## Specifying Formulas

There are four different groups of formulas in Seagate Crystal Reports: report, formatting, selection, and search formulas. The majority of formulas in a report are report formulas and conditional formatting formulas.

##### Report formulas

Report formulas are formulas that you create to stand alone in a report. For example, a formula that calculates the days between the order date and the shipping date is a report formula.

##### Conditional formatting formulas

Formatting formulas change the layout and design of a report, as well as the appearance of text, database fields, objects, or entire report sections. You format text through the Format Editor. If you need to create a formatting formula, you access the Formula Editor from the Format Editor. See Working with conditional formatting.

##### Selection formulas

Selection formulas specify and limit the records and groups that appear in a report. You normally do not enter these formulas directly, but instead specify the selection using the Select Expert. Seagate Crystal Reports then generates the record selection and group selection formula. You have the option to manually edit these formulas, but you must use Crystal syntax. See Selecting records.

##### Search formulas

Search formulas help you locate data in your report. Like selection formulas, you normally do not enter these formulas directly, but instead specify the search criteria using the Search Expert. Seagate Crystal Reports generates the formula. You have the option to manually edit these formulas, but you must use Crystal syntax.

Note: If you already know Basic syntax, you need to know only a small amount of Crystal syntax to modify most selection and search formulas.

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