing gets printed in the case of a zero value.

#### empty string

An empty string (designated as "") is a string that contains no characters. Use an empty string to specify that nothing be printed. For example, in the formula:

    If {file.FIELD} = 3.5, Then

        "Cum Laude"

    Else

        ""

you are specifying that the words Cum Laude be printed (Then) if the grade point is 3.5 or higher. You are using the empty string "" to indicate that nothing is to be printed (Else) if the grade point is below 3.5.

#### evaluation time

Evaluation time refers to the stage in the reporting process when a formula gets evaluated. The three evaluation time functions are:

- BeforeReadingRecords
- WhileReadingRecords
- WhilePrintingRecords

#### Expert

Seagate Crystal Reports offers you several Experts. Experts are tools designed to take you step-by-step through various aspects of report creation. In most cases Experts have a series of numbered tabs. Simply begin at step one and proceed through the steps. When you have completed the final step, the Expert will do the rest of the work.

Note: The term "Expert" in Seagate Crystal Reports is equivalent to the term "wizard" in Microsoft Access.

#### export

To export is to distribute your report to a disk file or through email. Seagate Crystal Reports allows you to export your reports in many popular spreadsheet, database, word processor, HTML, and data interchange formats.

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com