1215543 - How to format strings and numbers using the Picture function in Crystal Reports?

• Formatting a string or numeric value.
• How to format text or numbers using a formula?
• How to customize the way a string or numeric value displays in Crystal Reports with the Picture function? 

• SAP Crystal Reports 2008
• SAP Crystal Reports 2011
• SAP Crystal Reports 2013
• SAP Crystal Reports 2016

• The function: Picture, can be used to specify the format of a string or a string of numeric value in Crystal Reports. The Picture function can only be used on database fields of data types: String.
       
• To use the function Picture, follow the steps below:
      
  
  1. In Crystal Reports, open a report, and create a formula.
         
  2. In the Formula Editor window, use the function: Picture in the following format:
     1.  
     2. Picture(<DATABASE FIELD>,'<FORMAT>)
          
  3. Insert the formula on your report.
             
              
• The following are examples of the Picture function's use.   
       
  • Formatting a String Field to Appear as North American Telephone Numbers
    • 
      A database field stores telephone numbers as ten digit strings (for example "8005551234") without parentheses or dashes. Use the Picture function in a formula to display these numbers as North American telephone numbers (for example (800) 555-1234). In this example, the field {customer.phone} has a String data type.
    • 
      Example Formula:
    • 
      Picture ({customer.phone}, '(xxx) xxx-xxxx')
      
    • If a value from the {customer.phone} field is "8005551234", the formula returns "(800) 555-3002".
    •  
  • Formatting a Number Field to Look Like a Date
    • 
      A database field stores dates as eight numbers (for example 12252003) without slashes. Use the Picture function in a formula to display these numbers as a date (for example 12/25/2003). This example uses the ToText function to convert the number field to a string.
    • 
      Example Formula:
    • Picture(ToText({order.orderdate},0,""), 'xx/xx/xxxx')
      
    • If a value from the {order.orderdate} field is 12252003, the formula returns "12/25/2003".
    •     
        
• For more information on the Picture function, refer to the Crystal Reports Online Help.

CR, CR Date , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , How To

Crystal Reports 2008 V1 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2011 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2013 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2016