Logging On and Off of Databases

When you create a new report and select the data sources in the Database Explorer dialog box, Crystal Reports automatically logs you onto the data source. This is so that it can find out what tables and stored procedures are there as well as getting a list of fields in each one. As you work on the report, you stay connected to the data source so that the report can load the records from the data source and process them. If you want to conserve resources, you can use the option to save the data with the report and disconnect from the data source. This frees up resources on the database server.

Crystal Reports keeps your database connections open until you specifically close them. Even if you close all your open reports, the database connection stays open.

To log off of the database server, select the menu options Database > Log On or Off Server. This opens the Data Explorer dialog box shown in Figure 10-19

Figure 10-19. Logging on and off databases.

Click on the Log Off button to log off the database. If you are already logged off and wish to log back on, click the Log On button. If you want a particular data source to be added to your Favorites list, click the Add to Favorites button. And if you wish to remove it from the Favorites list, click the Delete Favorites button. Clicking the Options button brings up the data options dialog box that can also be found by selecting the menu options Report > Options.