Debugging formulas

Debugging tutorial

Follow the example below to learn the necessary steps for debugging a formula. After completing this exercise, use the same principles to debug your own formulas.

About this tutorial

• This tutorial uses the Xtreme.mdb sample database.
• This tutorial uses Crystal syntax.
• The following formula is the formula you will test for errors:

If ({customer.CUSTOMER NAME} [1 to 2 = "Bi" and
ToText({customer,CUSTOMER ID}) [1] = "6") Or
({customer.CUSTOMER NAME} [1] = 'Ro" and
ToText({customer.CUSTOMER ID}) [1] = "5")
    "PREFERRED CUSTOMER"
Else
    "DOES NOT FIT CRITERIA"

If correct, this formula should pick out all customers whose names begin with "Bi" and whose customer IDs begin with "6" as well as those companies whose names begin with "Ro" and whose customer IDs begin with "5". When printing the field, those selections will read "PREFERRED CUSTOMER", while the rest will read "DOES NOT FIT CRITERIA".

You will now break down the formula to check and see that each condition of the formula is working individually.